A PIOUS BIGAMIST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1013, 30 November 1883, Page 2

A PIOUS BIGAMIST.

A bricklayer’s laborer named Alfred John Ellis, aged twenty-two. was arrested on 12th November in Carlton by Detective Charles, on warrant, on a charge of having committed bigamy by marrying one Annie Jackson whilst his present wife, Helen Ellis, was alive. The circumstances of this case are rather peculiar, as the accused is a member of the Salvation Army, and met his second wife rather less than a month ago, her brother being also a member o f the Army. It appears that on the 24th August, 1880, the prisoner married a young woman named Helen Williams at Ballarat, and lived with her until about the middle of last October. Two children were born of the mar-

riage. Siome time ago the prisoner joined the Salvation Array, and according to his own statement he was compelled to leave his wife, as she was not a “ believer.” He accordingly departed from Ballarat, leaving his wife and family to shift for themselves. He came to Melbourne about the 20th ult., and took up his lodgings with a Mrs Jackson, who keeps a small grocer’s shop in Bouverie street, Carlton. By this means he became acquainted with Mr Jackson’s daughter, twenty-one years of age. Her brother was also a member of the Salvation Army, and as a natural consequence the j two men were great friends. The prisoner became enamored of Miss Jackson to such an extent that he was unable to continue his work. His passion to a certain extent must have been reciprocated, as lie persuaded the young woman to marry him, and the ceremony was duly performed on the 31st ult by the pastor of the Methodist Free Church, Gore street, Fitzroy. The marriage took place unknown to Mrs Jackson, but the girl says that her brother was cognisant of it. After the marriage the girl returned home, and remained there two or three days, when she left and went to live in furnished lodgings with the prisoner in Greeves street, Fitzroy. On the third morning she obtained possession of a letter addressed to her husband, which revealed the fact that he was a married man and had left his wife and famiiy in Ballarat. She retained possession of the letter, and left a note for the prisoner telling him she had discovered everything. She then returned to her mother’s house and informed her of what had happened. Mrs Jackson provided her daughter with money, and she went to Ballarat about last Thursday to have an interview with the first wife. The latter was found in great distress, and was afforded some slight assistance by the prisoner’s victim. The result of the interview between the two women was that on Saturday last an information was sworn by the first wife, and a warrant was issued for the prisoner’s arrest.— Argus.