The Detroit times., 1911-06-06
WOMAN EXCUSES
B|GAM|sT HUSBAND
L. L. Signor Didn't Intend to Cast
Doubt On First Marriage, Wife
Tells Judge Phelan.

Mrs. Lamont l.. Signor, first wife OF
the man convicted of bigamy and
sentenced to serve one year In the
house OF correction by Judge Paelan.
has written a pathetic letter to the
Judge. In which she condones her hus-
bands faithlessness and excuses his
effort TO escape punishment
The letter follows:
when you spoke to me about the
unfair way In which my husband act
ed toward me In his trial, told you
| was sure there was some awful mis-
take somewhere, for | was sure ne
did not mean that II should De so, for
even though he has sinned against
me. | was sure sure he believed In his
heart / have always tried to lead
pure life and that he would not al
low my marriage to be proven false, IL
e-eeafd- -aveid it -by-cfafming mic AS
his lawful wife. AS soon as / talked
with him, knew that he did not mean
that he should be spared In any way.
When the attorney told him he
stood a fair chance OF being acquit-
ted, he asked him what his defense
would be, and he said he was not sure
yet, but my husband thought that the
attorney perhaps knew best and
thought he had better stand trial and
sentence. But when he saw how mat
ters were going, he would have plead
ed guilty in the midst of 1t, had no
thought the plea would be accepted
and the trial stopped The whole
thing was a torture to me, for | was
stfre 4it would cause all who heard 10
feel that my husband was worse than
he really Is.
"I was sorry for Miss Eley. Her
mother told me she neyercould= =cof-
troll her daughter and that her
thoughtiessness and self.will had been
the cause OF her disgrace and bad
long since broken her mothers heart
and yet that did not make my hus-
bands wrong right.
"He said that he was sure that you
meant to be his friend. for you were
kind In your manner towards him, and
he asked me IL would try to ex-
plain matters to you and tell you that
he pleads with you that although be
has sinned terribly, he did not mean
to shield himself at the expense OF
woman's honor, now, after he had real
lied the awful wrong he had done to
US by his two marriages. He did not
understand the law and did not realize
what II would mean to prove him not
guilty. And I am sure the words you
spoke to him before passing sentence
sank deeply into his heart and he
feels he deserved all you said and
feels that you meant them for his good
and he intends to benefit by them. II
hf,,n Uh hnn ha N
me that he felt grateful to you for
your kindness TO US, and 1t was terri.
bic to have you have the impression
that after he had done wrong he in
tended TO get out OF II by committing
a more terrible one. am sure that you
would have felt as l did that he was
sincere.
II do not and never have upheld
him In his wrong, but | have pleaded
for mercy for him and | plead now
that you believe me when / tell you
that he Is not altogether heartless or
bad and there Is so much good In him
TO build strong character on. oh, /
pray that | may prove strong enough
to help him develop those noble traits
OF his character, that he will be
strong enough to resist temptation
and overcome evil with good. II In
my whole life | am able to accom-
plish that one thing, | will consider
my life. well spent, for riches or pleas
ures are nothing compared to the
value of ones soul
His mother will not stay long with
me, and II II is not too much 10 ask
TO have his stay at the jail extended
few days longer, we will be very
glad, for she Is old and not at all well
and she may never be able to come to
see him
I'VE are very grateful TO you for
your kindly interest, and IL when we
meet In the Great Beyond, you find
that your kindness has helped my
husband TO find and know his God. |
am sure you will be the happier tor
having done so.
May God bless and reward you Is
the prayer of the little family OF La
mont Signor
Yours sincerely,
MRS. l.. L. SIGNOR." .