Two Wives, One Painter, and a Flight to Portland
Seattle painters discover that a co-worker borrowing money for a 'sick wife' actually had two wives and no intention of providing for either of them.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Seattle.—James McCormick, who fled to Portland two weeks ago, is wanted in Seattle on a charge of bigamy. Two young women, married to him at different times, have just found out that McCormick has deceived each of them, and both are broken down over the fact. The Portland police have been notified to arrest the alleged bigamist.
McCormick is a painter, and it was through his fellow workmen that the deceit practiced by him on the two women was discovered. He was in the habit of borrowing money from his working associates under the pretense that his wife was sick. It is claimed that the money never reached either of his wives. The painters found out the facts and informed the women of them, resulting in the warrant which was sworn out in Justice Cann's court by Mrs. Annie McCormick, wife No. 1.
In February, 1901, McCormick married Miss Annie Smith in Victoria. She came west from Missouri several years ago. He lived with her up to the time of his next marriage. Meanwhile the first wife found out that McCormick had been married before. He admitted that he had, but claimed he had procured a divorce.
On January [——] McCormick married a 16-year-old girl, Anna McClure, who was living at the home of her father, on Beacon hill. McCormick disappeared, informing his first wife that he was working east of Lake Washington.
Recently a letter was received from McCormick by his second wife, stating that he was working as railroad foreman at a salary of $200 a month. He sent a copy of the alleged contract made with the company. It is believed this is a forgery.
Mrs. Annie McCormick, the first wife, has a little child, and is in destitute circumstances at her home on Fourth avenue. Anna McClure is still at the home of her father.
“He was in the habit of borrowing money from his working associates under the pretense that his wife was sick.”
A century before dating apps and background checks, a bigamist relied on distance and a borrowed story about a sick wife. His fellow painters — not the law — were the ones who compared notes and blew the scheme open. The detail that both wives were left destitute, one with a small child, is a reminder that the costs of a charming fraud fall hardest on the people who trusted him.
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