Pine Bluff Daily Graphic

Made His Escape
W. H. Somers Charged with Bigamy Escapes from the Officers.

His Second Wife is Now in Jail, on the Charge of Bigamy.

The man known as W. H. Somers slipped through the fingers of Constable Philipot nicely Saturday morning. Somers is the man who deserted a wife and children in Memphis, then going to Stuttgart, married a woman named Adaline Russell, after which they came to this city and attempted to "paint the town," and were arrested. The couple was held for two days pending an investigation as it was believed that Somers was a wife deserter.

The authorities telegraphed to Memphis, but his wife, who had been in that city, had left and no trace of her could be found, so the officers released Somers.

Saturday morning, however, a gentleman of this city received the following letter, which he turned over to the officers:

"Red Water, Tex., July 1, 1897."

"Dear Sir:—I got to Texarkana all right, but was sick, and baby also. If you ever meet a man by the name of W. H. Somers there, tall, dark complexion, nice looking generally, does hotel work, cooking or dining room, that's my husband. I heard he was in Pine Bluff. If you see him please write to me. I would like to know why he left me. I heard he was with a girl named Adaline Russell. I don't know whether it is so or not, but I know that he is my lawful husband and that his right name is W. H. Moore. Please answer me at once if you see him. I will leave here this evening, so address me at Corsicana, Texas, if you write within a week's time. Good-by, with best wishes.

"Mrs. Alice Moore."

"P. S.—I wanted to tell you this when I was there, but you did not seem interested at all."

"Corsicana, Texas."

On receiving it, Constable Philipot at once started out to arrest Somers. He found him at a boarding house on Chestnut street. The man, in his shirt sleeves and bareheaded, asked the officer, who was sitting in the hall, to allow him to speak privately to his wife. The officer consented and the man and woman walked out on the front porch and talked in a low tone for several moments.

The voices ceased and the officer stepped out to get his prisoner, but he was gone. A thorough search was made, but Somers could not be found.

Other officers were notified of Somers' escape and they started on the chase. Out near the Sulphur Springs road Deputy Constable Taylor saw his man and gave chase. Somers fled to the woods, with Taylor in pursuit. Taylor carries too much flesh (gained since he became an officer) to make a sprinter, so Somers escaped. The officer fired three shots at him, but the distance between the men were too great.

Mrs. Somers No. 2 was arrested, and Justice Vance committed her to jail on the charge of bigamy. Just why this was done is best known to the Magistrate, for the State will never be able to convict her of the crime. Somers is undoubtedly the guilty party, and should be punished, but it is outrageous to visit his sins upon an unprotected woman, no matter if her character is bad.

It is impossible to believe that she would have gone through the farce of marrying Somers, knowing that he had a living wife. She might have gone off with him without that.