This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: RMurray99 Surnames: Lutman Cressley Williard Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.pennsylvania.counties.indiana/6446/mb.ashx Message Board Post: 14 Jun 1911 - Indiana Evening Gazette BIGAMY CASE FULL OF INTEREST Fair Defendant Intimates That She Was Drugged on Fateful Day The case next called was that of the Commonwealth vs. Lulu Cressly charged with bigamy. The Commonwealth called the following witnesses: John Lutman, B. F. Keatting, Kellar Harris, Nellie E. Boucher, Elmer Cressly, H. M. Con rath, Squire Munshower, Lon R. Adams, A. C. Shank and J. A. Grossman. The commonwealth claimed that the defendant, had been married to John Lutman in Ebensburg in the spring of 1909, the ceremony' having been performed by a minister there. Lutman testfied to this effect and a marriage certificate was offered in evidence, but was not admitted. Nellie E. Boucher, who was employed in the Cookport postofflce, said that the defendant had lifted letters there addressed to Mrs. John Lutman. She said it was generally known that Lutman and Miss Lulu Williard had been married. Kellar Harris and J. A. Crossman testified that the defendant had acknowledged to them, after her arrest, that she had been married to Lutman but, because he was drunk at the time, she didn't think the marriage was legal. In her own defense Mrs. Cressly said that on the day of the alleged marriage to Lutman they left Cookport in a buggy with the intention of going to her home near Rochester Mills. He had bought her some candy, some chewing gum and a bottle of pop. The thing she remembered of that journey after having reached Lovejoy, was on the following morning when she awoke in a strange room and found herself in a bed with Lutman. He informed her that they were married, and she began to cry. On the floor were a number of empty bottles which she thought were beer bottles. Lutman was in a maudlin condition. That day they went back to Cookport and she resumed her work as a domestic in the Cressly household. Lutman visited her on several occasions, but had never contributed to her support. After two years she supposed that even if she had married Lutman, of which she professed ignorance, she was free because of his neglect, and she married Elmer Cressley with whom she was living when arrested. She denied that she had received mail addressed to Mrs. John Lutman, or that she had acknowledged her marriage with Lutman to Kellar Harris or Squire Grossman. Elmer Cressley, the present husband of the defendant, testified that Lutman had denied to him that he had married Lulu Williard ; that he had not thought that there was any obstacle to his marriage to her when they were wed in the spring. A lot of corroborative testimony was heard. The case went to the jury about 2:20 Tuesday afternoon and up to this time they have not agreed upon a verdict. The jury found the defendant guilty, but recommended her to the leniency of the court. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.