Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-01-06
A MASHER.
A New York Drummer Who Married
Three Young Girls.
How He Tricked a Prospective Father-in-
law-His Good Record in the Church
-AQueer Story ofWomen's
Susceptibility.

New York, January Jacob w. Geb-
haIdt, the much-marricd young man from
Now Jersey, wss broHght before Judge
Barrett, in Supreme Court Chambers, by
Detective kerwin in obedience TO writ of
habeas corpus obtained by his counsel,
Wm. +. Knitting. Gebhardt is char eed
with having married three women, betrayed
another under the promise of marriage,
and of being engaged TO marry several
others. He has been spending a few days
in the Church street police station, await.
ing a reGuisition from Governor Ludlow to
take him to the scenes Of his many loves.
Jacob W. GebhGrdt, of Clinton, n. j., was
a remarkably handsome young man, sang
in the Methodist Church choir, played the
piano and WAS the best dancer in the coun.
ty. He was twenty five years old, educated
at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa, and
spoke two or three modern languages.
Nine months ago he came to New York
City with letters from the pastor OF the
Methodist Church OF Clinton and the most
prominent business men there. He en-
gagged as
A Commercial Traveller
with G. Ahern, wholesale grocer. in his
grocery trips into New Jersey it is alleged
old, farmers daughter, living near Som
erfield; Annie Meyer, aged II years, ,daugh-
ter of a railway master mechanic, Of the
same place, and Eliza Philhower, aged 20
years, daughter of wealthy farmer and
stock dealer OF Peapack. 1t is also charged
that he has also married three other inno-
cent and contiding Jersey maidens.
Peapack is thirty-iive miles from New
York, and only five miles from Clinton.
MI 4. 4 4 l., Il
of Mr.. Gebhardt's voice in the church choir
there, In March last
She First Became Acquainted
with him. In June, it is charged, that un-
der promise uf marriage he betrayed her.
She is a brun l.te Of rare beauty, with bril-
liant black eyes and u complexion. which
might shame he roses. On Christmas Eve
Elias Phihn',e, her father having learned
of his daughters betrayal, went with her
to Clinton, and on the young lady affidavit
had GcbhaTdt dtarreSied by detective Laurent,
of New Jersey. The prisoner was taken to
Somerfield. the county seat of Somerset
country. Here he met Philhower and his
daughter. To avert family disgrace Phil
hover agreed to relinquish prosecution
provided Gebhardt fulfilled the
Promise Of Marriage.
The father agreed to give the young man
country store and put 5000 woIth OF
goods in it. Gebhardt agreed to the terms
on the spot. The prospective fathcr.in-law
then gave him 800 with which to get ready
for the wedding. Gebhardt went out and
in half an hour returned With carriage,
into which Miss Philhower stepped. The
two drove to Clinton and stopped at the
chief hotel there, he remarking tb t he
would get furnished by tailor fer the GER
emony. Gebhardt left and Immediately
returned to Somerfeld, stopped at the
residence of Mr. Hoffman, member.elect
of the New Jersey Legislature and per-
suadcd his step daughter, Hattie Gates,
TO
EIOped with Him.
The two left by rail for New York, leay-
ing Miss Philhower in Clinton. The de-
serted girl vainly waited the return OF her
lover, and on Wednesday Mr.. Philhower
got another warrant from Justice Suphen,
of Someriield. She Sheriff of Peapack then
packed up his carpet bag, put in patent
rope fire escape and came to New York
with the warrant. Detectives Kerwin and
Mulvey were put on the case, and after
some brilliant detective work they arrested
Gahbarl