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bark to I tie (firm, They didn't getaloft* well together according to Mary's story, which lt;hc told Judge Mrtth■«■*%\ dncaday afternoon. She is a German of thorl stature and heavy frame, i c he si 4K8 with the accent ami has a warthy compbxipn. It .was with difficulty that she was able to walk, tor eh if suffering intensely from inflammatory rheumatism. Her bey and av i man accompanied and assisted her. j Attorney Kd. K. Dow was her counsel. lt;The boy told a story of he mother’s w s and his ©w». He Is 8 years old ard lead his spelling book when hia j m thtr was testifying She painted ‘ Phil in cr.mton hues. Her hands were :hilt; k with callous, she said, when she lt;lived with PtllL He drank to excess and abused her. He even expressed the wish that she should not rat so much, although, she said, she had paid part of the bill. He compelled her to work in the fields and it was little peace of body or mind she had. Her story was harrowing. Phil wasn’t there to make a defense. He was very busy somewhere else about that time, and didn’t care what was said about him.Judge Matthews was loath to grant the decree, but the knowledge of facts outweighed hia disinclination to sever the bond. It was plainly evident that while he did not want to grant the de-crer. he felt that he had to. He accordingly ordered that on payment of cost* the decree would tie entered. Vv’r.en he spoke of Mr*. Meloy resuming her former name, she said she didn’t ! rare what name was allowed her, her maiden name or her name in widowhood.A letter was offered in evidence which Phil wrote. It was after his wife had left him and had come t- town to live with a relative, mentioned in the letter as Biddle.” fie said of Biddle that ‘ she is satisfied to go to hell to make her point good and run her chances or. getting out. Referring to the boy, who had fallen forty-A Ve feel and thus paved the way for the union of his mother and Phil, the latter said; Look at hia craniUm; it’s like a Spaniard's; he has ears on him two inches long, like a Spanish Jack.*’ The letter was made up of abase of Biddle and lamentation that the child should lead the mother.THE QBE AT COUP.No significance was attached to Mrs. Meloy* statement that she didn’t care w hat name she was allowed to resume. In the light of after events this is not surprising Not the slight*at intimation was given by Mrs Meloy of what was to follow?; nor b Phil, who was waiting the news of the decree.Two men paced impatiently on the til** floor of the court house while court was in soeeion. One of them was Matt. Kiefer, who was waiting for the deere*-that would free Mrs, Meloy, that he might marry her. The other was Matthias's best friend, who was to be groomsman at the wadding.Phil Meloy sat alone in a downtown office waiting for the decree that would free him that he might marry Maggie Donovan, who patiently awaited word from him In another part of the city.The decree was entered when the costs were paid, Mrs. Meloy was Mary Bingham and single. Her second marriage was over with and she was ready for the third,Phil Meloy waa singb*. He had been divorced for the second time. He in shape to marry a fifth time.THE TWO MARRIAGES.The Ink waa not yet dry on the decree when Matthias Kiefer stepped into the county clerk’s office and secured license to wed Mary Bingham. Kiefer wan a widower and has five children IIis residence is on Easy street, on the hill n* ar the old Randall mill. The clerks did not know of the issuance of the decree and did not recognise Mary Bingham, who gave her ag • as 34. Kiefer, who said he is 49. was impatient to get the license. When h** secured it. he hurried away with his friend and they went to Justice Kessler's -me. He agreed to perform th® marriage in Mary Bingham’s horn, at Washington and Thirteenth streets. Khe had gone thither and was huddled in blankets when the justice arrived there. He married Mary and Matt and then they had a festival celebration.In the meanwhile the news of his freedom reached Meloy. He sent a carriage for his bride to he and hastened to the court house to get hislicense. For one reason or another the clerks would not give it to him and he went out drooped in spirits and downcast Hut he returned and loudly demanded a license, quoting law to hear him out. He finally secured what he sought and gave his age as 50 and i . his bride’s as -4, though he whispered that he thought her older, and indeed, she appeared to be, by ten years at ! least.The bride arrived in Justice Carney’s office and awaited the coming of her ; bird. She was demure and maidenly.Her home is In Independence. She is i small and lithe and her cheeks are - Hushed. When sh«- smiled she was * v*ry pretty. Her hat was a small black affair trimmlt;*d with a ribbon of prismatic hu*a Philip soon arrived and got down to business. He thoughtMr. Carney ought to perform the cere-mony for nothing, since he was also a justice, A half note waa agreed upon. Maggie agreed for the first t ime to be a g,K*d and faithful wife. Phil promised, for the fif:h time, to be a faithful, loving husband.He went out expressing the wish that his w ife would proof a N » 1,” and said that he'd treat her right.Meloy first met her a week ago. Khe vmtrd with him at Sylva Switch two days and then came to town to await the decree.
Newspaper Details
Daily Times
Dubuque, Iowa, US
Fri, Mar 10, 1899
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 25 Sep 2023
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