The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-04-12
Arrest of a Bigamist and sWindIer.
NEW YORK. Anil 2.


William, c. Russell, the check-passer,
who is also known by the name Of Ballard,
Maltby and other aliases, was taken into
custody oli Saturday afternoon, while Ioiter-
ing in the neighbOrhOod of tee house in
which dwelt Miss Van Houten, the young
woman whom he married in Baltimore in
December last, and abandoned in a few
weeks afterward at Earl's Hotel, in this city.
It was during Detective William McLaugh-
Inns watch that Russell put in an appear
ance. Arriving near the bank on which he
had attempted to pass the forged check,
he turned to Detective Sergeant McLaugh-
lin and said: Il am now satisfied that
it is your intention to show me up. It's no
use, l surrender" The prisoner has within
the past two years proved to be a skilful
forger and "layeT down" of worthless
checks. When he had made up his mind to
become criminal, Russell, late in the sum-
meT of 1881, went to NeWbtUg, n. Y. He
appeared there under the name of r. S. Bal
lard, and in the role of retired Philadelphia
physician and land speculator. He engaged
board at the house of a Mrs. Brock and there
perfected his schemes. To better carry cut
his plans and also remove suspicion, he ap-
peared to be snIitten with his landladys
daughter On the oath of August, 1882,
be was, married to Miss Amelia Brock,
bN llle all6Ns n. Mclean, dJ OJ. JOIln
Church, Newburg. Two days after his
marriage he induced Samuel Ward, a grocer
at that place, to cash a check for him. 1t
was for $780, and was drawn on the Tuar-
raick bank. He succeeded in passing the
check by representing that he had suddenly
run short of funds and desired to go to Goshen,
n. Y, to search the titles of some property.
lie left NewbWg and his bride on that day,
and never returned again. About the
middle of November, however, he turned up
under the name of Ballard at the Eutaw
House, Baltimore. While there he
made the acquaintance of a cOmely
and respectable Seamstress named Van
HOuten. She was daZZled with his preten-
siOnS of wealth. He had exhibited to her
numerous banll-bOokS containing entries of
large deposits, bundles of railroad shares,
deeds Of property, and other securities. Fhe
SeamstreSS accepted the offer, and after a
cOuTtShip of a few days they were married.
On the 29th of November Russell came on
with his bride to this city, going to Phila-
delphia several times and victimiZing several
persons there. December 20 he gave his
bride as a Christmas present a check
for 81, 600 on the Fifth Avenue Bank She,
unSuSpecting woman, went to the bank to
draw the money, and then learned that it
was worthless. While she was there word
was also received that the check which her
husband had deposited for collection from
4
worthless and was returned indorsed ''nO
account She was detained, and subse-
quently handed over to Detective Slevin,
When the detective called at Earl's Hotel he
was told that Russell, during his wife's abb
sence, had called for his bill, which he
paid, by a check for $50 on the
Fifth Avenue Bank, and had left for
parts unknown. This check was also
worthless. Mrs. RusSell's story was
found to be true, and she was thereUpon re-
leased and went to live with her brother at
Eighth avenue and Fifth-nnth street.
At Police headquarters he conversed free
ly touching his swindling operations, and
limited that he had swindled the East River
National Bank, the National Bank of Ma
ryland, Riggs & Co., of Washington, bank
ers, and many business men in this and 9TH
er cities. The police are of the eopiniOn that
he has boarded up his ill-gotten gains. In
his room last evening was seized number
of checks, which were all filled out ready for
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