Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-04-13
FEARED FATHER
Of MISS SP|RO.
So MARRIED HER
New York Broker, Charged With
Bigamy, Tells Story to
the Court.
SAYS SHE LEFT HIM FOR
MAN SHE LIKED BETTER
Gnstayus McRae Says Wife
Went Away With Margaret
Anglin's Brother.

Gustavus Fulton McRae took the
stand in his own behalf in Judge
Thomas A. Davis's court this morning
to tell his side of the alleged bigamous
marriage contracted with Miss Rose
Spiro in this city on November %,
1905
McRae made very poor witness for
himself, particularly on cross-examina-
ton, being very nervous on the stand
and speaking so low he could not be
heard by the jury
McRae claimed that he was forced to
marry Miss Spiro because he was
afraid of Ivan Spiro, the father. Asked
to describe what constituted his fear
McRae could not explain, although he
was repeatedly urged to do so by As
sistant Prosecutor Van Blarcom.
Was Locked In Rooms.
He testified that he had been locked
in different rooms of McDermit g. Nc
Dermit's offices in the Globe building
by Spiro while awaiting the arrival of
former Justice of the Peace William
o. Miller, who performed the marriage
ceremony. McRae said that Spiro had
told him he would have to marry his
daughter, and that he came to New
ark in company with them in order to
consult Frank M. McDermit, his coun-
sci, as to his rights in the matter.
When Van Blarcom pointed out that
McRae had recourse to the telephone
to ask for assistance or could raise "a
window and hail passersby on the
street If he felt he was in danger, Nc
Rae remained silent and did not at
tempt to explain why he had not done
so. Both Spiro and Miller on being re-
called to the stand denied that McRae
bad at any time been locked in room
or that the marriage was performed
under duress of any sort.
Refused to Answer Question.
On his direct examinat ton, McRae re-
fused to answer yes or mo" to the
question as to whether he had mar
ried Mary Baum on July IS, 1903 Van
Blarcom took up this refusal and
asked McRae if the answer would in
criminate himself. McRae said no."
but refused to go any further. He also
refused to state whether he had any
children by Mrs. Baum.
Later it developed that the date of
the first marriage was August Is, 1903,
instead of July IS, 1908, and the in
dictment was amended despite the OBJ
jections of Attorneys McDermit' and
Beasley.
McRae said he lived with Rose Spiro
McRae until she left him to join Tim
othy w. Anglin, brother of Margaret
Anglin, the actress. The lawyers for
the defense offered to put in evidence
a large number of letters from Anglin
fused to admit the letters, saying they
had no bearing on the bigamy charge.
Met Wife In Hotel.
McRae told of how he had met Rose
Spiro McRae in a hotel in Manhattan
for the first time in September, 1908,
and that he met her several times after
that before the marriage took place
in Newark on November %, 1908. Nc
Rae also testified that he had married
Mrs Mary Baum in New York city in
1908, but said he later found, so he
claims, that she had never been legally
divorced from her first husband and
that he had started annulment pro-
ceedings in 1907.
Further questioning brought out the
fact that McRae had consulted lawyers
in both New York and Philadelphia as
to the validity of his marriage to Mrs.
Baum and was informed that it was il
/ legal.
Questioned by Chauncy H. Beasley,
who with Frank VI. McDermit is con-
ducting the defense, .McRae stated that
he had asked this question of lawyers
before he had met Miss Spiro, and
therefore thought he was free to marry
in November, 1908.
This brought out long wrangle be-
tween counsel for McRae and Assistant
Prosecutor Van BlarcCm, which result
ed in Judge Davis ruling out the evil
dence that McRae had asked legal ad-
vice before marrying Miss Spiro.