Double Life of Robert A. Marks - 1915

Double Life of Robert A. Marks

The double life of Robert A. Marks, son of wealthy Canadian parents and an attendant in the Binghamton State Hospital [Broome Co., NY], ended this morning when a little woman, young and pretty, faced him in a room off Police Court and identified him as the man who married her when she was 17 years old in Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada, in 1902, and as the man who married Miss Laura Delevan of 13 Moffatt avenue, this city, in the home of her parents in Moffatt avenue in 1911.

Marks was arrested at 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon by Detectives Stephenson and Rummer, and as he was being led into police hedquarters, divorce papers were served on him by Detective James Dwyer.

He was arraigned before City Judge Hotchkiss this morning and through his attorney, Harry Walker, pleaded not guilty to a charge of bigamy and was released in $2,000 bail.  Attorney Vere C. Multer, representing Mrs. Marks, and Assistant District Attorney George L. O'Neil appeared against him.

"I couldn't believe what Mr. Multer wrote me," the little woman who came to Binghamton from Canada yesterday said in her attorney's office this morning.  "I hoped there was some mistake and all along, until I saw him this morning, I thought there must be some mistake.  I coulnd't make myself believe that he had another wife."

When the girl he married in 1902 entered the room where he was sitting this morning, Marks looked up quickly and seeing her, bowed his head.  Through the several minutes in which Mrs. Marks talked with her atttorney and officials, Marks did not take his gaze from the floor.

Although Marks has not seen his wife since April 8, 1907, when he went to her home in Smith Falls, Ontario, to attend the funeral fo her brother, he has corresponded with her, and since 1911, it is alleged, has led a double life, living with Miss Delevan, whom he married here, and writing to the girl back in Canada, neither woman knowing of the existence of the other.

Mrs. Marks had with her this morning postal cards which Marks has written to her, addressed to Mrs. R.A. Marks, Smith Falls, Ontario, since he was marred to Miss Delevan. The printing on one card read:  "To my dear," and in what Mrs. Marks says is her husband's handwriting is inscribed on the reverse side:  "Hello.  I have been looking for a letter.  How are you.  (signed) Rob."  This also was addressed to Mrs. R.A. Marks, Smith Falls, Ontario.

Although Marks wrote frequently to her until a year ago last Winter, he never sent her money, Mrs. Marks said and never provided in any way for her support.  She has lived, since he left her in 1905, three years after they were married, with her mother in Smith Falls.

Photograph of Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Marks, taken 

at the time of their marriage in Canada in 1902

Marks and the girl from Canada had a big wedding, two ministers, 200 guests, when they were married on June 25, 1902, by Rev. Robert McKammond.  They lived together until 1905, when, according to Mrs. Marks, her husband was arrested in connection with a default of $650 in the funds entrusted to him by the Rundles Pain King Company of Philadelphia, for which he was an agent.  He was taken to Perch, the county seat, for trial, but the case was settled when his parents paid the company $650.

After this he went to Brockville, Ontario, where he was employed as an attendant in an asylum.  Later, according to letters to his wife, he was transferred to the State Hospital in Ogdensburg and from Ogdensburg he came to the Binghamton State Hospital, where he has been employed six years.

When Marks went back to Smith Falls Ontario, to the funeral of his wife's brother, he begged his wife and her mother to forgive him. Believing his promise, they forgave.  "He told us he had to go away on business, but would return Saturday," Mrs. Marks said this morning.  "This was on Wednesday.  he never came back, and I didn't see him from then until yesterday."

Failing to hear form him for more than a year, Mrs. Marks wrote to Attorney Vere C. Multer of this city, asking information concerning her husband.  Mr. Multer reinvestigated, found the record of Marks' alleged second marriage in the City Clerk's office, and wrote to the woman, telling her that her husband was still living at the State Hospital and that he had married a Binghamton girl, a nurse in the hospital.

The records show that Marks married the second girl on Jan. 24, 1911. The ceremony was performed by Rev. J.B Sweet.  It is evident, according to Chief of Police Cronin, the District Attorney's office and Mr. Multer, Mrs. Marks' lawyer, that Marks has been continuing correspondence with Mrs. Marks and trying to maintain the relations of the past with the view of evading the law set down in the statue of limitations.  If he had averted arrest about one year longer, a charge of bigamy could not have been brought against him, as he would have been married the second time five years.

The divorce papers served on Marks yesterday afternoon charge offense in New York State and the effort to obtain the divorce will be made here under New York State laws.  Mrs. Marks will stay in Binghamton until after the examination of Marks, which this morning was set down for Nov. 17, at 10 o'clock in the morning.  The girl whom Marks married in this city was not in court when Marks was arraigned this morning, and the two wives have not met yet.

Robert A. Marks in 1915