The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1872-01-26
Heavy Marrying businessmen
Wives i'm Six Years.
From ihe New York SUNDAY Dl.patch.


other crimes, in Philadelphia, and who
was seen here few days ago. From
what is known about the career of this
man Seitz in New York, California,
| Pennsylvania and other States, it is safe
to say that he is one of the most auda-
Gus and reckless scoundrels in this
country, and nothing can be more sur
prising than that he should have sue
ceeded so long in keeping out OF the
meshes of the law. As "a polygamist,
especially, his exploits far surpass those
of Contarini, he having married, within
the space Of six years, no fewer than
seven wives, all of whom are now alive.
John Seitz is native of Germany,
and was formerly Clerk Of the Court at
Gruenburg, near Giessens, in the Grand
Duchy of Hesse- Darmstadt. He was
man of liberal attainments, and was
very popular among his fellow citizens.
He was married to a handsome lady,
who brought him dover of $4,000,
and who, in the course of the first five
years of their welded life, bore him
four children. In 1865, Seitz, who had
lived very extravagantly, became en-
barrassed and resolved to emigrate to
the United States. He left his wife and
children at Gutenberg, and embarked
for New York. The first few weeks of
his sojourn in this city were full OF
hardships and privations. Finally,
when he was almost penniless, he secur-
ed place as barkeeper in saloon on
Canal street, kept by a good looking
German widow. The plausible manner
and prepossessing appearance her new
barkeeper made such an impression
upon the heart of the widow that she
accepted his hand when he proposed to
her few days after making his ac-
ouaintance. Seitz Immediately sold his
wife's saloon. and with the proceeds led
for some few weeks life of dissipation.
He then got tired Of her, and one day
drove her out Of the house, telling her
never to trouble him any more. The
poor woman begged him to have mercy
on her, but he coolly informed her that
he had another wife in Germany, and
that she, with her four children, would
reioin him in New York at an early day.
The first wife arrived in this city few
days afterward, and Seitz lived again
with her and her children. The second
wife thereupon preferred complaint
for bigamy against him at the Essex
Market Court, and two detectives were
dispatched to arrest him. Upon reach
ing Seitz's house the officers found him
playing cards with tailor named Rull-
man.
"Where is John Seitz?" asked De.
tective Smith.
Seitz pointed insidiously at the UNI
suspecting Rullman, whereupon the Off
GERS Immediately seized the tailor, and,
despite his indignant protestations that
he was not their man, hustled him OFT
to Essex Market. Meanwhile Seitz hur-
.riedly cut off his long whiskers, put on
pair of green spectacles, and lett the
city. After various adventures In AL
bany and Buffalo, he went to Cincinnati,
where he became pastry cook at the
Burnett House, and married the
daughter of merchant. After living
with her for a few weeks, he disappeared
with his wife's jewelry and large sum
of money belonging to his father-in-
law. His destination was New Orleans,
where he acted as bookkeeper in a
confectionery store, and married
French woman.
This fourth wife turned out to be
much poorer than she had represented
10 SeltZ previous 10 Her anu 81
he Immediately left her in DISGUST.
He next turned up in San Francisco,
Cal, where he eked out a precarious
living as runner for an emigrant
boarding house, until he managed to
ingratiate himself with woman who
kept an assignation house. She had
plenty of money, and, for time, Seitz
led a very jolly life. Somehow or other,
his new wife heard of his former ex
plots, and, in fit of jealousy, drove
him from her house. Under the cir
cumstances he deemed it most prudent
to leave the Golden State. In Salt Lake
City, where he next turned up, he asso.
ciated with gang of horse thieves, and
came, on one occasion, nea. beng
lynched Shortly afterward we find
him at Omaha City, Neb., where he
worked in cigar factory and married
again.
Meanwhile he had constantly CORE.
sponded with his first wife, for whom he
seemed to entertain some affection, and
repeatedly sent her remittances. "A
letter from her one day fell into the
hands of his Omaha wife, who threat
ened to prosecute him. Seitz hastily
left the city, and went to Philadelphia,
where he acted for some time as a
"shover" Of counterfeit money, and,
: as USUAL married again. He told his
new wife that his first had died in Ger
many, and he even showed her that
lady's photograph. The German wife,
, who had all along remained in New
, York with her children, accidentally
learned that her husband was living
with another woman in Philadelphia,
! and repaired to that city to hunt up her
truant husband. After a long search
she found the Philadelphia wife, when
! very angry explanation ensued. The
new wife refused to give him up, but
Seitz made his escape from the city, and
is now believed to be in New York.
{ Some of his former acquaintance have
seen him on the Bowery. He is fine
5 looking man, about forty-five years OF
aye, of medium stature, long blonde
; whiskers, and face that does not 10y
f any means betray the desperate villain
) he is.