The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-09-27
A cONFIDING WIDOW.
Hov She Was Betrayed bg President HayeS's
NephelO

In November last Timothy j. Hayes,
an engineer on the Central Pacific Rail
road, who presided over engine No. 10,
between Wadsworth and Winnemucca,
in Nevada, was discharged with his fire.
man, one Thompson, for breaking into
the room of the station master at Rasp-
berry Station and stealing some property
from him. He came into this city and
became a frequenter Of a saloon at No.
l15 Jackson street, maintainedby George
M. Briggs, The latter occupied room
in,the house of Mrs, Sophia f. Bnrton, a
clairvoyant practitioner, at No. 242 Fifth
street. Through the kindness of Briggs,
Hayes and his dereliCt fireman were
favored with an introduction to the lady,
and also took rooms in her house. Hayes
was a young man of fascinating appear
ance and skilled in the line of captivating
susceptible women, and he had been in
the house but a few days when he began
to tender his affection in the most effu-
sive manner Mrs, Burton was comforis
ably situated, having amassed about
$4,000 by her frugality and industry,
and it is fair to presume that the engineer
had previously learned that fact, Briggs
was enthusiastic the cause OF his friend,
and assured Mrs. Burton that Hayes,
and not he, owned the saloon. After
comparatively brief Courtship they were
engaged to be married Before the mar
riage, however, Mrs. Burton had valu-
able gold watch and chain, valued at
$500, purloined from her. A detective
visited the house, but the property was
found in bureau. Hayes acknowledged
having taken it, for the purpose OF
making her more careful in future. Mrs
Burton bought suit of wedding clothes
for her prospective husband, and also
purchased the marriage license. On May
26th they were married by Rev. Thomas
Guard. Mr.. Briggs, who had been 30
successful in match. making, sold out his
saloon and moved from Mrs. Burton's
house TO No. 256 Fourth street, a lodging
house kept by female detective. he
Immediately began to make love to her,
and by way of induCement to her to re-
ciprocate exhibited certificates of deposit
on Wells, Fargo & Co., for $24O; on the
London and San Francisco Bank for
$40, and a bank book showing a deposit
of 81 900 in a Sacramento bank. The
certificates were all in the same hand
writing, however, and the female detec-
tive doubted their genuineness, ,butacc p"
ed him as a suitor. Briggs and Hayes
then departed for the country, with the
purpose of choosing farms for themselves
and wives. Hayes induced his wife to
give him 5000 to defray expenses. They
went to Santa Rosa, whence they wrote
glowing accounts of the farms they had
chosen. When they returned Hayes
pretended that he had negotiated for the
purchase of farm near Santa Rosa for
$4,000, although it was worth about
$4,000. He desired his wife'to advance
81 1000 and he would pay the balance
when his money arrived from the East.
He expected $1,000, he said, from his
estate, and President" Hayes, his
fathers brother, was executor OF the
estate.
On June 9th, Mrs. Hayes drew $1,000
and gave it to her husband. In few
days he returned with a supply of fruit
and vegetables, which, he said, he had
picked on the farm himself. He also
presented deed Of farm. On June
10TH he left again, taking his wife's watch
and chain, which he had worn since
their marriage, and disappeared utterly,
leaving Mrs. Hayes disconsolate, lacking
a husband, $1,000 in money and valu-
able watch and chain. 1t has been as
certained that Hayes has wife and child
in Chillicothe, Ohio, and that while run
ming the train in Nevada he was making
ove to two sisters at the same time, one
1t either end of the line. Neither Briggs,
Thompson nor Hayes has since turned |
lp.-San Francisco Chronicle.