Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-11
BOLD VILLAIN
He Marries Eleven, Perhaps More, Wives.

Correspondence Of the Chicago Journal
FREEPORI, Ill, Jan. 27.-Some months ego
there appeared a man of polite and !. taxing
manners in town OF Southwestern WISCONSIN,
where he represented himself to De returned
Californian named Ferguson, and was boaStfui
Of his riches and of his adventures He there
ip.ratisted him self into the confidence Of fair
vnung lrdy, who was foolish enough to believe
all he said and consented to become his wife.
They were msrried. and he directly afterward
LETT for parts unknown.
lie was next heard Of, under the name of
Hovt. in q town in 10 Davies county, Ill.
where be became the ''lion, won the hearts
nf some half dozen young women, and married
cae. He staid with bis new young wife few
days got credit among merchants and others,
and turned up one day missing. lie next turns
up. under another name, in the town Of Nora, in
tie same county, buying farm for 5000, but
goes of without paying for it or his hotel bill.
Next we hear vf him in West Point, in this
(Stephen-On} county, trying to buy up the
debts Of man who is in California, but whose
wife resides in that place; makes great four
ish, evidently with the design of ingratiating
himself into the good graces OF the Californian s
grass widow. in which fortunately he fails.
He then goes to one Mr.. Vale. W hose husband
/, IN California, pretends to be particular
friend of Nr. Eale-ssys that he owns line of
steamers running between San Francisco and
New leans; that he has recently returned
Finally proposes marriage to Mrs Vale; she
objects; he persuadeS her that inasmuch as her
husband is absent in California, Its all per-
feytIy right and proper" they are married; in
a tiay or two he hires n cutter of livery man,
for one two. or perhaps ss many as six days;r >
livery man lets him have il; livery man after
wards suspects something. and sends constable
sfter him; finds him ut Waldam's GrOye-re-
euIn- with hiin-''all right then accused the
livery man Of stealing his pocket book contain
ing gold slugS.' currency and notes, gets
greatly excited, and threatens rash proceed
ings. Livery man is not to be scared and Will
Waddam (the name he had there assumedl
was taken suddenly i'll with the Panama fever;
rad bad dreams-Saw coffin and grave.
II was nothing but ruse to get good Oppor-
funity to absquatu!ate.
Fortunately about that time, on the strength
II an advertisement describing a scoundrelly
confidence man who had married two women
in the adjoining county of Boone, he was ar
reSted-the Sheriff Of Boone was sent for. The
confidence man" aforesaid was advertised as
having the letters j. T. L. and various fig
Gres Of pistols and bowie knives. etc, printed
on his arms The arms of this man being ex-
enlned, were found to have said inscriptions
thereon the letters y. L. T" standing for
John L Travis, the recreant son Of q respect
able family in Roscoe, Winnebago county lie
was very sick when the arrest was made
wouldn't "2t-wOuldnt 5peak-wouldnt do
anything. he was $50 weak and $50 miser-
able" The Boone county Sheriff summoned a
physician, u no pronounced his sickness sham
Travis. alias Ferguson, alias IIOyt, alias Wad-
1s.u. and some half a dozen other aliases was
haudcufcd aud taken to B.lyidere, Boone
county, where he is now locked up. This
Travis Is as great a scoundrel as lives unhung
1t has been reliably ascertained that he hus
within the last few months married and swim
dled 10 less than eleven different women, con-
fdinS young ladies and foolish widows. He
was some years ago sent to the Illinois State
prison from Winnebsgo county for the crime
Of larceny, and having served out his time,
probably went to California. and after prac-
tising all the villainy he could there and else
where, returned to Northern Illinois, where
he has sgain reached 1.-The end Of his rope"
ABOUT Su.-An English clergyman named
Robert Mcguire. was Il short time since acouit-
ted on a charge of having, in a railway car, in
truded one Of bis legs too far within the folds
of a lady crinoline. The magistrate dismiss
ing the complaint, in delivering the opinion of
court, took occasion to express his opinion upon
matter which had not been brought before
the court, namely, the merits Of crinoline. He
ssid
Before 1 proceed to the next business, 7
wish, however, 10 make a few observations
urCE the style Of dress now worn by the faiE
sex. | have often felt it my duty TO express
In terms OF the strongest disspproYal, my Opin-
Ion on this fashion called eriLoline. I had er-
tertalned the hope that the many accidents
which have arisen from its use. coupled with
the udlcule which witty member Of the press
has thrown upon it, would have led to its dis
continuance by those who should set an exam
pie OF 4 modest and suitable attire. Far from
TINS being the case. II tappears daily toincrease
IN sbsurdity. | have come to the conclusion
shat, since accidents have failed To exert any
influence, since moreover it would seem that
bur -ia
ri ladies 70 iliterate Seulicry nsids, il is nec-
es-aEy to take some other means for its imme-
date suppression. IL is to be tolerated no
longer. that, through it vile and indecent
agency, the character of honest men are to be
brought into question, and the name of woman
10 De held up to youth as the mindless follower
Of Immodesty and shameessness I shall now
direct the officers Of the court to bring before
me those who are guilty Of following this lostb-
some fashion; and if through this agency the
PTncuce cannot De pu, stop 70, the power of
puollc opinion is indeed small | trust the
P:,s' VIII furnish space for these remarks, and
VIII also ASSIST my endeavor. by giving the Mt.
most publicity "a the eases if any, that are
brought before me-"
E The earthquake which was felt in Gua-
temaia on the evening Of the sth ult., did much
damsge In Salvador. At Dolores Izaloo. the
par'-n church ws> totally destroved-tbe two
towers sud bells falling. and the walls being
broken ON sill sides II il mentioned a. re
markaDie that the chapel in which stood the
i'nages oi 'ioS F"gsneS ae CoHcept,on u Do
ceres sione remained intact Thirtv.two
1"u:es ieii 10 the grnund, and all were injured
nuFlhg the night sew eral other shocks did so,ro
A -, In