Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-17
Russian Wives
Cannot LeoUe
Their Husbands


Russian married men in Honolulu
have taken a new grip on life;r they
are breathing freer for they are reas-
onably sure they are not going TO
lose their wives
There are about 800 Russian mar
ried couples in HOnolulu and all have
been watching with interest, many in
deep concern, the trial OF Efemia Step
hanoff in the federal court for big
amy Last week before Judge Gle
mons she was found guilty ana Rus
sian Honolulu was relieVcG ... f..
The defendant was married to karp
StcphanCff in Russia and caEie here
with him several years ago About
two years ago she threw him Ger
and married Audrey GregoTevsky. Her
first husband made no Objection 10
the authorities and appa emily the
new arrangemeat was lovely. .s.. r.
But, Ones misdeeds are continu.
ally turning up in UNEXPECTED places.
About three months ago Efemia's
daughter was taken to the industrial
school In an effort to prove that The
dgughter was over Is and could MT
be held Efemia went To her first 'IUs-
band for the PASS orf This brought
about tie orrest and conviction.
According to Detective Rudolph
Stein, who acted as interpreter dur
ing the trial and who was instrument.
tai IN starting t4he action, everyone
over tie age OTIS in Russia must
have . passport Mr.. Stein has lived.
there for several years The passport
is nlcre Of card OF coed standing
than ANYTHING else. similar To IN hon
orab'e discharge from the araI3 here,
but issued to everyone in Russia. Both
men and women have them and must
surrender them for Investigation to
any officer at any time. Chihiren un.
der rs are In the care of their pa.
rents or guardians. When people mar
ry II is customary to place the pis5's
name on the husbands passport, and
this procedure was the cause of Step
hanoff recovering his wife in far-away
Honolulu. ... r." d..
When Karp Stephanoff showed his
passport Efemia's name was found.
Stephanoff was told to bring action
against her for bigamy, but didn't De.
lieye il worth while There was no
other record of the marriage held by
Stephanoff He says marriage Ii
censes may be obtained in Russia, but
the practise is not common. Would
the judge consider the passport oyi.
dence enough of legal marriage? II
he did not, scores OF other Russians
In Honolulu who had been married
under similar circumstances could
hold their wives only BIZ force. not ae-l
cording to law. It is true, they might
send to Russia for evidence of the
ceremonies, but in so many places all
records have been destroyed during
the war that this would be almost Inn
possible. Many Russian men were
preparing to obtain the good graces Of
their better halves They weren't GO
ing to run any risks with their life
companions who might desert at any
minute. But the Judge came to the
rescue, found Efemia guilty of bigamy.
fined her 81 and costs and sentenced
her TO one month in prison.
In the meantime Efemia isn't sure
of her husbands. One she married
legally in Russia, the other legally
here. II heereturns to the first che
no legal action will be necessary, bur
If she remains with the present spouse
a divorce from the first and another
marriage to the second must take
place.
And also, in the mean time, many
Russians here have written to friends
in the home land telling them to make
doubly sure of their wives when the
connubial knot is tied by obtaining
marriage license.