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Seven Wives and Seven Prisons by L. A. Abbott
Book, page 31 / 105


comply, five men who had entered my room pulled me out of bed, and
almost before I could huddle on my clothes I was handcuffed. Then
one of them, who said he was a constable from Easton, showed a
warrant for my arrest. What the arrest was for I was not informed. I
was taken down stairs, put into a wagon, the men followed, and the
horses started in the direction of Easton. By Scheimer's on the way,
and I could see a light in Sarah's window. I remembered how in, all
the Bedlam in the house that morning she still cried out: "I will go
with him." I remembered how, only a few months before, she had been
brutally flogged in that very chamber, to "get the devil out of
her." I remembered, too, the many happy, happy hours we had passed
together. And here was I, handcuffed and dragged in a wagon, I knew
not whither.

This for thoughts-in the way of action, was all the while trying to
get my handcuffs off, and at last I succeeded in getting one hand
free. Waiting my opportunity till we came to a piece of woods, I
suddenly jumped up and sprang from the wagon. It was a very dark
night, and in running into the woods I struck against a tree with
such force as to knock me down and nearly stun me. Two of the men
were on me in an instant. After a brief struggle I managed to get
away and ran again. I should have escaped, only a high rail fence
brought me to a sudden stop, and I was too exhausted to climb over
it. My pursuers who were hard at my heels the whole while now laid
hold of me. In the subsequent struggle I got out my pocket knife,
and stabbed one of them, cutting his arm badly. Then they
overpowered me. They dragged me to the roadside, brought a rope out
of the wagon, bound my arms and legs, and so at last carried me to
Easton.

It was nearly daylight when I was thrust into jail. There were no
cells, only large rooms for a dozen or more men, and I was put, into
one of these with several prisoners who were awaiting trial, or who
had been tried and were there till they could be sent to prison. It
was a day or two before I found out what I was there for. Then a
Dutch Deputy Sheriff, who was also keeper of the jail, came and told
me that I was held for bigamy, adding the consoling intelligence
that it would be a very hard job for me, and that I would get five
or six years in State prison sure. I was well acquainted in Easton,
and I sent for lawyer Litgreave for assistance and advice. I sent

 
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