Bigamy (1885)

[HughW]

A marriage transcribed at Sheffield Indexers:

THOMPSON, John (Bachelor, age 25, Labourer, residing at Highhouse Terr).

SMITH, Lydia (Spinster, age 20, -, residing at Highhouse Terr

Married November 10, 1884, by Stewart G Craig - curate (Banns) at

St John the Baptist Church, Owlerton.

Groom’s father's name is Henry Thompson (Cutler).

Bride’s father's name is James Smith (Stoker).

Married in the presence of John Traviss, Charlotte Howarth.

Nothing suspicious in that listing, but...

Sheffield Independent 3 Oct 1885 page 6

A SHEFFIELD PAUPER CHARGED WITH BIGAMY.—

In the First Court at the Town Hall on Wednesday,

before Mr. W.K.Pease, Mr.J.H.Barber, and Mr.

T.W.Jeffcock, John Thompson, a young man who was

only the day previous released from Wakefield Gaol,

where he ahd been undergoing a month’s imprison-

ment for having been a disorderly pauper, was charged

with bigamy. – William Wibberly Frogson table-blade

forger, living in Hawley croft, stated that the prisoner

was his brother-in-law. On the 15th September, 1878,

he was present when the prisioner was married to Mar-

garet O’Niel at St. Simon’s Church, and he after-

wards signed the register as one of the witnesses.—A

woman named Howarth, living in Cotton Mill walk,

Deposed to being one of the witnesses to the prisoner’s

marriage with Lydia Smith, at Owlerton Church, on

the 10th November last year. After they were married

they went to live in Copper street – Police-constable

Wallis, a constable stationed at the Fir Vale Work-

house, said the prisoner, his wife, and Lydia Smith

had all been inmates in the Workhouse together. As

soon as it was known that the prisoner had two wives

in the Workhouse it was reported to the guardians,

and proceedings were ordered to be taken in the

matter. The woman Lydia Smith was expecting

shortly to give birth to a child, and was not able to be

present to give evidence.—The prisoner, who offered

no defence, was committed to the assizes.

Hugh