The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-04-06
Stn'l t'piiriiaa 8.r'Dur'nt.


Rev. VIM. d. Potts. GliGs Duvall, an
old residence Of Newark, N. j., has been
convicted Of the 80. |.
MURDER or HIS FOURTH WIFE
at Janesville. Wisconsin, during the pres
ent term Of Court of Oyer and Terminer,
sitting at Elkhorn. DR.. "Duwalr had
been indicted for poisoning his wife, and,
upon trial. the allegations made at the cor
oner's inquest. by the physicians who con-
ducted the post mortcHl examination, were
fully proved. and the murderer was found
guilty and sentenced TO imprisonment foI
life-the highest punishment that under
the laws Of the State Of Wisconsin, could
be inflicted by the Court. The convicted
villain is a Jerseyman by birth, having
been born in. the southern part OF the STATE
near Trenton, where his family was well
connected. In early life he became eler-
gyman. and at the age of ii was widely
known as
THE BOY PREACHER.
He followed this profession UP to the
ace of so. when he took up the practice Ol
medicine. The record of his career is prin-
cipally a record of murders. He had tOuI
wives, two Of whom belonged 10 promin-
ent New Jersey families, and were married
10 the Doctor during his residence IN the
State. The manner Of their death-which
at the time was regarded as suspicious
coupled with the ascertained fact that the
Doctors last wife was poisoned by him,
convinces all who are familiar with the CIR
cumstances that they met their death at
his hands, and lends terrible interest to
the
STORY or HIS LIFE.
Rev. DIR. Potts came to reside in New
ark ten years ago, and opened botanic
dispensary at No l40 Broad street, opPo-
site Trinity Church. He had lived IN
Trenton, where his FIRST wife, young lady
of Plainfeld. had died suddenly and unac.
countable. Her disease was pronounced
by the physieians-who appear to have
been'inhaenced in q great degree by what
DR.. Potts professed-mercurde rheumatism
oithe heart. The first Mrs. Potts had laid
in her grave about one year, when the
widower took up his residence IN Newark
He professed to cure persons Of diseased
by the
LAYING ON OF HANDs,
gave out that he was the seventh sor
Of seventh son, and by these pretensions
and by his botanic dispensary, he succeed.
ed in carrying on profitable business IN
Appearance he was a remarkable man, and
among the residents Of Newark his face
and figure are well remembered. Dressed
in unvarying black, wearing q heavy
beard and long exquisitely dressed hair,
he promenaded Broad street daily, wher,
his presence was always observed with
more than usual interest. His fierce eyes
and singular manner. together with th'
suspicious concerning the death Of hi!
wife, banished him IRON the conhdenc'
and society of his acquaintance
THE VICTIM.
Having made the acquaintance Of ;
young lady Of wealth by some means, h
married her, much against the wishes o
her relatives Mrs. Potts brought he
husband considerable property, which b,
squandered, IN n manner unknown to he
or to his aequaintances After his mar
rage, he lived four years in Newark, an'
only left at last. because
FORCED TO LEAVE
by the suspicion which the death of hi
second wife aroused in the minds of hi
neighbors. She was found, one morning
living dead, at the foot of the stairs lead
ing to her room. There was no persoi
present, according to the husbands story
to witness her death, and the unfortunat
woman was buried without any satisfae
tory account being given Of her death
After this episode of the doctors career
he removed to Buffalo, changed his nam
to Duvall, and
MARRIED A THIRD WIFE,
Miss Katie King, who two years after
I'D suddenly, and without apparent cause
With remarkable good fortune, DoctO
Duvall, escaped prosecution again. an,
subsequently, about one year ago, he wa
married, this fourth time 10 Miss Eliza
beth Moore, of Janesville, Wisconsin
After living with her six months, she wa
in turn, sacrificed, her death having bee
the result of
POISON ADNIS SIsrEEED-BY HER HusBANI
under pretence Of giving her a medica
preparation Upon his trial for this muT
der the Doctor testified in his own behal
and gave an explanation of all circum
stances surrounding the death Of his wife
which, if not satisfactory to the jury, wa
concocted with professional skill, ant
doubtless pleased its author
The progress Of the trial Of this
MONSTER OF CRIME
has been watched by many of the resi-
dents of Newark with more interest thar
usually attaches to the trial Of crimina
in distant State. There will be many
who will learn with satisfaction that thI
Rev. Dr.. isat last likely to receive his de
serts, and that for one of the many afro
cities of which he. has been suspected, hs
will be compelled to atone by life with
in the walls Of prison.
cAneeIation OF the Public Debt.
IN