Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-10-31
Three SWeethearts and Their
Fortunes.
81. Lou.s Ryeniug Chronicle, 2lth.

st. Louis Evening Chronicle, 9th.
The law courts have brought to
light another romance. the sequel to
which might not have been made pub
lie but for the return to the city Of
the chief actor 10 the affair. Three
women and a man figure in the story.
The man is a distinguished looking in-
dividual, who yesterday was dressed
in a worn dark suit, with a SLOUGH hat
tipped back over a forehead covered
with steel gray hAr, and walked swing
ing a walking caue in bis right hand.
The man was about 45 years Of age,
smooth faced aud possessed a pair of
large gray eyes, with which be gazed
eagerly alter a lady who had just left
the -Four Cour,s building.
1t is stated thattbe individual came
to st. Louis from New York a couple
of years ago and entered the of GO of
a prominent attorney on the southeast
corner of Fourth aad Chestnut
streets, over the Office OF the Frisco
railroad. He gave his name as Geo.
Jacobla, aud represented himself as a
retired attorney, living on the Interest
OF his accumulated wealth. He
secured rooms on Washington avenue,
near Fourteenth street, where he
became acquainted with a young lady
named Lucy Wheeler, who pos
sessed a fortune in her own
right Of about $4,000. He laid his
plans Immediately to WOO aud win the
young lady and her fortune, and laid
such vigorous siege to her heart that
he o 0 won her affections and entered
inc a marriage engagement. The
course of his love, however, was ruff
fed by a charming young widow
named Esther Burroughs, of Ed.
wardsVille, Madison county, Illinois.
who, while on a visit to st. Louis to
attend the Annual Fair, remained
with Miss Wheeler at the house on
Washington avenue. The two ladies
were very intimate friends aud Jaco.
bia was naturally introduced to Mrs.
Burroughs, and on learning that she
was reputed to be worth $500, 900
transferred his affections from Miss
Wheeler to her. Their wooing pro-
crossed with such success that the
pair we're married in a month or six
weeks, and retired to the fine farm of
the young widow at Edwardsville.
Though not known at the time, it
aiterward transpired that Jacobia had
more affection than Miss Wheeler and
Mrs. Burroughs could absorb, aud
had layished the surplus, which
he had failed to divide between
these two, on another lady more
prominent than either, whose
name | I'm not at liberty to give.
Soon after his departure for Edwards.
vile his treachery was discovered. and
bis landlady, accompanied by idiss
Wheeler and his unknown inamorata,
paid a visit to his home in Illinois.
The landlady instituted proceedings
against him for the recovery OF the
amount of his board bill, and the I'M.
known lady had him arrested on a
charge Of stealing her gold spectacles.
How the latter suit wal instituted in
Illinois, the alleged theft having been
committed in st. Louis, | do not know,
but it is a fact, however. On the trial
Of the criminal case a record Of some
criminal court 10 New York State was,
it is alleged, introduced in evidence
showing that Jacobia had been COZ
victed and sentenced to the poniten-
tiary 10 that State on a charge Of GU
raging a young girl. Notwithstanding
this revelation and the social ostraeism
of himself aud wife, which resulted
from it, the woman whom he had
so basely deceived still chung to him
and gave him freely Of her means.
Jacobia, however, soon tired OF his
pastoral life, and bent all his energies
to the accomplishment Of his original
design-to secure possession in his
own name Of his wife's money aud
large property.
But, though Mrs. Burroughs in the
blindness Of her love failed to discover
the real incentive TO his union with
her, his violent efforts to obtain cou-
troll Of her property, coupled With the
knowledge which she had acquired Of
his character, finally led her to doubt
the g%enuineness Of his affection for
herself, and she steadfastly refused to
make the desired transfer of her
property. Weeks and months grew
apace and the ill.mated pair grew
colder towards each other until, at
last, 40 almost total separation fol-
lowed and Jacobia spent more Of his
time in st. Louis than IN Edwardsville.
Seeing himself foiled in his attempt TO
secure the wealth which he had hoped
TO become msster Of by his marriage,
he determined a few days ago to visit
his wife's farm, and by some means
succeeded 10 driving of one hundred
hogs and a large number OF horses
and COWS, The hogs he shipped to
East st. Louis, consigning them to
himself, and then turned them over
TO Wheeler, james q Co., the