would sign an acknowledgment that I was a married man when I married
Sarah Scheimer, and would leave the State forever, I could get out
of jail; would I do it? I told him I would give no answer till I had
seen my counsel.

Well, the next day Lawyer Sitgreave came to me and told me I had
better do it, and I consented. Shortly afterwards, I was taken to
court, for the first time in this whole affair, and was informed by
the judge that if I would sign a bond not to go near the Scheimer
house or family he would discharge me. I signed such a bond, and the
judge then told me I was discharged; but that I ought to have gone
to State prison for ten years for destroying the peace and happiness
of the Scheimer family. Truly the Scheimer family were a power,
indeed, in that part of the country!

My lawyer gave me five dollars and I went to Harmony and staid that
night. The next day I went to an old friend of mine, a Methodist
minister, and persuaded him to go over and see what Sarah Scheimer's
feelings were towards me, and if she was willing to come to me with
our child. He went over there, but the old Scheimers suspected his
errand, and watched him closely to see that he held no communication
with Sarah. He did, however, have an opportunity to speak to her,
and she sent me word that if she could ever get her money and get
away from her parents, she would certainly join me in any part of
the world. I was warned, at the same time, not to come near the
house, for fear that her father or some of her brothers would kill
me.