George Niles Bigamist - 1880

The Marriages of George H. Niles

Bainbridge Republican, March 19, 1880

 

George H. Niles, a young man who for a short time last winter ran a saloon in this village [Oxford, Chenango Co., NY], was arrested on Wednesday of last week upon the charge of bigamy.  After several adjournments, his examination was held before Justice Brown on Friday, and he was held for appearance at Court, his bail being placed at $1,000, which he was unable to secure, and he was lodged in the county jail.

 

In August, 1876, young Niles was married to Miss Olive Cummings of Smithville [Chenango Co., NY], a woman older than himself and not over intelligent, but possessed of considerable property left her by her parents.  They lived togehter up to within a year, perhaps, and in the meantime had managed to squander a good share of the property, which neither party had brains enough to take care of.  This winter niles came to work in a paint shop in this village, and became acquainted with Mary E. Matthewson, sister-in-law of Zalmon Lamphere, to whom he was married on the 6th inst.  At soon as his second marriage was made known there was considerable talk indulged in, and Mrs. Niles No. 2 entered complaint, and the young man was captured under a bed at the house in the south-west part of the town.  Wife no. 2 says that Niles read her a peper which purported to be a bill of separation and divorce from wife No. 1, and had supposed that he was free to marry again. The paper was produced in Court, and is an interesting document which should be preserved.  It is drawn up "according to the laws of the town fo Greene, Chenango county, State of New York," and is signed by Olvie Niles, and witnessed by Simon Bixby.  Whether the young man believed that the document was valid, or got it to deceive, remains to be seen, his appearance would indicate that the former surmise is the nearest correct.  Mrs. Niles No. 1 was not present at the examinaiton having disappeared it is said. --Oxford Times.

Syracuse Daily Standard, June 3, 1880

George H. Niles, who was arrested in Oxford, Chenango county, last spring, for marring one wife too many; pleased guilty to the charge at the county court last week, and was sentenced to the Elmira Reformatory.