Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-08-10
CROOKSTON CROOK.
L Railroad Operator Closes His Key to
Answer TO the Charge Of Bigamy
His First Wife
4 Clergyman's Daughter Of Boscebel.
Wis.,, His Second a Young Lady
OF Galloway, Tenn.

Daring the latter part Of last February
the police received information Of q robbery
at Crookstor, MINI, and we're informed that
oUe oil the thieves was thSn in Memphi-.
Various pereons there hsd been swir-
died by q pair OF sharpsrs who left town
with over 1900 deb's behind them and a
quantity cf jswelry and several fac musical
instruments belonging TO the towpspeople.
Capt. OHaver went 10 work on the case, and
located one of the men in Memphis by
means of a cornet which he found in a pawn
shop. The Instrument answered the descrip-
ton Of that
STOLEN FROM
ard the broker told Capt. O'HAver By whom
ii had been pawned. This person wss an
operator at the Chesapeake aud Ohio rail-
road depot, who arrived in the city about
February let last, and gave his name as j.
B Bennett. The msrsh&l Of Crookston was
wired aud answered that as nothing more
than the cornet could be recov red, he would
not AK Benefits arrest, as the owner of the
instrument was unable and unwilling 70 bear
the whole expense OF his transportation to
the scene of bis crime. Descriptions sent by
bim of the cornet and the thief made the
chief sure his officers had been correct, but
re could do no more than return the cornet
to its owner, John Bsttertou, of Crookston.
Bennett" was fortunate enough 10 retain
his place in the telegraph ofice, aud, pcs
sessing
A o address,
good looks aud good clothes, he mausged 10
make himself a factor in certain society cir
Giles. At one time he became very iutima ate
with a young and pretty woman of good
faAily, and rumor had il that they were en-.
gagged to be married. Capt. OHaver IL
formed the parents OF the young lady of
Bennett" character, after having seen him
with the young lady at the Tbester one night,
and be was Guilty dismissed. He continued
IN his efforts 10 shine in society, however, snd
succeeded in gaining the affections of a Mics
Matte Thomas, a lovely and amiable young
lady OF Galloway, Fayette county, Tenn, on
the Louisville aud Nashville railroad. Her
father was an old and honored citizen of Fav-
et6e and lhe entire connection stands we'll,
socially and financially. At the private
clearinghouse Of Mr.. Clemens, on Exchange
street, betweea II sin and Second streets, about
four weeks $50, "B .nnett" and Mics Thomas
WERE r.
aud it is said they have been living annie ,bly
ever since.
When Chief Davis saw the announcement
Of the marriage, which was the first ir-
lmation he hsd of any relations whatever
existing between the pair, he called on Mrs
Clemens aud informed her of what he knew
OF Benefits history and also of a report tina
be had a wife liying. Mrs. Clemens was
Mortified. Miss Thomas is her sister.
Prompted by Mrs. Clemens and the brothers
Of the young lady Chief Davis instituted
further Inquiries and finally traced BEN.
n,tt" to B1soooel, Wis. In answer to a letter
t. a prominent citizen Of that place, he re-
ceived the following reply:
BURDICK's HISTORY.
w. C. Davis:
"MY DEAR SIR-The city marshal hapded
me your letter of inquiry dated August 81,
The man you inquire after is L. S. Burdick,
known by the name OF Balm Burdick. H.
was married to a most esiimable young lady
of this city, the daughter of a CoDgrsg ationai
minister. His father was a railroad agent
here at one time, but vas superseded. Balm
was day operator under bis father, and was
retained for a while al er his father left.
Finally Balm was turned loose. There had
been a good desl OF crookedness at the sta
station during Burdick's time, and it was
continued while Balm remained. 1t was
supposed that the railroad company got on
to the business, and that was the reason Balm
was discharged. He went from here 10
Mitchell, DIX, where he was Jailed for
crooked work. The city marshal OF Mitchell
will give you his history there. 1t was very
Notwithstanding, forgery, perjury, etc.
bsm's wife uf1 not know of tois conduct
on the part of her husband UNTIL he
was jailed at Mitchell, when she left
him spd returned to her fathers house.
Since Balm has been in Memphis
he has written his wife that be had reformed,
and had j1ined the church there and had a
class in Sunday school, AID WAS moving in
the best society in the city, ending with an
appeal 10 he; TO re tnrp TO him and live with
him again. She has hesiiaied about it, aud
your letter to The marshal will be gwen her.
L have been thus explicit because l think B.
s. Burdick a bad citizen, and if he hss been
up 10 dirty work 10 your city plea write
me fully of his doiDgs there, and if there ia
anything more you would wish 10 know,
draw on me fer inform aticn."
THE ARREST.
Yesterday evening, as soon as the letter
was received, the relatives OF Miss Thomas
were notified, and one Of them swore out a
warrant charging Burdick, alias B .nnett, with
bigamy. Chief Dlyis went at once TO the
Chesapeake and OHIO depot, where he found
Burdick hard at work with a telegraph Key.
He YVES taken considerably by surprise and
greatly agitsted, and has been very ~reticepi
| ever aimee his arrest. He was lodged in an
iron cage IN the st%ationhouse, and sat there
with bis hat drswn down so SIS to conceal his
featuree. and his gsudy elk hardkerchiti
swathirg his neck and the lower psrt of his
face. The relsiives Of the young lady whom
be is charged with having 90 cruelty wronged,
freely express their determination to prose.