The daily gazette., 1877-09-15
WIsTARsBALSAM A CONFIDING WIDOW.
Row shs Was 8etrryed by Prssidsnt
= Hayes Nephew.


From the San Francisco Chronicle.
In November last Timothy J. Hayes,
an engineer on the Central Pacific Rail
road, who presided over engine No. Is,
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 to this city and be-
came frequenter of saloon at No, 115
jackson street, maintained by George n.
Briggs. The latter occupied room in
the house of Mrs. Sophia F. Burton, a
clairvoyant practitioner at No. PAP Fifth
street. Through the kindness of Briggs,
Hayes and his derelict fireman were fav-
ored with an Introduction to the lady and
also took rooms in her house. Hayes
was young man of fascinating appear
ance and skilled in the line of captlvat-
ing susceptible women, and he had been
in the house but few days when he be-
gan to tender his affection In the most
effusive manner. Mrs. Burton was COM
fortably situated, having amassed about
S35, 700 by her frugality and industry,
and it is fair to presume that the engi-
neer had previously learned that fact.
Briggs was enthusiastic in the cause of
his friend, and assured Mrs. Burton that
Hayes,an not he, owned the saloon. AZ
ter comparatively brief courtship they
were engaged to be married. Before the
IN arriase, however, Mrs. Burton had
gold watch and chain, valued at $500,
purloined from her. A detective visited
the house, but the property was found in
a 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, aud also purchased
the marriage license. On MAY 20 they
were married by the Rev. Thomas Guard
Mr.. Briggs, who had been so successful
in matchmaking, sold out his saloon and
moved from Mrs. Bur:on's house to No.
256 Fourth street, lodging house kept
by female detective. He Immediately
began to make love TO her, aud by way
of inducement to her to reciprocate ex-
hibited certificate of deposit on Wells,
Fargo X Co. for $3.50, on the London 4
San Francisco bank for $40, and a bank
book showing deposit Of $1,000 i'll a
Sacramento bank. The certificates were
all in the same hand writing, however,
and the female detective doubted their
genuineness, but accepe ed him rs suit
or. Briggs and Hayes then departed for
The country with the purpose OF choosing
farms for themselves and wives. Hsyes
induced bis wife to give him $500 to de-
fray expenses. They went to Santa Ro-
sa, 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 5000, although it
was worth abou; 5000. He desired his
wife to advance $1,000. and he would
pay the balance when his money arrived
from the East. be expected 5000, he
said, from his fathers estate, and Presl-
dent Hayes, his fathers brother, was exc
cutor of the estate. On June 8 Mrs.
Hayes drew & 900 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 him
self. 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 disappear
ed utterly, leaving Mrs. Hayes disconso-
late, lacking husband, $1,000 in money,
and valuable watch and chain. 1t has
been ascer.ained that Hayes has a wife
and child in Chillicothe, Ohio. and that
while running the train in Nevada he
was making love to two sistess at the
same time, one at each end of the line.
Neither Briggs, Thompson nor Hayes
has since turned up,