The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-07-27
THE CHAMPION BIGAMIST.
NAN THAT breaches LIKE MR.. BEECH
Elk, LECTURES LIKE JOHN b. COUCH. AND
ohIe MARRIED LIKE c. O. noMEN

nh, LECTURES LIKE JOHN b. COUCH, AND
"his MARRIED LIKE C. c. BOWEN.
Correspondence of the Sun.
iNDlANAPoLIs, July 3, 1871 There now
Iahguishes in the Shelby county iail one
OF the most interesting culprits / have
ever heard Of. think may multiply
adjective on this fellow.
Charles McWilliams is his name. This
Is not by any manner of means ALI his
names. He has called himself Harry
Wilson and half q score of other taxing
sobriquets. His proper name is supposed
TO be McWilliams, as he was born under
that name some thirty-fve years ago. in
the little village of Crotesviile, in this
| state. As far ne heard from there was
nothing atrocious in his antee edents and
early history. AS may be supposed, he
was comely lad and
THE PET OF THE NEIoHBoRHoop.
In this respect he has held his own re.
markedly well for nearly forty years. He
Is a fine looking fellow and exceedingly
mild hammered. He is tall and graceful,
has good features and complexion, and an
alluring smiie, while the fascination of his
gaze is as irresistible as that ola serpent.
In addition to his personal charms he
has wonderful memory and can preach
like Beecher, lecture like Cough, and
sing like mocking bird.
Last summer he spent at Monrovia, Ind,
where, as an interesting widower, he caused
quite sensation among tho fair. As re-
vivalist, his success was credit to the
United Brethren Church. His success
as a sensationalist was complete when ar
rested and lodged in the Rensselaer, Jail.
AN ACCOMPLISHED CLERGYMAN.
The requisition from another county
was for breach of trust. He had settled
down in q community as a christian
(Campbellite) minister, on the condition
that he should be furnished with horse
and buggy to make tho circuit. Barkis
was willing, and straightway set out on
his mission. In process of preaching he
got doctrinal points of the Church so
mixed up with more liberal plan of sal
walton that he created q disturbance. In
been considered O general row. The ac-
complished gentleman, suufing the breeze
Of discomfort far and near, took unto him
self the horse and buggy and decamped.
For this offence he was arrested and
lodged in the close quarters Of the Jail.
He was waited upon in his new quarters by
couple Of brethren in the faith. He was
asked why he had not preached the doc
trine he had bargained to.
by G., preach better doctrine of
my own, and if you will get me out Of this,
as sure as there's universal salvation, /
will preach for you again"
In connection with his arrest there are
many interesting particulars. When &C.
costed in that friendly way known to pc.
lice officers, with q slap on the shoulder
and n gentle ndmonition that he was
wanted" he replied;
HEALTHY TWIN.
There must be rome mistake"
"You are Charles McWilliams, Of Rens.
selser, late of Monrovia
Mistaken again. never was there in
my life. The fact is, am twin. MY
brother resembles me very much. Nswf
come TO think, believe he did spend last
summer in Monrovia. He is my twin;
looks astonishingly like me-"
you" said the officer, "look enough like
the man we want TO suitu Come along"
The moment they were outside the door
he commenced swearing, and a gentleman
who was present says he never heard such
blasphemy before nor since.
His soft-hearted captors permitted him
to have all the whiskey he wanted, and
by the time he reached the Justices he
said nothing TO criminate himself, as his
captors thought he would when under the
influence Of liquor.
Consigned to the Jail, he still had por-
ton Of whiskey left, and the first thing he
did was 10 compel the few inmates TO go
down on their knees, as he expressed it
TO take the sacrament This blasphemy
over, he IA .ched fiddle from one O, the
cells, and beginning 10 play, ordered the
prisoners to dance. He behaved like a
mad man, and the poor fellows we're forced
to obey him.
Then he formed them ia line and sang
about hundred Hymns to them. As
said before, his voice is really magnificent.
As A BIGAMIsT
also he is great success. He has two
wives in Wisconsin, three in Indiana, and
two in Ohio. As a general thing he mar.
ried daughters Of well-to-do men in what
ever church he happened to belong to.
his favorite mode Of proceeding was to
forge certificates Of license to preach, and
it is astonishing how successfully he car
ried on his system Of knavery within rs-
dius Of a few miles.
On one occasion he was travelling on foot
through the country, when he stopped by
the wsysde at house Of the humblest des-
cription. Upon inquiry he found that the
house had belonged to widow, but on the
settlement Of her husbands estate it was
taken to pay his debts. All the property
she possessed, or had any claim to in the
world was COW and calf.
Williams actually married her that
evening" and tho next morning, with her
consent drove the COW and calf to the next
town, sold them and put the money in his
pocket. That was the last seen OF him by
the widowed bride.
His trial does not come off for several
weeks, and he is hopeful as to the result.
J.. X.