A WOMAN WITH THREE HUSBANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7782, 30 October 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

A WOMAN WITH THREE HUSBANDS.

Some curious facta have been revealed in a case heard before the County Magistrates at Burnley, James Saunderson, quarry man, was summoned to show cause why he should not contribute to the support of his wife, whom it was alleged he had deserted. The woman, it appears, was first married to a man named Lancaster, whom she last saw iu America 34 years ago, when she prosecuted him for bigamy. Without knowing whether her first husband was dead or not, she was married again a few months after arriving in England to a man named Shaw. She had not enjoyed connubial bliss with i him for many months when he was sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude. A separation of so long a period was too much | for the unfortunate woman, and, after waiting for the space of twelve years, she was linked in matrimonial bonds to Saunderson, with whom, however, she did not get on so happily. For attempting to murder him, she was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude, but was released about twelve months ago after serving seven years. She lived with him a short time on returning from prison, after which they parted, and had not resided together since. In answer to questions, the woman was unable to say whether either of her two former husbands was dead. She had not heard from the first since she prosecuted him for bigamy, and from the second since he was transported, tthe had no family. The defendant's solicitor contended that his client was not liable for the woman's maintenance, seeing

that she had committed bigamy, and the case was adjourned in order that the magistrates' clerk might look up the law on the point.