Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-16
VERMONT WOMAN
FOUR TIMES WE'D
Mrs. Grace E Cross Charged with
Polygamy by West Brook
field Man.

Boston. May 15-While Mrs Grace E.
Cross OF Vermont was being arrested in
this city yesterday afternoon upon
charge or polyyamy, preferred against
her by Herman stoddsrd of West Brook
held w.. the latest OF the men whom
she is accused of marrying, Hugh j. An
derson OF Southbridge, n chauffeur, the
unro IN the list. was applying to Judge
Han at Worcester for notification OF
Ms marriage TO her.
"A remarkable story of elopentent. mar
siAge' desertion. remarringo, annulment
ana continued remarriagcs and disap-
pcaranoes was brought to light by the
arrest Of Mrs Cross at W East Canton
street BY Inspector Smith of police head
quarters and James Il. Wood. Jr., of
the Wood, Morgan detective agency for
the Vermont authorities on an indict-
ment charging polygamy.
Tne woman who is 30 years old. waiY-
ed extradition yesterday and. after
spending the night at the city prison,
returned 10 Vermont this morning in
the custody cf Sheriff Benjamin II.
Adams of Chelsea. VT. and Herman
Stoddard. her most recent husband. who
started for Boston upon receiving word
of her arrest.
While the polygamy charges against
Mrs. Cross accuse her of four marriages.
only two OF which had been annulled Mt
the time these charges were made the
fact that Judge Hall, at the very time of
her arrest granted Andersons petition
for annulment straightens the complicated
situation a trifie
According 20 the Information received
by detective agency. Mrs. Cross was
born D years age in Hartford. VT. her
maiden name being Grace Z. Burch On
August 4. 1895, at the age of 16. It is said
she eloped to Royalton, VT. where she
married George II. Cross. the Rev. J. c.
Markham performing the ceremony II is
alleged her age was falsely sworn TO-
FAILED TO GET DIVORCE.
Within few months. the charges
against her run, Mrs Cross made an
unsuccessful attempt to divorce her hus-
band This was in December, 1895 Soon
afterward the young woman came to Bos-
ton and again tried to get divorce. but
failed.
Although still legally bound to Cross,
1t is said, Mrs. Cross contracted another
marriage In 1906. this time choosing Harry
H. Cook as her husband, This union
proved brief also, Mr. Cook securing an
annulment Of the marriage while living
in Bristol, Conn.
inc third husband of this woman was
Hugh Anderson. whom she married at
providence. r. l.. September Is. 1905. ac
cording to his own testimony at Wor-
cester yesterday.
After leaving Anderson, 1t Is allege
the young woman lived for time In
hoxpury. ana later at Boylston Center
"here she made her home with Mrs
NJ CARRIED. Her next venture upon
seas or matrimony was made, accord
ing 10 the charges. on March IA, 1910
when at Brooktield, VI, she became
! the wife of Herman Stod lard, the Rev
frank Daniels tying the knot. II is
said she gave her name as Grace An.
derson and swore it was her first mar.
rage. 1t is also claimed that on this
occasion the young woman at first re.
fused to allow the record Of the mar.
rage TO be placed on file. and that moi
until proceedings hal been taker
against her would she give up the Ger.
tihcate.
| The fourth venture was, as usual
very shortlived. Stoaiard, who aat
discovered something of her past ca.
reer, having the marriage annulet
In December, 1910, In Orange county
VT. ''
In the interim between her third an,
fourth marriages It Is charged Mrs
cross promised to marry an aged mar
named Spencer of Boston. and secured
sl.OoO from him. which was used ir
| furnishing an apartment, and som,
| JeweIry. 1t is also alleged that hel
elderly admirer had his life insured IL
her favor
stu another complication is the pres
ence OF child. said to have been born.
to her first husband. This child. name,
Bernice Cross. is now under the care O.
her maternal uncle. who Is also he
guardian. at Royalton, VT
| Mr.. Wood. who Is the official invest
gator of the State of Vermont, was re
Gently Informed Of the case by State
Attorney Stanley C. Wilson when Mr.
StoddaTd made formal complaint agains
his wife. Mr.. Wood learned that tn,
young woman had been living at 20 Dart
mouth street. Boston. About six week.
ago she disappeared from that address,
however, going, ii Is said to Onset
ON Monday the detective learned q
her return TO Boston and that she ha,
gone to work as a dressmaker for Mrs
II. Price at 81 East Canton street, Soltl
End.
At first the woman fatty denied al
the charges against her, even refusin,
to admit her identity, but, beoomin,
historical. she finally consented to "a
with them IN cab to police headquart
frs, a stop was made AT a house OF
pembroke street, where Mrs Cros
claimed to be lodging. to give her al
opportunity tc change nor uiothing.
The testimony OF Anderson at Wor
cester yesterday corroborated practicall
all the facts In the charges upon whic
Mrs. Cross was arrested. He testifie,
that he married her under the belief tina
he was her first legal husband. addin
that she told him she had been throug
ceremony at the age of 10, which wa
not considered legal. Long after the mar
riage he learned of the existence OF he
child. whom he testified. she at frs
tried to palm off on him as her younge
sister.
MEDICAL VIEW OF OZONE.
| (JOufnal Of ArnartcoD ,Jajt,oI Assoc