The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-06-29
From the San Francisco Globe.

| "A W HoLESALE P0LYGAMIST.- WecheS and
his 1menty fire Hires Literary Derelop-
meats-1 High Moral 7oae-We have re
ceived some very curious developments in
regard to George W. Weekes the late pro.
prietor of the Athenaum Our information
is entirely reliable, and wonderful as the
details prove to be, they are nevertheless
strictly true Weekes figured throughout
tho United States, in the year 1854, under
the name of Wentworth and his brilliant
career Of swindlins will be remembered by
many of our readers Within space Of
eight months he Established newspapers
In almost every prominent city of the Union
| and had as many wives as he had journals.
He first commenced his career in the ex-
IRENE east and from thence proceeded to
Philadelphia, where he gathered together,
by means OF prospectus, sufficient funds,
to take him West. DESERVING his last wife,
he proceeded to Lexington, Ky, and there
married Miss Hunter Cincinnati next
became his headquarters, and he quickly
created sensation by getting up "weeky"
under the name of Ella Wentworth $ Jour
nal Ills new wife canvassed the city and
State for subscribers, like the late Anna
Cora, and the success Of tho project was
complete. To add still more to the home
treasury, number Of young girls were en-
ployed as compositors, and ian association
of ladies' figured as the editors. Finding
that he had pretty well cleaned the place,
with Mrs. W. No. 4 journeyed to Philade-
phla, where another Ella Wentworth Jour-
nal was advertised, plaearded and canyassed
for.
Taking large brick house in Third
street, he furnished it handsomely, and went
to work on still more extensive SCALE
Finding that one ELLA Wentworth could |
obtain fifty subscribers per day, at one dol |
lar each, he multiplied the Elias by ten, and |
employed ten more for the business rooms |
OF the literary journal, which was to ''ele-
vate the tastes and reform the morals of the |
city Of Penn Posters and editorials from
verdant editors announced that IAN associa-
ton of ladies would manage the paper. and |
none but females would be employed in the |
printing department, counting room" &c |
he young girls, were selected with great
care, pretty face being absolutely necessa-
ry for the purpose Of becoming a Went |
worth.
We do not in the least infringe on truth
when we state that Weekes at this time pri-
vately married six of these young ladies, /
others. So well was tho villainy managed |
that no one then doubted his truth and affec-
ton. He planned trips to all the surround
ing towns sent Ella Wentworths in every |
direction to canvass and promise a local |
journal, while he also published for the time
a very neat and creditabe weekly paper in
Philadelphia.
Wife No. 3, in Cincinnati, who still re-
posed perfect trust in Weekes, having sold |
out the paper there, made her appearance
in Philadelphia, and stopped at one Of the
leading hotels. Here the walters we're mys-
titled by finding three ELLA Wentworths"
were already registered--one mailing from
Harrisburg one York, and one Pottsvile-
they having concluded to visit the city and |
earn what detained their Mr.. W. Exposure |
could not be avoided Weekes took the Gin
cinnati wife, late Miss Hunter, pocketed the |
grand cash received from the other twenty,
suddenly decamped, and left scene Of
heart rending misery behind him, which
pen cannot tell The sheriff took possession
of the furniture; the paper, If course, was
mo where and the poor girls found them
selves destitute aud betrayed
The next operations of Weekes were in
Charleston, South Carolina. Under another
h0uC Will uAoeAoA fdPCA uhA HIS loHulc
canyasser, he was enabled in few weeks to
acquire quite a large sum. With this he
absconded to England, leaving Miss Hunter
withan infant and completely penniless -
After numerous escapes from officers, arrests
for bigamy, and with dozen warrants for
swindling ready to bounce upon him, he
wisely concluded to go abroad; but, in his
usual proyident manner, he provided himself
with Mrs w. No. 25
What his career was in England, up to
the end Of the last year, we have no means
Of knowing, our present information being
obtained from lato resident Of Philadel-
phia, who was yictimized by the fellow and
who, in legal proceedings against him, came
into possession Of the whole details Of his
inflmy.
The arrival of our informant in this city
is supposed to have been tho cause of the
sudden departure Of Mrs. Anna Coras hus-
band As Anna 10 an Englishwoman, it 10
most probable that she was the last acquisi-
ton previous to hurried departure for the
United States. Nearly four years having
elapsed since the flight from Charleston,
Weekes, on his return from England, boldly
commenced his swindling operation in Tex
as and New Orleans, under his real name
A few weeks suficed in that region, and
consequently, in January last, the pair clan.