Year: 1871

F,on, the Detroit Free Press, ApJl22


A little incident happened at the Grand Trunk
junction on Friday evening which gave a hun
dred passengers any quantity of fuu and merri-
ment, and resulted in the reclamation of three
women whohave for several years past been
living in Salt Lake City in The capacity of wives
to a Mormon elder named Coleman. It seems
that Coleman left salt Lake City some days ago
for a trip to the East having some chAch
matters to to on Long Island. What is a little
unusual for Mormous to do, the elder decided
TO have his three wives accompany him, il
being his intention, as is learned from one of the
wives, 10 use them to assist in securing the con-
version of other women. The party came along
to Chicago, and there stopped for day or two,
taking look around the city, and the elder
making some purchases to send to friends at
Salt Lake. They left Chicago on Friday it
being the intention to change off at the Grand
Trunk Junction, and take that route through,
the elder claiming that he had friends at Port
Huron. The four occupied seats as near together
as possible, and, to avoid remark or rldicue,
each one was furnished with ticket thus seem
ing to be going along like ordinary travellers.
AT Chicago only one of the wives was registered
as Mrs. Coleman, the other two giving other
names, and occupying separate room, Coleman
stating to the clerk that they were his nieces.


In coming over the Central road, the four oc-
cupyiDg two seats close together, Coleman went
forward TO take a smoke, positive that there was
no such thing as losing his four hundred pounds
of matrimony train running thirty miles an
hour. He had informed them, previous to de-





a recognized institution in the land, and that
Congress had sancLionedit. While they did not
believe, they could not dispute, as none of them
were ever allowed to read any other than Nor
mon publications. They determined to boldly
refuse to proceed with him further than the
junction, and to trust to the chivalry of the
passengers and the law of the State to prevent
maltreatment or being forced on When
that he must wait couple of hours
before connecting with the Grand Trunk.
The quartette sat down in the hotel parlor,
and the elder then proceeded to lay down a
programme for the balance of the journey, tell
ing his wives that the least show Of insubordi-
nation would result in their arrest They did
not reveal their plan until the four were on
the PLATFORM and the train within few minutes
of starting. The Oldest wife then plainly told
him their intention in quiet, even voice, and
added that if he wanted to create "scene"
they were ready for it. Coleman was at first
thunderstruck and then gave way to a burst
of rage. While thus excited, one of the women
disappeared, and the other two walked into
the ladies' sitting. room, filed with passengers,
and sat down. He followed them 10, threaten
ing them with arrest, aud then with instant
death, if they did not Immediately get aboard
the train with him. Having taken the first
step, the women were plucky enough not to
back down, and de6ed him to do his worst.


Coleman saw that he was helpless aud was
offered money and promises, but the women
were firm, and warned him that if he did not
quit their presence they would expose him to
the passengers, and secure his arrest. What
could he do? Any white man would have mashed
his head in minute especially if asked to by o
female in distress, and Coleman saw that to use
force would end in his arrest. Having said
"they wouldn't, he felt quite sure that his wives
would not go on, even though the trunks in the
baggage car contained all their fnery except
what was being worn.


The game was up, and as the conductor yelled
'Arl-l board" Coleman sneaked out and got
aboard the train, not caring TO lose the baggage
and wives both. As for the women, they looked
over their pin money, found that they had about
twenty dollars between them, and determined to
come to this city. The missing one was found
in the woodhouse where she had taken refuge,
and the three walked to the street cars on
Michigan avenue, and then rode in. One of
them passed over to Windsor after dinner, and
the other two were at an intelligence Office on
Woodward avenue during the afternoon to Sc
cure places as house servants, calculating to
remain in the city until some better arrange
ments can be made,