The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-05-09
THE KING OF sw1NDLERs.

Marrying and Living with Three Wives at the
Same Time.
Boston, April 28 Revelations made
here to-day go to confirm the disreputa- =
Bile character of Pin White, and the gi>
gantic swindles he has been engaged in
during the past twenty-five years, and
that Of all the fogues in Christendon he
is without doubt the most accomplished,
his peculations, as far as now learned,
amounting to over three million dollars,
His victims are to be found in nearly
every city in the country, among them
being judges and sheriffs, as we'll as the
most astute fhanciers.
To day he was found to be the person
who a few years since swindled parties
out Of 81 5o,o 900 in Houston. Up to within.
few weeks White had been arrested no
no less than forty. one times, but not in a
single instance was he convicted. AcN
cording to his story he never dreaded
courts except those of Massachusetts, and
this no doubt accounts for the great dif>
iculties experienced in getting him here
for defrauding lawyer out of SIS 5000.
Since arriving here it has been learned
that he has been associated with the
leading thieves of the country, among
the Bank Of England torgers, Spencer
Pettis, who is now serving ten years in
Charleston for forgery here, and several
noted bank burglars as we'll as counters
feiters. Within the past weak imprison>
ment has worn heavily on him, and dur
ing the past three days he has refused
food. Before his Imprisonment he
was robust and his glowing counte
nance, iron gray hair and Burnside.
whiskers, coupled with his neat dress
and refinement, would lead people to
think him most respectable and invit-
ing associate. He is now but a wreck,
and claims to be without dollar, al
though at one time within three months
he has been seen with $45, 900 in cash in
his possession.
He was disturbed to-day at Jail by
surprise which, besides showing him to
be bigamist of high order, will also
serve to increase his mental suferings. 1t
appears that beside attending to his ne
farious financial schemes, that during the |
past fifteen years he has lived two lives,
in the matrimonial sense. His first wife, |
advanced in years and showing traces |
of former beauty, arrived here from New |
York this morning. She called on the
police, and by certificate of marriage |
proved without doubt she was what she |
claimed.
She was the daughter of wealthy pa
rents living near Saratoga, N. Y, and
was married to White in 1854. She says
that White persuaded her father, brother
and sister to place all their property in
his hands, aggregating $4,000, The
father soon found himself reduced to ex
treme poverty, and the brother afterward
shot himself. Mrs. White was taken to
the presence of the lady who has been
living here as Pin S wife. The interview
between both women was exceedingly
strange. Both at first doubted the 9TH
er's claim to White, but each exhibiting
their certificates of marriage, they soon
the true situation.
Wife No. 2 was married to White at
Malone, N. Y, is refined and of wealthy
parents. From information learned from
both it appears that White has been liv>
ing with both unknown to each. While
at Denver City he left on business for St.
Paul, Mimi, where he was met by his
first wife, who had come on from New
York to meet him. While there White
sold immense quantities of dry goods
which were sent to various places down
The river, and before leaving swindled
The merchants out of 100000, One of
his victims shot himself.
Wife No. returned to New York, while
White returned TO wife No. at Denver.
White, while in business in the latter
;ity, is now suspected here of poisoning
/ man named Maffatt, who was partner
With him. Both women say White has
Ill the time kept them well supplied with
unds. Wife No. I claims that while in
New York Pettis, who forged half mil
ion OF Erie stocks, was a constant visitor,
With other noted thieves, at her house,
Ind that Pettis stole from her, diamond
ewelry worth $4,000. White told her
oettis only borrowed the jewelry, which
vas afterward replaced by her husband
himself.
When in Ludlow Street Jail in 1866 the
econd wife was continually near White,
Who at the same time, unknown to her
vas corresponding with wife No. I, who
vas in New York. These letters were sent
o Ogdensburg by confederates, and from
here mailed to New York, Both women
ay that they have frequently had in
heir care over 100000 for White; who
n one instance left over a quarter of a
million in cash with wife No. 1 while he
vas in Denver.
Both women feel terrible over their
discovery here toNday. The first wife ex>
resses her intentions of having White
RED for bigamy, while the second wife
as decided to forever leave him.
Another development made is that
White also had third wife, a young Irish
irl, in New York, to whom he was mar
led short time since. He is known to
ave kept several fast women, who with
ne destinations of the gaming table, have .