Jacob Lape
The Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 19 July 1905, page 5
Submitted by Carol Sanman 31 October 2019
WIVES OF LAPE TELL OF HIS MISDEEDS
The wives of Jacob Lafe (sic) who is wanted in Newport on a
bigamy charge, are making a combined effort to locate him. Lafe skipped out
last week, before the officers could arrest him, he having learned in some way
that his wife in Newport had made affidavit that he had a wife also in
McKeesport, Pa., whom he deserted in 1902. Mrs. Lafe of Newport married her
husband a little over 2 months ago. but his cruel treatment caused her to have
him arrested. She said that Lafe had attempted to kill her, but the evidence
Judge Moore held was not strong enough to convict on that charge, and he was
dismissed.
The next day it was learned by relatives of Mrs. Lafe in Newport that Lafe had a
wife in McKeesport, and an affidavit charging bigamy was filed in Squire
Hutchinson’s court, and a warrant was issued for his arrest, but he escaped the
officers. This morning Mrs. Lafe No. 2 received a letter from wife NO. 1, in
McKeesport, telling further of Lafe’s perfidy. It seems that Lafe, while acting
as guardian of his wife’s sister in McKeesport, drew out of the bank $700 in
cash belonging to her and made off with it. The woman he defrauded has since
died, and all efforts to recover the money were futile. The following is a copy
of the letter received by Mrs. Lafe, of Newport:
McKEESPORT, July 17
“Dear Friend—I received your letter this morning and was glad to hear from you.
My maiden name was Emma Maines and I was married to Jacob Lafe at Youngstown,
O., Dec. 28, 1889, by Rev. Craft. of the M.E. Church. I have three children
living and two dead. Elsie Hardy is my half-sister. and she had money left to
her from her father’s estate. Not being of age, my husband was appointed
guardian. He placed the money in bank in the summer of 1901. My husband lost his
position during the strike of 1902 and he went to St. Louis to work. He drew
the money before going and that is the last I ever heard of him until your
brother wrote. Since 1902 my sister died and my mother has not been able to get
a cent of the $700 Lafe carried away. You have my sincere sympathy. Yours
respectfully, “MRS. EMMA LAPE, 2720 Fifth-ave, McKeesport,
Pa."