Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-23
with Wives all the way from New
Haven 10 Little Rock.

New York Tribunes lsfn.l
In May last Merritt advertised in
the Hartford (Conn.) Churchman,
over the name of Thomas A. Marvin,
for a goyerness. He received several
answers to the advertisement, includ-
ing one from q Miss Turpin, of Rich
moud, Va, and one from Mrs. De
Hart, the widow Of a minister who
formerly lived at Jamaica, i. L.,
whose father is the Rev. G, l.. Hovey,
a Presbyterian minister at Lakewood,
N. j. Miss Turpin was a young
woman of good family. and after con
siderable correspondence, in which
references we're exchanged-Merritt
answering inquiries to imaginary per-
sons whom he had given as references
she accepted a proposition to marry
him. Before they were married, on
July 20, he settled upon her, by viii,
$4,000. Immediately after being
married, being identified by A. M.
Brownell, the brother in law of Miss
Turpin. Merritt drew on a forged draft
for S735 Of the First National Bank Of
Madison, Wis, payable at the First
National Bank Of Chicago, $3.50 in
money and two drafts on the Mer-
chants Bank of this city.
At the same time that he was max
ing arrangements to marry Miss Tur-
pin, Merritt was making arrange
ments with Mrs. De Hart. who was
visiting a relative Of her husband at
Jamaica. He represented himself as
the Hon. Albert T. Marvin, of the
Uuited States Legation at Paris, and
made a favorable impression upon
the widows father at Lakewood, Nj,
where the so. called Marvin went to
make terms for the daughter. Il was
arranged that the marriage should
take place in the last Of June, but
Marvin .feiguing illness, it was post
poned until July II, when they we're
married by Mr.. Hovey. Prior to the
marriage Marvin made an effort to get
two drafts cashed-one for 5000 and
the other for $3,400-but was unable
to do SO in the village, and so borrow
ed 800 from his new and unsuspecting
father-in law. He then took his Lake
wood wife on a bridal trip, and stop
ped at the Metropolitan Hotel, Wash
ington, where he left her saying he want
ed togo to Fredericksburg, Va, to
visit his sick child. He went to Rich
mond, where he married Miss Turpin,
and started on a trip with her. When
he reached Washington he put his
wife on the train and went back to
look for his raggage. In the mean
time the train started, and he s ut a
dispatch to his wife that he would
meet her at the Windsor Hotel, Jer-
sey City, as he had been left behind.
He returned to the Metropolitan
Hotel, where he met the Lakewood
wife, and sent her TO her home in
Lakewood, saying that he would join
her there. He then rejoined his
Richmond wife and took her to AL
bany. By this time Mr.. Brownell dis.
covered hal the drafts presented il
Richmond we're forged, and about the
same time he read the account o.
Marvin mari iage in Lakewood. pub.
lished in the Tribune Augusta. HI
wrote to ex-Ju dge Shipman, in thil
city, and put the matter in Pinker
tons hands. Merritt was traced t
Albany, where it was learned that b,
had had a draft cashed by Spencer
Trask q Co. in the name of A. B
Morton, taking ? part il
two smaller drafts, one on Henri,
G. Black and the other on Mrs
Kenney, both Of New Haven. Marvin
was then traced to Rochester AM
Albion. He left his Richmond wifi
at the latter place, and returned t.
Rochester, where he caused a falls
account of injuries to Mrs. Turpil
while riding in Richmond to be pub
lished. He sent the account to tn.
wife in Albion and advised her to re
turn home by the way of Harrisburg
where he promised to join her. He
however, went to Toronto and had
forged draft on the Merchants Banl
for $1,000 cashed. He then worket
his way back to New Haven and from
there to Lynn, Mass, where he wa
staying at the Sycamore Hotel. Mr.
PinkertOn telegraphed to Mr.. Brown
ell, who was in New Haven. and b
went to Lynn and secured Merritt
arrest, which was brought abou
through the assistance Of Chief 0
Police John Poe, Jr.. Of Richmond
and Chief of Police Webster and B
+. Adams, Of New Haven.
In addition to those mentione,
above, M. Pinkerton has evidencI