The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-07
AN AFRICAN LOVE STORY.
william Munson Faces Predicament
Because He Was Careless.

Faith, Hope, Charty-a wife, a wo-
man. a sweetheart, or rather two wives
and a sweetheart, these three; and
truly the third, the sweetheart, seems
to possess the greatest power over
William Manson "These three met
with William at his house in Kansas
City, Kan, Saturday night, the two
wives coming in some time after the
sweetheart. Police officers accompanied
the two wives and William, the Winner,
awaits officers from Topeka in the K.
c. X. bastile No. q
Confronted by his two wives, Min
ME and Ella, both Of whom he mar
ried in Topeka, Manson, with his
sweetheart, Ella Flax. in his arms,
arose boldly and pointing to Ella Man
son, said, "Ell, you know you are the
only woman I ever married. This
pointing to Minnie sis my woman"
He failed to explain who the third was
but the matter was easily determined
and the officers told the pair to dress
hurriedly for the carriage was wait
ing.
But just because he disowned her,
Minnie Manson. who has been looking
for him ever since he left her three
years ago, came to the county attor-
marriage certificate and demanded a
warrant for William. She told her
story and the complaint was drawn
charging bigamy and the sheriff tele-
phoned to Kansas City to hang on to
the man until deputy arrived to
take him in charge.
According to the story Of second
wife. Minnie, who lives at 1853
buchanan street, Manson married his
first wife, Ella, about IL years ago.
They lived in North Topeka near the
'B'' street church and lost three chill
aren. Then it appears Manson fled
rom the first wife but she in her
faith searched about for him at in
tervals.
That faith in her fleeing husbands
love led her to find him in Kansas
City recently and reunite them in hap
riness. But in the meantime he
had drifted back to Topeka and four
years ago married Minnie Smith al
loging that his first wife was dead;
Then three years ago, William fled
again leaving his second wife and she
N the fond hope that he would again
eceive her in his arms has cast about
for trace of him.
It so happened last week that Minnie
Manson talked with John Ewing.
prisoner at Leavenworth, and that he
told her of the whereabouts of Man
son in KanseS City. Kan.
ct went to Kansas City, Saturday."
said Mrs. Minnie Manson, "and 1 saw
William driving a wagon on the street.
I bowed to him but he turned his head
s-s If he did not see me. Then I read
the name on his wagon and it was the
shillings Grain company in Kansas
city, Kan. Then I went to the law
and they sent me over to the Kansas
side and I went to the law there and
they told me just to wait till night but
I went to the grain elevator and Will
Am, he ran out the back door.
$50 waited till night and went with
the sergeant and a policeman down
10 the elevator and there we met the
first wife, Ella. She was looking for
i'm, too, to get some money. Oh, she
was game all right, she says That's
my man and if you come round here
Ill just beat your head off, that's ALL
But 1 wasn't afraid of her and I said
He's my man and I'm going to have
him. You. can do just what you
please, so there
rouse where Manson lived and Man
sons crippled sister let us in. She
thought we was the boy they sent for
teer. You know they rush the can
down there Saturday night cause they
lose all the saloons on Sunday Well
we and the law went right in and there
lays that man and his sweetheart
''I says to the sergeant, Sergeant
jrst let me have your gun. That's all
want now. I know they'll let me
+here.' But the sergeant said No, you
turned him over to us and you can't
kill him now.
"Then William jumps up and seeing
mis- other wife, too-both of us-lookin'
right down on him there says Ella,
you know I never married anybody
] ut you, this here 'pointin' to me- is my
woman. Now as sure as I am in this
world this certificate says he belongs
70 me- and she waved the document.
and he jumped up and he yelled,
You are not my wife and I'll cut and
boot your heart If you hang round
nere,' and I'm going to show him who
I am
The sweetheart was also arrested,
ut will likely be released As may be
aurmised the whole party is of African
6esent. Deputy Sauls will go to get
Manson, who is a brother of Do. Man