Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-08-24
Bigamist and Forger.

VINO last month by false rcpresen-
tations betrayed Miss Lucy Turpin,
a highly connected young lady OF
Richmond into marriage, and then
deserted her at Albion, N. Y, and
who also obtained about $500 from
the First National Bank of Rich
mond by means Of forged draft on
Chicago bank. The New York
World of yesterday gives the fol-
lowing sketch oil Marvin and his
deeds:
Thomas Marvin, whose real
name is Arthur Merritt, as a
bigamist, forger and swindlsr.
stands pre-eminent. So far as has
been discovered he has married no
less than ten women, and has de-
serted each in tsrn. A history OF
his crimes is as interesting as
romance. In May last he adver-
tised in the Hartford Churchman
for govcrness, his alias on this
occasion being Thomas \. Marvin.
He had a daughter eight years cid.
VINO was then living with him, land
woman whs is said to be his
lawful wife. Miss Turpin, young
lady of a good Virginia family,
who resided in Richmond, answer
ed the advertisement, sending lis
OF Richmond references. In reply
Merritt. alias Marvin. wrote that he
liked her letter, and subsequently
he referred her to Judge Cowan, of
Germantown, Pa; William A.
Taylor, Of Camden, n. j., aud Rev.
John Danferth, of Media, Pa. 1t
has since been discovered that these
persons were all myths, but Their
alleged places of residence were
near enough to enable Merritt to
get the letters addressed to them in
single day, and answer each as
he saw fit. BY the next mail Miss
Turpin received letters from all
the references, in which Marvin
was spoken of as an elderly man OF
wealth, intelligence and rare virtue
The letter in response TO the one
written to Mr.. Taylor purported 10
be from Mrs. Taylor CIR. Taylor
being ABSENT and told MISS Tur-
pin that Mr.. Marvin was a good
natured old widower who was look
ING Tor a wife rather than for a
poverness. II Mr.. Marvin pro-
posed after meeting her, the letter
advised, she could not do better
than to accept him, as he was kind,
loving, and wealthy. 1t is an
necessary to say that this letter
was from the clever pen of Merritt
himself. Having thus paved the
way. Merritt journeyed to Rich
mond and introduced himself
While negotiations were in pro
gress Merritt declared his lsv', and
Miss Turpin accepted his offer Of
marriage. They were married on
July 20, and Merritt, who was in
troduced Sy Mr.. A. NJ. Brownell,
the brides brother-in-law, negetia-
ted a draft for $765. 1t wa,
drawn on a bank in Madison, Wis.
and made payable to j. A. Mar
win.
Not content with this haul
NJ erritt borrowed 5000 from the
clergyman uks performed the
marriage ceremony. Merritt, hay
ing thus arranged his finances,
started on his wedding tOur, reach
ing Washington the evening of his
wedding day, He took his wife
to the Metropolitan Hstel. Early
in the summer Merritt appeared in
! Lakewood under the name Of A
T. Marvin. He laid siege to the
heart Of Mrs. Nellie de Hart, OF that
village, and on July IL they were
married 10y her father, Rev. G. A
H9yey. lie prevailed upon Nlr.
Hovey before The marriage TO in
trolucc him % a bank, where he
tried uasuc e'sfhlly 10 get a draft
ol $1,000 c1shed. No! in the least
dlsheartened by this failure he
borrowed 500 from his intended
father in law. and the wedding
went on.
On this, as on the occasion with
Miss Turpn, be took his BRIDE to
v ashington, Int at which hotel he
Quartz. ed her has net been made
known. From July II to July
90 they were happy; although the