The Sun.
London, England, 1858-10-28 00:00:00

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—Oct. 27.

MANSION-HOUSE.—Mr. E. H. Coleman, clerk
to the registrar of seamen, Board of Trade, Adelaide-
place, London-bridge, attended at the justice-room
for the purpose of calling the attention of the Lord
Mayor to the practices of a miscreant whom he had
every reason to believe had married several wives,
and after living with them for a few days, had
deserted them. Mr. Coleman said—Numerous
inquiries have been made a t our office within the
last eight months for a person describing himself
as master of a merchant ship, who assumes various
names, but the initials in every case have been
" G.G.," those letters being engraven on the back of
a gold watch which he usually carries about his
person. He is about 35 years of age, five feet two
inches in height, has light hair, wears a profusion
of whiskers and moustache, and very delicate hands.
He states that his vessel is at Southampton, and
that he makes short voyages. He is often known
to be perusing medical works, and says that he
once acted as an accoucheur on board a ship, and
that hir watch and £5 were given to him for saving
a life at sea. The inquiries at the office have
invariably been made by females, who frequently
refuse their names and addresses, but marriage
in each case appears to have been the subject
which brought them to the office. On the
3d of May last this man married at St. George's
Hanover•square, a young lady in the name
of George Geer. He left her five days after-
wards under the pretence of joining his ship,
and has not since been seen by her. Another
young lady, named Miss , lately called
and made inquiries respecting this man, and
I then learned that she had been asked at St.
George's, Borough, on the 14th August, and was
to have been married to him in the course of a few
days in the name of Gardner. Not having seen or
heard anything of the party, she applied at our
office for particulars of his ship, &c., when I in-
formed her that he was already a married man, and
sent her to the lady who is now desirous of expos-
ing his wicked acts, and of ascertaining, if possible,
whether she is his lawful wife or not. She is also
desirous of putting other females on their guard,
which can only be done by the particulars of the
case being made public..
The Lord Mayor—Do you believe the man to
whom you refer to be the master of a ship ?
Mr. Coleman—No ; I believe he is either doctor
or purser.
Mrs. Geer, who appeared to be about 22 years of
age, and was possessed of considerable personal
attractions, stood forward, and, in answer to the
Lord Mayor, said that the man who had married
her told her that he was going to Southampton to
join his ship, but he never returned. He only lived
with her five days.
The Lord Mayor—How did you become ac-
quainted with him ?
Mrs. Geer—l accidentally met with him. I know
that I acted with great imprudence, and I never
before made acquaintance with a stranger, but he
followed me home and insisted upon becoming
acquainted with me and upon being introduced to
my friends. He told me he had no relations in
existence except an uncle, and that it was not con-
venient to take me to that relative's house.

Mr. Coleman—This lady only heard of him
through me, because of other inquiries.
The Lord Mayor—You do not know 'whether you
are his legal wife or not ?
Mrs. Geer—No, my lord.
The Lord Mayor--If he treated you in this man-
ner, he may have treated a hundred more in a
similar way.
Mrs. Geer—No doubt.

The Lord Mayor—He is a good-for-nothing fel-
low. There is every reason to conclude that he has
married others besides you.
Mrs. Geer—My lord, another person is in court
whom he was about to marry, in the name of
Gardner, at St. George's Church, Borough.
Mr. Colemanlt is always "G. G." Those ini-
tials are on the watch, although the name is
changed when he proposes marriage.
Miss —, the young lady
referred to by Mrs.
Geer, came forward and said she had been asked
three times in church, and E day fixed for her mar-
riage to Geer.
The Lord. Mayor—Did he expect to get any pro-
perty with you ?
Miss Yes, but he appeared so honourable
a man that nobody could doubt- his word. He said
he was most anxious that the property should be
entirely settled upon me in case he should prove a
aende heartrally
bad husband to me. (A laugh )
The Lord May
or—Men of his stampof
bg
only men
begin in that way. It is
who commence in that strain.
Miss —After promising me marriage he was
away for nearly three weeks, and during his ab-
sence I learnt from Mr. Coleman that he was
already a married man.
The Lord Mayor—l wonder the fellow got tired
so soon of his marriage with you, Mrs. Geer. He
must be a hard-hearted wretch, to run away after
only five days of married life with you. I wish
I had him here. If I could do with him what I
should like, he never should have another wife. I
should not mind hanging such a fellow. I think
if ever a man deserved hanging it is for deceiving
a woman, particularly under such eircumstances as
have been disclosed here to-day. It is the vilest
act of which a man can be guilty. It will be
some satisfaction probably to each of you to see
him in the dock on a charge of bigamy. I cer-
tainly should like to see him tried upon that charge
at the Old Bailey. I trust that what has occurred
here to-day will appear in the newspapers, and I
have no doubt that its publication will bring half•
a-dozen other young ladies here. I will lend every
assistance I possibly can to bring such a vile
wretch to justice. He will have no mercy at my
bands if be comes into them, I feel deeply for the