I was researching a different story in 1880 and ran across a story with the headline, “Jim Smith Again.” Jim Smith was an ex-policeman and he appeared in a Racine Daily Argus paper dated August 17, 1880 with these headlines:

He is Arrested Last Night by Deputy Sheriff Donald and Gets Choked

Arrested Later on Charge Adultery

19th century Racine newspapers are full of people getting drunk and beating each other up, but the adultery headline caught my eye. For those who are not sure of the definition:

Adultery is sexual activity between a married person and someone other than their spouse. It is considered morally, religiously, socially, or legally objectionable.

From the Argus:

Immediately after the above case was settled, Smith was re-arrested before he left the office, on charge of adultery. The complaint was made by John P. Jacobson, and he charges that James C. Smith did on the 5th of October, 1879, at the city of Racine, in said county, commit the crime of adultery, with one Caroline Ward, by then and there having casual knowledge of the body of said Caroline Ward, the said James Smith being then and there a married man, and having a lawful wife alive, other than the said Caroline Ward, and the said James C. Smith and the said Caroline Ward not being then and there lawfully married to each other. Jacobson also charges that Smith committed adultery on the 14th day of August, 1880, with Caroline Ward. The girl mentioned in the above complaint is the one known as Carrie Schenkenberger, and on whose account the whole trouble began. Smith is having an examination this afternoon.