Miscellaneous, Oxford Elopement - 1891

Oxford Has a Sensation

An Officer Elopes with Another Man's Wife

Chenango American, Aug. 20, 1891

 

Oxford contributed, and Guilford shared in the sensation of an elopement Sunday.  Early Sunday morning Landlord Wade, of Haynes' Tavern, Guilford [Chenango Co., NY], was awakened by a man and woman who said they had come in on the night line and wanted accommodations.  They were taken in, the man registering as Charles Smith and lady.  He was around the hotel during the day, Sunday, but the woman kept to her room, her meals being sent to her.  Monday morning while the hotel clerk was talking with "Smith", George Coe of Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] came into the office, and at first sight of him "Smith" disappeared.  After a time Mr. Coe stated that he was in search of Charles McAlpin, a constable of Oxford, and the wife of his brother, William Coe, who it was supposed had run away together.  The description tallied with that of the two guests at Haynes' Tavern, but when search was made for them it was found that the man and woman had both escaped through the back yard of the hotel.  Later McAlpin was found in the village and arrested on the charge of false registry and attempt to skip his board bill.  The woman was seen by several people along the shore of Guilford Lake, and the last heard of her on Monday was when she was seen to disappear in the woods, going towards North Pond.  It was feared that she contemplated suicide, and a searching party was gotten up in the village.

 

It seems that the couple drove from Oxford to Guilford Sunday night, and attempted to board the night train, but it did not stop.  Another attempt to leave town by the same way Monday morning also failed.  After his arrest McAlpin was taken before Justice Bartle, and later, in company with Constable Burton, drove to Oxford for counsel.  

 

McAlpin returned to Guilford Monday evening with Attorney H.C. Stratton, of Oxford, as counsel, and was soon taken before Justice Bartle.  He finally settled his board bill and the charge of fraudulent registry for $20 and was released.  Mrs. Coe had not returned to Oxford up to Wednesday morning, and nothing had been heard from her so far as known.  It is understood that proceedings for a divorce will be instituted.

 

A dispatch from Guilford Wednesday noon says Mrs. Coe was found wandering in the woods near North Pond by a searching party, Monday night, and was taken to the home of her father, Owen Winsor, just outside the village of Guilford.  She remained there Monday night, but it is understood in Guilford that she has left her father's, and that her whereabouts is unknown.  She left two children in Oxford, who are being cared for by a family named Tracy--Chenango Union

 

 Utica Daily Press, Aug. 15, 1891

 

Last Monday the village was awakened from its usual lethargy by the announcement that Mrs. William Coe had eloped with one Charles McAlpin, a workman in charge of Riverview Cemetery [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY].  Mrs. Coe and McAlpin had been found together by Coe and were ordered from the house.  Sunday Mrs. Coe, as it was supposed, left for her parents' home in Guilford.  She was, however, accompanied by McAlpin, and took rooms in one of the Guilford hotels, registering under the name of Smith, of Syracuse.  The false registering was discovered, and on attempting to skip their board bill the parties were arrested....Mrs. Coe had been found wandering in the woods near Guilford lake.  She was taken to her parents' home but has again disappeared.  C.M. Coe, owing to  her disappearance, is unable to serve divorce papers and further developments are looked for with great interest. 

 

Coe Sues for Divorce

New York, NY Sun, Aug. 30, 1891

 

Norwich,  N.Y.:  Sheriff Kinney has just got back from Guilford where he served the papers in an action for divorce brought by William Coe against his wife, Mrs. Lucia Coe.  Mrs. Coe is the daughter of Owen Winsor, a well-to-do farmer of Guilford, and is young and handsome.  She has been married to William Coe, a reputable young resident of Oxford, about six years, and two children have been born to them.  Their married life was, until recently, apparently happy, but of late, gossips have taken to tattling and the husband has taken to scolding about protracted visits and other marked attentions paid to Mrs. Coe by William McAlpin, a young man who comprises in his own good looking person, the entire police force of the village of Oxford.  The scandal reached a denouement the other night, when Mrs. Coe, after her husband had got fast asleep in bed, stole out of the house and was driven away in a carriage in company with McAlpin.  She took away some of her valuables, but left her children behind.

 

A day or two afterward Mrs. Coe sought refuge at her father's, in Guilford, where she still remains, Policeman McAlpin returned to his duties at Oxford.  Both deny any criminal intimacy, and Mr. Coe has employed able counsel and will stoutly contest her husband's suit for a divorce, maintaining that she was driven from home by her consort's unreasonable jealousy and cruelty and that McAlpin's part in the affair was simply that of a kind friend and protector. 

 

Cortland Democrat, Sept. 11, 1891

 

Mrs. William Coe, who has gained an unenviable notoriety by eloping from her husband and children in Oxford, in company with an official of that town, returned to her home and family Friday evening, and all is forgiven.