The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-08-30
A WIFE A WEEK.
Unique Rascality Of q Man Sixty
Years of Age.

A Score of Aliases and as Many
Wives-Ruining Women-His
Exploits In Missouri.
New Yo.k Herald.
The Pinkerton Detective Agency
through Mr.. Robert Pinkerton. the
chief Of the New York branch, yes.
terday morning made one Of the mos,
important captures in recent police
annals. The criminal, who was run
to earth in Lynn, Massachusetts. has
been one Of the most daring and sue.
cessful rcgues ON record. For at east
ten years past he has perpetrated a
series Of offences Of q peculiarly
heartless and repulsive character, in.
:ssmuch Is his victims have so often
been young and innocent women.
Forgery, false pretences and bigamy
sre the designations which the law ap-
plies to the ousrages Of which he has
been guilty, but it is feared that even
The most severe statutes will fail to
provide adequate punishment, so art
ful and shrewd has the perpetrator
become BY long and uninterrupted
practice. Eleven women Of virtue
and responsibility are known to have
been the victims Of q mock marriage
with this nan, only to be robbed and
deserted, while several others are
believed to have been his pretended
wives. The design Of the adventurer
VAS to entrap a poor girl Of wealthy
connections, forge the names or in.
dorsement Of her friends with bank
accounts, procure money Oh worthless
checks, and then abandon the trust.
ing bride to seek q fresh victim.
Homes have been blasted and banks
and business houses victimized in al
most every section Of the country BY
this unique adventurer. and vet the
whole story Of his misdeeds is not
known. The criminals real name is
believed to be Arthur Merritt, but
his more recent aliases, among many
others. have been General A. B Nor
ton. Thomas A. Marvin, A. r. Mar
vim, J. r. Lindsey and J. 4. Mntthie-
son. What aggravates his offence is,
that he is a man Of intelligence and
talent. and over sixty years Of age.
Readers Of the Herald will remem-
Der recently published articles de-
scribing the marriage and deSertion of
Miss Turpin in Richmond, Va, and
the deception, under similar circum.
stances, Of lady in Lakewood, n. j.
Marvin was the criminal in both cases,
but the whole story remains to be
told.
SHARING HIS VICTIM.
In the latter part of May last an
advertisement appeared in Hartford
religious weekly newspaper, BY which
it appeared that a widOwer Of means
desired to employ the services of q
gcverness for his daughter. aged eight
years. A Miss Turpin, Of Richmond,
Va, saw the advertisement and an
swered it. Miss Turpin is young
lady of twenty-four years. amiable,
accomplished and pretty. She is of
an old and we'll connected southern
family, and the daughter of widow
who. being in somewhat reduced cir
takes boarders. Think
ing to assist her mother, Miss Turpin
applied for the situation, asking for
further information. and referring to
4 distinguished Judge and a Richmond
clergyman as to her own character and
qualifications. She received in reply
! letter dated New Haven, Conn, and
signed T. A. Marvin. The writer
said he was the gentleman wanting a
governness and proceeded to give q |
1igni6ed and we'll written account of
himself - an American Gentleman
If wealth and q widower with one
child. who spent his life mainly in |
travelling in Europe. and who was now |
about to 90 to Hot Spring. of Arkan-
Us for the benefit Of his health. He |
yave as references Judge Cowan, Of
Germantown, Pa. 4; William A. Tay.
or, ex-member Of congress, of Cam
len, n. j.. and the Rev. John Dan
orth, Of Media, Va. He expressed
himself as highly pleased with Miss
rurpin's letter, and although her
erms were rather high, he thought
Ne would like to engage her and
would come on to see her as soon as !