Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-12
FINDS DEAD WIFE
TO Be A BICAMIST
Strange Discovery Made by j.
3. Lawrence, TaZewen
County Farmer.
BEEN MARRIED rs YEARS
Property is Now Involved, and
Courts Are Asked to Straighten
the Tangle.

Peoria, Aug -12-Married 26years with
out knowledge OF the fact that his wife
never secured a divorce from her first
husband, Is the strange apocalypse re-
vealed in a bill for relief filed in the
circuit court by John B. Lawrence.
wealthy fruit grower in Tazewen coun-
ty, formerly of Peoria Heights.
The petition in the peculiar suit,
brought to recover lands. Lawrence
decided to his wife and claimed by
her son of the first marriage, is one
of the strangest on record in this
county.
This bill of particulars was fled by
Iawrence's solicitors. Attorneys Cam
eron & Cameron, and is directed
against Harry Ostler. Mrs. Lawrence's
son. Gilbert Ostler her first husband,
Delmond Lawrence, and Robert Pat
ton. the latter the administrator of the
estate of Mrs. Lawrence.
FRAUD IN LAW.
In the contest that is being waged
between Lawrence. and young Ostler,
Lawrence claims he did not know his
wife never obtained divorce from her
first husband: that If he. had known the
circumstances he would not have deed
ed his property over to her and that n
fraud in law was pracdced upon him.
The fruit grower AYERS there is IN
the neighborhood of $4,000 worth of
property involved and asks that the
court allow him his rights.
The story of the tangled AFFAIRS of
Lawrence as set out in the petition
is a peculiar one.
According to the bill Lawrence mar
ried Mrs. Emma Ostler in July. 1888.
after she had been separated from GIL
bert Ostler, her first husband, for
long period of years.
ANTE-NUPTIAL AGREEMENT.
On Nov 7, 1909, Lawrence and his
wife entered into an anti-nuptial
agreement or contract in which both
agreed that both should work for the
common good of each; that at their
deaths, all farm lands were to go to
Harry Ostler and all city property to
Delmond Lawrence. That Is the prop
erty in their possession at the time of
death.
without leave to sell for a term of
years, at which time their heirs would
have the privilege to sell at will. The
intent was to provide for a heritage
for ninety years.
Prior to their marriage, Lawrence
alleges Mrs. Lawrence represented to
him that she had secured a divorce
from Gilbert Ostler. He claims he be-
lieved that she had done so, married
her and lived with her as man and
wife. Lawrence AYERS Mrs Lawrence
died Dec. 21, 1909, and it was not until
after her death he learned that the
divorce had never been secured He
claims she was deceived by her former
husband, who said he had divorced her.
OsTLER's SON SUES.
Lawrence goes on to cite the differ
ent pieces of property he accumulated
while living with his wife and sets
out the pieces he decided to her He
AYERS if he had known the circum-
stances he would never have decided
over his property
Harry Ostler, the son, lives at
Coshocton, Ohio. After the death of
his mother he began proceedings in
Tazewell county asking for the ap-
pointment of an administrator of her
estate. Robert Patton was appointed.
In this action Ostler set I'D the fact
that his mother was never legally mar
ried to Lawrence, and now claims he
has right to all the property the fruit
grower decided over to his wife.