New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-14
PRICE THREE CENTS.
MEAN SWINDLE OF A WOMAN.
HER HUSBAND, ACCUSED OF BIGAMY. FLEEs.
SHE APPEALS TO A FRIEND. WHO SECURES POS
SESSION OF HER PROPERTY.

SHE APPEALS TO A FRIEND WHO SECURES POS
SESSION OF HER PROPERTY.
A little over year ago Louis X. and Mary K.
Smith married In New-York Mrs. Smith had a
few hundred dollars and the couple opened lager beer
shop and restaurant at No. Battery place. Their bus
mess prospered and they put by little money Among
their regular customers tall, athletic
young man with blond mustache,
who always suit OF undress
naval uniform and who gave the name OF Charles ".
Sergeant. Nearly every he would 20 into the
place and eat his luncheon He appeared to be always
in a hurry. but found time to chat sufficiently with
Mrs. Smith to tell her that he was a detective in
the employ OF the United States Navy that his par.
ticular business was to look out Tor deserters from
various men.of-war. Many exciting tale of adven.
ture by land and he told and at last he became
great favorte with both Mr.. and Mrs. Smith ana ia
the afternoon when business slack, he would come
In and chat his coffee.
Everything went smoothly I'm the Smith HOUSEHOLDS
until about three months ago. when Mrs Smith received
anonymOus communication containing the startling
information that her husband was a bgamist IL was
alleged in the letter that Smith had been married
years before in NewYor and aftcrward in Portland,
oregon, and that both wives were living She went to
her husband aud, handing him the letter. asked for
explanation. He turned pale and stammered out
denial OF tho story Mrs. Smith not convinced and
q stormy scene followed The next morning Smith de-
parted. The deserted wife did not know what
To do until thoughts turned 20
friend Sergeant. He was detective and knew
the WAYS OF the world. She told him the story and
asked his assistance and advice II readily rrOnered
aud thankfully received. The first thing 10 he done
to look the missing husband SO he said This would
require money Under pretencc of the search Sergeant
secured various OF money amounting 10 500.
The search prosecuted without result for nearly
MONTH when Sergeant came Mrs. Smith and told her
that 10y the authorities had got hold OF tho
fact that her husband was bisamist aud they were
after him. Through his influence he hal held them
back, but now he cOuM 40 so no longer III
not only arrest him but would connscate al her prop
ery TO avoid this catastrophe he suggested that she
hold in for her until the matter had blown over
The frightened woman g gaye % him 500 IN money and
him 5000 to pay up her Indebtedness IN the neigh
Is soon as Sergeant secured the property he had it
taken to the Western Union Hotel az West aud COrt-
laudt He there went through the runHs, sent as
mia and isposed OF the rest the trunks he left at
thc MOTEL Alter dspOsng Of the property hc continued
smith. Another week passed By and then Mrs smith
began 70 suspicious OF Sargeant They became
strong that she went TO Inspector - rncs ana told
were assigned TO the case They succeeded in tracing
the property the Western Union Hotel aud thence TO
Philadelphia, but trace OF Sergeant could be found
ABOUT two weeks ago Mrs. smith received telegram
from Sergeant Buffalo, saying that he had traced
Smith that place. but he had gone to Canada, and
10 prosecute tie searcb lie neeled 800 more.
which he would like to have sent by telegraph. Aera
spector Byrnes instructed her to Telegraph the
money once and by the next train no sent FriHk aud
Msgure % Buffalo. When they arrived there their
victim had Own, and they losttrack o. h after tracing
hun 10 New-York They instructed 20 80 to pai-
lph AND shadow eAGS house II CslowAil-S.s On
Wednesday night their fch vas reTarded Git1 Sic
cess and they catI.ht their man as
locket up In Ph.ladopaIa until tho pTop,r Ieq-
uisiuon papers could be made 0ut and last night no
was brought to city aud locked at Police Head
quarters.
oargeant j. nearly six feet IN height, and IS ston
athletic blond lie gives his age as twentyfour years
ana his business as musician According 10 his story
he has had "A chcckcred career. Having been OOru In
Tcw.Orleans he went to england when a boy. He en-
listed iu the British Army I'm 1879 shortly after his
sirnck him For this lie would have been severely pun
sned had he not deserted and fed TO this country He
then enlisted IN the engineers department on the
United states steamer Tennessee. aud although his term
OF enlistment expired lie has retained the naval uni
form When questioned by Inspector Byrncs, Sargcant
acknowledge his guilt, and said did it, and suppose
IN have to suffer for it,