The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-03
More Wives than the Law Allos.s-An
x Incident Of Masks and Faces. cts5

| More Wives than the Law Allofys-An
i Incident Of Masks and Faces. sta1
! A young Englishman lately arrived in
this country bearing the aristocratic non,
de plume of Edward Fitz Edwards has been
creating quite sensation out West, though,
| it must be confessed, gaining for himself
anything, but, an enviable reputation.
! There, are some men IN this world who
travel on, their muscle, some who travel on
their shape, and some who depend on their
money-bags to. obtain. for them notoriety :
but Edwards, discarding all examples, scat
tered the tactics OF his predecessors to the
four winds of heaven, and established for
himself course OF action at once different
foorn all sothersiS difficult and dangerous,
but decidedly successful in has case at least.
Edward is young man OF about twenty
seven years of age, Of fine personal appear
ance, well educated, pleasing address, and
with aunexceptional manners, and strictly
orthodex-in fact, just the figure to win.
! Upon arriving in the city he found his
pocket was nearly drained Of its last shil-
ling, and 80 he set his wits to work to re-
plenish it. Having made the acquaintance
of q widow lady up town, he Immediately
set to work to win her good graces, and most
admirably did he succeed. Ascertaining
that she was q sort of relgieuse, he imme-
diately adopted that character, and regu-
larly attended the church of which thelady
was member, seeming Ito all appearanees)
as devoted a lamb as any Of the flock who
ipartook Of the spiritual food offered by the
reverend doctor. He visited the lady often,
and finally, at her request, took Sunday
school class. He was the lady's constant
attendant, visiting, under her inspiration,
the sick---he disbursing her charities, and
giving spiritual comfort to all of her poor
Dependents But, the young mans am
bition ,pined for q larger field, and he
made up his: mind to strike a final blow.
Writing an assumed letter, he had it mailed
from some remote country town in Michi-
gan. It purported to come from gentle
man who had seen Fitz in New York, and
who was perfectly familiar with his hume
-rous Christian qualities and good character.
1t urgently requested him to come to their
town ss.iId join them in the good work there
Of saving souls. 1t also pressed the young
man to obtain, if possible, subscription
from his religious friends in the city to aid
them, as money out there was scarce and
the field large one. Showing this letter
to the lady, he talked long and earnestly
upon the subject, and deplored his inability
to join in the good cause. He was too poor
in pocket, though not in spirit, to take the
trip. Feeling for his forlorn condition, she
generousl ly offered to advance the money,
and also to do what she could in the way of
getting up subscription. To this the
young man would not at first listen, but: the
lady finally, by appealing to his sense of
duty; as Christian, induced him to accept
the loan of 5000, and in the course of few
days quite handsome little subscription
was taken up among the lady's personal
friends, and they bade the young missionary
d God speed. '.'
To Michigan; however, our young adven-
turer did not go, but made q side cut for
the famed city of st. Louis. After residing
here for a short time he courted the ac-
quaintance of q very respectable family,
and became the acknowledged suitor Of the
daughter of that house. Here this devoted
hummer had another attack of benevolence,
which served his purpose, as before, with
out the knowledge of his new-made friends.
Learning that the young lady possessed a
| few hundred dollars in her own right, he
made up his mind to have it, and with that
| intention prosecuted his suit with method
and energy. The lady, charmed by his
agreeable manners, yielded readily to the
destinations he brought to bear, and en-
gagged to become the bride of Fitz.
BY forged letters and false representa-
tions he succeeded in gaining the consent of
the lady's family to her marriage. But
meanwhile his friends in New York, hear
ing nothing about him, began to make in
quiries, and among other facts ascertained
that the money placed in his hands to be
distributed while here had been used for his
own purposes. Parties West were then put
upon his track, and after long search o
clue was obtained as to his whereabouts.
Fitz, learning of these measures for his de-
lection, concluded that his safety lay in
fight, and under some pretence induced his
lady-love to hasten their marriage. The
deed having been accomplished, and the lit
tie bank account being drawn and placed
in the hands of her husband, they started to
seek home beneath more congenial skies.
Hardly, however, had they shaken the
dust of St. Louis from their feet when the
officers of the law overlook them, and pre-
sented to Fitz the familiar features of q
pretty little woman, who produced docu,
mentary~evidence Of her claims upon the
hand and heart of Edward Fitz Edwards.
The sequel is that the chivalrous, reli-
gious, egregious, pestiferous Fitzey at pre-
sent reposes as snug as bug in a Missouri
jail, and Amanda goes back to the bosom
of her family .-Ne1o York Commercial.
|