The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-03-04
AnnuIIment Of Divorce After
Remarriage Results in a
Bigamy Charge.
WOMAN COMES HERE
From New Jersey and Has
John Clay Taken from
Wife Number Two.

To be prosecuted by his first wife
on charge Of bigamy after obtain-
ing a divorce from her and marrying
another woman is the peculiar and
unfortunate situation in which John
H. Clay, a negro shoemaker of this
city, now finds himself. The divorce
was set aside after his re-marriage
on the ground that the court had no
Jurisdiction and thus the man was
left with two wives on his hands.
He is now a prisoner in the count.
Jail awaiting a hearing in Justice
Samuel w. Gordon's court.
A negress who says. her name Is
Ella olden Clay and who came to
Clarksburg a day or two ago from
Plainfeld, N. j., preferred the charge
against the shoemaker. She declares
that he married her twenty years ago
at Lexington, Va and that he mar
ried susa Henderson two years ago
in Clarksburg without having OBJ
tanned divorce. Mrs. Clay says FIVE
children were born to her and the
defendant.
According to an article in recent
Issue Of the Lexington Gazette, pub
lished at Lexington. Va, a copy Of
which has been fled as an exhibit
in the case, Clay married the second
time while under-the impression chat
he had been divorced from his first
wife. A divorce was granted him,
but it was annulled after his second
marriage.
The article to which reference is
made is in part, as follows:
John H. Clay, colored shoe
maker, some years ago passed part
Of his married life in Lexington with
his wife and reared a family. Abou'
1901 they separated. He left ano
went to West Virginia, leaving hi
wife in Lexington. She later wen,
to Harrisonburg and from there t;
Plainfeld, n. ]. with the family
John instituted suit for divorce IL
Harrisonburg and as usual the cour
entered an order requiring him t:
pay alimony pendente lite. Hi
claimed that he could not do this
and asked tobe allowed to proceed as
a paupor, which was granted. H,
later withdrew his suit there. IN
the meantime he had established his
home in West Virginia, voting there
etc.
I'm 1908 he came back to Lexing.
ton in August and Immediately fileo
a suit for divorce and advertised anf
the case was rapidly pushed and c
divorce was granted him. Shortly
after the divorce was granted his
wife learned of it and came in at the
required time and asked to defend
the suit, and when the true facts
were made known by Clay's own
deposition 1t was found that the
court had no Jurisdiction and tho
divorce was set aside and annulled.
In the meantime Clay had married
another woman. The annulling of
the divorce makes this a wrongful
marriage and Clays marital relations
with his true wife have been re-es-
tablished by the courts decree.
at produces a very curious and
unfortunate situation. 1t is under
stood that Clay has lett and prob
ably returned to Clarksburg, W. Va,
where the woman he last married
formerly had her home and where
they both are now reported to be-"
Clay was arrested at his home in
the rear Of Col. Henry Haymond's
residence on West Main street, where
he has been living with his second
wife. Constable c. L. Ford was the
arresting officer.
Mrs. Clay number one is staying
with relatives on Ben street.