The Detroit times., 1911-05-20
BIGAMIsT BRIGGs
GIVEN YEAR IN
JACKSON PEN
Both Wives in Court and Weep =
Sentence Is Pronounced; No 3
Kisses the Other and says She's
Going Away.
Defendant Thinks Punishment In
posed Is Very Fair-Judge Has
Words of Comfort for Mother.

Even the loyalty of two women
could not save Alton r. Briggs from
prison. Saturday morning, he stood.
In the prisoners dock, In Judge Pie
lan's court, handsome, wellknit fel-
low, and heard the words pronounced
that sent him behind the bars IL
jackson prison for year. He was
convicted In the same court few
days ago of bigamy.
In the back OF the court room eat
the two wives side by side. Briggs
aged mother was with them. They
heard the court arraign the prisoner
In bitter terms, heard his doom pro-
nounced and watched him as he sank
dejectedly back In his seat.
Then Rose Williams, wife No 2,
former chorus girl, turned to Stella
killean. wife No. I. Both women
were weeping. Rose Williams placed
comforting arms about Stella XII
leans neck and tenderly kissed her.
"Goodby, Mrs. Briggs" she said
simply. Il am going away"
Il do not want TO be too severe
with you, Briggs" said Judge Phelan,
in passing sentence. Yours IL q
serious offense. though These wo.
men both trusted you. Miss Williams
married you, thinking you were
single man. You violated the most
sacred of condolences and this court
cannot allow such breach OF faith
TO pass unpublished, despite the fact
that the women you have wronged
have appealed 10 me for mercy for
you.
"You must understand that your
offense is serious one against the
laws OF this state and you must an
swer to the people OF the state for
what you have done,
i want to tell you that Miss VIII
Hams did the square thing In this
matter. She told me everything about
It. After you were convicted, she
came to me not once. but several
times, to see II would not parole
you. But l cannot do that
.Dotroit seems TO have become a
sort or dumping ground for neglected
and deserted wives. Everybody brings
their surplus wives here and leaves
them to shift for themselves. I can
not quite understand why this should
be so. think II is time an example
was made. Perhaps II viii serve AZ
warning to Others inclined as you
were, Briggs. This Is highly moral
city, in spite OF the efforts Of a lot
of so-called reformers to blacken its
reputation.
Men like Billy Sunday and others
/ might mention might rant about tho
wickedness of this city, but the life
Of the average Detroit citizen will
compare most favorably with the
lives of those who preach about the
city's wickedness."
Judge Phelan gave Briggs his
choice between the Detroit House Of
Correction and Jackson prison and
the defendant choose the latter
place. He said nothing during thu
failing given him by the court, but
at the conclusion, he ramarked that
he considered the sentence q very
fair one.
Briggs mother was much affected
by the thought OF her boy going t.
prison and the Judge escorted her {
the hall, where he did his utmost
comfort her. =
Rose Williams, the chorus girl-v[|
walked from the court room, ol((
bidding goodbye to Stella KiI1co
wife No. 1. Miss williams says o10
intends to 60 to Toronto to rest.
Wife No. 1 would not discuss the
case and Briggs would say nothinG
except that he regarded judge
Phelaps punishment as entirely fair.
The Times said few days ago that
the mother Of the first Mrs. Briggs
told Judge Phelan she could raise $500
to effect the prisoners release. II
now appears that It was Briggs moth
er who had this conversation with the
Judge