William H. Rhine was arrested on bigamy charges after marrying Mary V. Cecil in Washington, just a day after his wedding, as detectives uncovered that he had two living wives from a previous conviction.
The original, juicy article below was published in 1895.
Plight of a Bridegroom
William H. Rhine became, on Thursday night, a bridegroom. Last night found him a prisoner in a cell at the Twelfth Street police station. The charge entered against him was bigamy, the complainant being Mrs. Mary V. Cecil, who resides at No. 812 G Street southeast.
The story of Rhine’s marital escapade with its prison sequel is interesting. About one month ago he made the acquaintance of Mrs. Cecil, who is about forty years of age, and the widow of Joseph B. Cecil, for many years a military and merchant tailor in this city. When Mr. Cecil died he left his widow pretty well fixed with this world’s goods, including the pretty G Street residence. Mr. Cecil was a veteran of the Union Army and also left his wife a widow’s pension to help support his two children, a girl of fourteen years and a son who is in his eighteenth year.
Rhine, who is forty-eight years of age and a plasterer by trade, at once set about engaging the affections of the prepossessing widow. He waited upon her with all the gallantry of a youth and finally won her heart, hand and property.
Created a Commotion
The wedding was set for Tuesday evening at the Independent Methodist Church on Eleventh Street southeast, of which Rev. Mr. Wilson is pastor.
The marriage license was issued Wednesday and its publication in The Times caused a commotion in East Washington among the neighbors of the lady. Among other rumors that found circulation was one which charged Rhine with having another wife living. This was brought to the ears of Mrs. Cecil, and she at once consulted her pastor, Rev. Mr. Wilson, and other friends. They advised her against the marriage, as did her eighteen-year-old son, who said he did not like either Rhine’s talk or manner.
The widow, however, had made up her mind to marry Rhine, and could not be dissuaded. She had a large number of invitations to the wedding issued, and remarked to a friend:
“If Joe has another wife someone will know of it and be present to object to the ceremony.”
The wedding came off at the appointed time and place. There was none present to object, and Rhine won his wife. A marriage supper and reception followed at the home of the bride, which had also become the abiding place of Rhine. On yesterday morning the new husband gave young Cecil employment with him as lather, and then procuring a buggy gave his bride a honeymoon drive about Washington.
In the meantime another feature of the case was being worked up in Inspector Hollinberger’s office at police headquarters. Detective Robert Boardman had read the marriage license notices and remembered that he had arrested Rhine on November 18, 1892, for bigamy. That it was proven he had two wives then, and after a trial Rhine was convicted, and on January 21, 1893, sentenced to serve three years at labor in Albany.
Rhine was in Prison
The records in Inspector HoIIinberger’s office were examined and it was shown that Rhine had served his time, with eight months off for good behavior. Yesterday Detective Boardman with Sergt. Johnson started out to find Mrs. Cecil and notify her that Rhine was a bigamist, had two wives living and had served time for his crime. The officers did not know that the ceremony had already been performed. They met Rhine in the buggy with Mrs. Cecil on Capitol Hill in the afternoon. Detective Boardman stepped up to Rhine and remarked:
“I hear you are going to be married again.”
“I was married last night,” admitted the man with evident confusion.
“Then you will have to go to police headquarters with me,” said the detective.
Inspector Hollinberger interrogated Rhine and ordered his incarceration at No. 1 police station, where he spent last night. It is known that wives Nos. 1 and 2, who were the means of sending Rhine to the penitentiary in 1893, are both alive. In fact No. 2 will appear in the police court this morning with Widow Cecil, who is now No. 3, to prosecute the plasterer.
Rhine was seen in his cell last night, and said he was advised by a lawyer, to whom he paid a fee, that he could marry the widow Cecil without danger of arrest, as his incarceration in the penitentiary annulled the former two marriages.
Source: The Morning Times (Washington, D.C.), September 7, 1895
