Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-22
ARMY CAPTAIN
BEING CLAIMED
BY THIRD WIFE

Another sensational development
in the case Of Captain Carl D. Ford,
former finance officer at Camp
Gordon and overseas veteran, who
is in the Fulton tower charged with
having two wives, came Saturday
with the disclosure that still an
other woman is claiming him as
her husband.
She is Mrs. Ernie Ford, of Hin
ton, w. Va, who claims to be his
first wife, and he is said to have
married the other two without OBJ
tanning a divorce from her.
Department of justice agents have
tried for several weeks to locate
the first Mrs. Ford. She is said to
have been in Atlanta several days
ago, but all efforts to communicate
with her were unavailing. Federal
agents said that while no positive
evidence has been obtained that
Ford is still her husband, various
reports from Virginia agents of the
department indicate strongly that
no divorce has been obtained.
When Mrs. Claire Smell Ford, the
third wife, learned Saturday of
the probable existence of still an
other wife, she announced her in
tention of Immediately moving to
have her marriage annulled Prior
to Saturdays developments, she
she had expressed a steadfast faith
in Ford and had declared Ter firm
belief that she was the only wife
he had. Even in announcing her
decision to move for an anntllment
of her marriage, the young woman
refrained from any criticism of
Ford.
May Plead Insanity.
Another development in the re-
markable case Saturday was the
statement of Franklin S. Chalmers,
Ford's attorney. that insanity as
result of war injuries probably will
be his clients defense when the case
is brought to trial.
when information indicating that
Ford had another wife in West Vir-
ginia reached me- said ATTORNEY
Chalmers, cit came as a surprise. for
my client had consistently denied to
me that he had but one wife. On
account of quarantine at the jail
Will not be able to discuss with him
Immediately this late development,
but will confer with him at the
earliest possible moment and if the
occasion seems to warrant. I will
alienists to determine to what extent
his mind may have been impaired
by battle conditions of France
Mrs. Katherine Vaughan Ford, the
second wife, is an English woman,
whom Captain Ford is said to have
married in London in 1919. while
overseas with the American army
She has been in Atlanta for several
weeks Like wife No. 8. she has re-
manned loyal to the former officer.
Mrs. Ford No 8. who is now on
her way back to her parents home IN
Florida, was married to Ford in
Tampa on December 20. 1920 They
tree street apartment. less than two
blocks from the apartment which was
occupied nv the English woman.
Claims Separation
According to department of justice
agents, Mrs. Ford No. is the only
one Ford claims as his wife. He said
he honestly believed he had been
2. Efforts to obtain a statement from
him relative t. the first wife, who
entered the case Saturday, were fu-
tile because of quarantine against
smallpox at the tower.
An Indictment against Captain
Ford and wife No. 3 charging them
with living together as man and wife
ing in the state court. The young
woman, who is the daughter of mil
lionaire Florida banker, does not be-
lfeve the charge will be pressed
against her, she said before leaving
for her home Saturday.
Since Captain Ford has been in the
tower, she has visited him almost
daily and has kept him we'll supplied
with everything the prison rules per-
n