The Lexington Herald
07 Dec 1910
ALLEN IS DISMISSED ON A BIGAMY CHARGE
Records Do Not Show That He Was Duly Married In Perry
County
Justice Charles J. Haggin, acting in the place of.
Justice Ben D. Bell, Monday afternoon dismissed the case
against Harrison Allen of Jett's Creek, Breathitt
county, charging him with bigamy.
Justice Haggan dismissed the case against Allen on
the grounds that there was no record produced before him
by Alfred Russell, clerk of the Perry county court, to
show that "a person duly authorized to perform marriage
ceremonies" had, on a certain day of the year of 1880,
performed the ceremony uniting in marriage the defendant
and Mrs. Eda Davis Allen, wife No. 1, who swore out the
warrant charging Mr. Allen with the offense.
Tho records of the office of the county clerk of
that county showed that during the year of 1990
Harrison Allen executed bond that he would carry out
a marriage proposal to the then Miss Eda Davis.
Witnesses to Marriage.
There were filed in the case the affidavits of William
Grigsby and John Smith, each or whom testified that,
they had about the year 1880 witnessed the ceremony
performed by Rev Samuel Combs of Combs Branch, uniting
in marriage Harrison Allen and Eda Davis. The records of
the office of the clerk of the Perry County court also
showed that marriage licenses had been issued to
Harrison Allen and Eda Davis.
Mrs. Eda Allen, who claims affections of the
defendant, sent a letter and an affidavit to Judge J.
Percy Scott a few days ago in which she said that she
understood that Mr. Allen had been married to Miss
Rebecca Gabbert by Justice Bell on June 24. She said
that she had married Allen during the year of 1880, and
that had raised a number of children.
Records Are
Ordered
Justice Bell issued a subpoena duces tecum for the
clerk of the Perry county court for him to bring into
court the records, it there were any, showing that the
license had been issued and the return made by the
regular officiating minister or other person authorized
by law to perform marriage ceremonies. Wife No. 1 says
that she married the defendant and has never been
divorced from Mr. Allen and she claims that on June 24
he committed the offense of bigamy by marrying Rebecca
Gabbert. The defendant before Justice Bell several
days ago admitted that on June 24 he was united to the
Gabbert woman by Justice Bell.
Judge James P. Adams of Jackson, Breathitt county,
was in attendance and represented Alien in the case
before Justices Bell and Haggan. The prosecution was
conducted by County Attorney D. Gray Falconer. Neither
wife No. 1 or No. 2 were in attendance at the trial
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