The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-27


Gay Lethario--ssT ne Esgaltnans.usd
Ian" ON 1a4s FsaveIs-An AStonn6s
iHE Career or vtliainy. G. 80. SIS ]
A correspondent Of the Detroit Free
f-ess tells the following:
There is now incarcerated In gloomy
dungeon In the Washtenaw county fail, and
awaiting his trial for bigamy at tie Febru-
ary term OF the circuit court, one of the
most married men to be found this aide of
Salt Lake City. His name is William Nc.
Carly, somewhat Familiarity known as che
"!Lightning-Ro Man. q.
The "make up" of this fascinating
matrimonial genius is rather calculated to
ensnare confding feminines, and to cause
their susceptible heart-strings to vibrate
with vehement muchness when In his be-
wildering presence. Last summsrM Carly
made his appearance in the usually quiet
little city of Tpsilanti In his uneoualted
role of "The Lightning-Rod Man" BE
drove fast horse; wore apparel of the
most faultless cut and style; his raven
ringlets were always redolent Of sweet per.
fume he bore in an enormous pocket-book
the most convincing (bogus) testimonials of
high moral character he could MARBLE
Beautiful Isle of the Sea - in most en-
trancing manner; and his rendition Of Cap
tain Jinks upon the clarionet was perfectly
irresistible. Then, too, he was an elegant
conversationalist.
the good graces of widow lady living in
IIa MT 10 IL
about four months ago there was 8 first
class wedding at her house, and Mr.. Nc
Carly was again seriously married man.
But William was gay deceiver'; and
once married, retired from business, OBJ
tanning pecuniary assistance from his wife
only to squander it. His means exhausted,
he returned time and again Qike the re-
nowned SOLVER Twist'') for "more,"
until by chance the victim Of his wiles dis
covered letter written by woman in
lonia, which bore unmistakable evidence
that there was more than one claimant for
the proud title Of Mrs. McCarty. A charge
OF bigamy was preferred against him, and
he was duly arrested and lodged in jail.
Detectives were employed, prompt investi-
cations followed, and link by link chain
Of evidence was forged that stamps Nc
Carly as a scoundre1. Twenty years ago,
when only eighteen years of age, he was
married at the village of Ayr, Ontario, to
one Maria Cope, then in her sixteenth year.
Upon two different occasions he deserted
his wife for the companionship of other
women, and, firing of them, was again re-
ceived back and forgiven by the deserted
His next move was to Ionia county, in this
State. Many residing in the township of
Keene, in that county, will remember his
cruel desertion of his family while living
there. For nearly two years the forsaken
wife with her two little girls were left in a
miserable home in the woods, solely depen.
dent upon their own labor for the scanty
support which they obtained. During the
war McCarty, being imbued with patriotic
desire to fill the ranks of our army, return.
ed to Canada and engaged in crimping, u
or in enticing men over the border and sell
ing them for substitutes.
While in Canada he succeeded by means
of fair promises in inducing his niece, q
young girl of fine personal appearance, t.
accompany him to this side of the border
under pretence of visiting his family
Upon arriving at Detroit he at once tool
ler 10 NOTORIOUS ueu VI 1u-lame, ITou
which, upon discovering it's true character
she escaped, and having little money O.
her own, succeeded in returning home. II
the fall of 1866, at Ovid, in this State, h
married one Nellie Davis, lived with he
for time, obtained all her property, ant
then deserted her. Broken-hearted ant
almost penniless, she left the State, ont
her whereabouts ore now unknown.
1t is quite impossible to make any cor
rect estimate of the probable number o
women now in existence who have beer
lawfully welded to William McCarty, bu
there is good reason to believe that Their
are one or two who have not yet been dis
covered. Words fail to adequately pain
the character of this social vampire, who's
pastime for years has been the foul Grim
of bigamy. A just and speedy punish
ment should be inflicted upon him, whicl
shall serve as warming to the hordes o
unprincipled adventures who throng tn
ranks of society and bring ruin and desc
lation to many family circle.
I'll. Nav vorly Dom ocrof covo }hot Mr.