New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-21
An EXTRAORDINARY CAREER.
An Insurance Agent with Ten Wives
He Hangs Himself with . Pair OF
From tn. Cedar Fall. iowa, Gszet,s.


n Case, agent for mutual iire-insurance company
located at Madison Wis. He represented himself as
single man, and paid BIS addresses to the daughter Of
M esteemed and intelligent family the name of which
omit by special request The parents did not favor
the suit Case being almost stranger; and his age
nearly 40was deemed unsuitable Tor tho young maiden
ming the girls affections and she, viewing him through
the roseate hue Of her grlish love- with her guileess
nnsuspecting nature believed him all that her fancy
painted him. The parents being determined to prevent
the match avaiied themselves Of temporary absence
on the part OF Case to send the girl to friends at Straw
berry Point. Delaware Co., to get her out OF the way
On his return Case by some means learned her where
about, when ne Immediately sought her.
The result was that the young girl away from home
and the loving which would have saved her yield
ed TO the specious pleading Of artful villain and
consented TO clandestine marriage which effect
ed at Delhi in this State the 20th day Of prl last
Soon after the marriage Case, and she who supposed
herself lbs bonored WIFE returned to her parents at
this place, who seeing that further opposition would
be useless, received them kindly and cordially SO
matters passed on until month or six weeks ago.
hen the father of the lady was informed by citizen
of this place that Case had wife living in Wisconsin
at the time Of his marriage here. As might be ex.
peced this intelligence fell with crushing weight upon
a family whose gooi name was above reproaeh and no
one OF whose members had ever suffered even the
shadow of dishonor to fall their domestic hearth
stone. The father Immediately began investigating
the matter and found the information but too true.
Cautiously lie went to work TO collect the evidence.
having obtained which be had Case arrested the early
part of this week. lie had his examination yesterday
State, and A. T. Brown conducting the defense
The facts developed in tie examination, and learned
from other Trustworthy sources, prove Case to be
villain Of the darkest aye. II il satisfactorily ascer-
tainted that he married not less than five different
women in Vermont and cont guDus States, before COM
mencing bis career IN the West At one time he was
pnyng his addresses to the sister OF lady now living
In this city and she about accepting him when at
the advice of friends she wrote down to another part OF
the State where he had been living for the purpose OF
inquiring into his character. The answer returned
was that he hal wife living there End two or three
children. a happy circumstance would 1t have been
for the unfortunate girl whom he dlshonoTed here had
she taken similar pfccautOn. Since he has been Nest
Case has married less than four other women ana
we understand that at the time Of hi, arrest he was III
tending 10 marry the ith one, Young lazy living IN
this State not a great distance from Cedar FAILS lie
was arrested OF course on the charge OF bgamy The
plea Of the defendant novel one. remarkable Tor
It's barefaced slamefnlncss, its unqualified acknoWi
edgement of hcinOus crime. The defense was this:
In ls60 Case married one Lenora Cady, who be says
deserted him. Shortly ailcrward he married Hannah
Sutherland. the only daughter OF wealthy farmer OF
Green County Wisconsin. Some time after thus mar
/ rage he procured divorce from LenoTa Cady. lie
now claims that be did not commit blgamy IN marrying
the lady IN this race because Hannah was not his law
u wife he having married her before he had procured
divorce from Ienorn. lie Acknowledged that he had
committed higamy. bot II was IN Wisconsin and not IN
Iowa. therefore the Court had no Jurisdiction In the
case and should discharge him from custody. Tho
prosecution offered in evidence certified copy Of the
marriage certificate. showing that Case had been mar
rci in legal form TO Hannah Sutherland. and as tie
/ marriage Win TIE lAnF mere was pIoNfu,
stood convicted Of bigamy and was held to bail in The
o 81 80 tog hi. appearance at the next term oi the
District Court In dcaut Of which BE- was committed 10
the County il. There h doubt bur that Case was
divorced !Iom Ienorl and not until after he had mar
red Hannah he had certified copy ~ the divorce
b Ia ceurt. but II being not properly authenticated.
was Lot admitted a- evidence.
Itwas scene OF thrilling interest when Cases last
victim came into the court room. 50 overcome was
she by her sense Of the degrading nnd humili.ting
position in which she was placed tina; her emotions
well nigh her and she had To be supported ~
her aged mother who accompanied her. IL was wei
that rle was not OBLIGED 20 40 on the witness stand
Tor We do not believe shc could have passed the ter
rihc ordeal. As soon the mother saw Case she
shook her lot % him and exclaimed o. you Infamous
villain n had pistol would shoe. YOU dead on the
spot nnd the ccnched teeth and the flashing eyes Of
the injgIed mother we're IA guarantee that che would
not have been slow TO execute her threat had orpor
funiy offered tlfc snt there with snccring smile on
bis dark swarihy face apparently the least concerned
Of any present: The girl "a noble looking speci'
men II womAnhOod. and those who know her say she
!. a. good as fair. Young aud inexperienced she was
unable to look beneath the max which bid the incar
nation Ofeyii and ell victim 10 the wiles OF one
whose long experience rendered bin competent 10 par
Sue bis Notorious designs with success.
T. just We ~ to press We learn that the prs'
oncr committed suicide tbs morning Last evening
Oncr Ses ions placed Case Ia charge Of A. t. Brown,
WHO took the prisoner to his 10 pass the night
This morning Brown went to breakflsi. leaving tbe
man In bel lantcuhed. as he had been all nigh':
About o'clock Oicer Sessions got The keY ana went
I'D 10 take charge 81 Case. He entered the ouier ONCE
and passed 10 The bedroom when he discovered Case
hanging In the doorway. be having taken par OF
drawers and tied them over the ensom ana ABOUT ms
neck The officer Immediately cut him down and sent
Brown. who had In the meantime come in iOr ph!sl
cian Life howeyef was extinct, and Case hhd passed
beyond all reach OF human laws 10 appear before the
tribunal 81 the Most High. His sefdestruction was
determined effort when discovered. his feet rested
upon the floor. lie must have drawn up DIS knees anu
kept the weight II Lis body upon bis neck until stran
Cuaton took place, aud lac lar gone that no coud
stand upon his feet He et letter to his VIE IN
this Place saying that he did the deed through love of
-. I,.., t..f I'll uIf IN Ia he