The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-24
BARRIE BLUE.
The Atrocities of 81 Modern Blue Beard-The
Alleged Murderer of FOur Wives Brought
FINALLY to Justice.


FINALLY to Justice.
Dr. William d. Potts, alias Duvall, an old
resident of Newark, N. j., has been convicted
of the murder of his fourth wife, at GAINESVILLE,
Wis, during the present term of the Court of
Oyer and Terminer, sitting at Elkhorn. DIR.
"Duyall" had been indicted for poisoning his
wife, and upon trial, the allegations made
at the coroners inquest by the
post-mortem examination were fully
proved, and the murderer was found guilty and
sentenced to imprisonment for life-the highest
punishment that under the laws of the State of
Wisconsin could be inflicted by the court The
convicted villain is u Jerseyman by birth, hav-
ing been born in the southern part of the State,
near Trenton, where his family were well con-
nected. In his early life he was Clergyman,
and at the age of fourteen was widely known as
1.-THE boy preacher"
He followed this profession up to the age of
thirty, when he relinquished it entirely for the
practice of medicine. The record of his career
is principally record of murders. He had
four wives, two of whom belonged to proml-
nent New Jersey families, and were married to
the doctor during his residence in the State.
The manner OF their death-which at the time
was regarded as uspicious-coupled with the
ascertaned fact that the doctors last wife was
poisoned by him. convinces all who are familiar
with the circumstances that they met their
death ut his hands, and lends terrible interest
TO the story of his life.
Dr. Potts came to reside in Newark ten years
ago, and opened botanic dispensary at No. 40
Broad street, opposite Trinity Church He had
lived in Trenton, where his first wife, young
lady of Plainfeld, had died suddenly and unac-
countably. Her disease was pronounced by the
physicians--who appear to have been influenced
in great degree by what DR.. Potts professed-
mercuride rheumatism of the 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
diseases by the laying on of hands, gave out that
he was the seventh son OF seventh
a,,oip I,xyh
dispensary succeeded in carrying on profitable
| business. In appearance he was n remarkable
man, and among the residents OF Newark his
! face and figure are well remembered. Dressed
| in unyarying black, wearing heavy beard and
| long, exqusitely dressed hair, he promenaded
| Broad street daily, where his presence was
! always observed with more than usual interest.
His fierce eyes and singular manner, together
with the suspicious concerning the death of his
wife, banished him from the confidence and
| society Of his acquaintance.
Having made the acquaintance of young
| lady of wealth by some means, he married her
| much against the wishes of her relatives. Mrs.
| Potts brought her husband considerable pro-
| perty, which he squandered in a manner un-
known to her or TO his acqualntances. After
| his marriage he lived four years in Newark, and
| only left at last because forced to leave by the
suspicion which the death OF the second vile
| aroused in the minds of his neighbors. She was
! found one morning lying dead at the foot OF the
| stairs leading to her room. There was no per-
son present. according TO the nuSDand story,
| to witness her death, and the unfortunate woman
was buried without any satisfactory account
| being given of her death After this episode OF
| the doctors career he removed TO Buffalo,
| changed his name to Duvall and married a
| third wife. Miss Kate King who, two years
after, died suddenly aud without apparent
cause.
| With remarkable good fortune, DIR, Duvall as
| he was now called, escaped prosecution again.
| and subsequently, about one year ago. he was
| married; this fourth time to Miss Elizabeth
Moore, of GAINESVILLE, Wis. After living with her
six months she was in turn sacrilced her death
having been the result of poison administered by
her husband, under pretence OF giving her a
medical preparation. Upon his trial Tor this
| murder the doctor testified in his own behalf,
and gave an explanation of all the circumstances
surrounding the death of his wife, which, If not
satisfactory, to the jury, was concocted with
professional skill, and 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 than usu-
ally attaches to the trial of a criminal in a dis
| tant State. There will be many who will learn
with satisfaction that he has at last received his
deserts, and that, for one of the many atrocities
of which he has been suspected, he win be COM
PEELED to at0ps by q llte within ths vale Of .
pTiGeH,