Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-15
AMAN WITH 23 WIVES.
HOW BIaAMIsr BRowH WAS CAUGHT BY
BRIDE NO. 10.
re Has Married and Deserted Women In
Many cities-A List Of His Grass
Widow.

I
lIngton Aldrich Brown, the champion
bigamist OF America II not of tho world,
who was arrested in Chicago last Satur-
day, will be given his hearing next Fri
day, and is now in jail here, where he is
waiting to be tried for the polygamous
marriage of Miss May A. Benjamin.
OF this city. Brown has married
no less than twenty-three women,
and his career is more than remarka-
BILE. He has married young girls and
old women, some with small fortunes
and some who werc earning quiet
living, some who had never tried matri-
mony before and others who were
widows. His conquests have always
been brief and successful and without
exception he has deserted every bride
soon after the honeymoon and sought
other fields of conquest. His exploits
cover many States and in nearly every
city ne has favored with his bewitching
presence there remains q deserted
woman who has worthless marriage
certificate.
PoLYGAMoUs RECORD.
The curious marital record OF Brown
is in many respects unparalleled. He de-
veloped his polygamous tendencies many
years ago, and has pursued marriage
seemingly as profession. BY industri-
ously plying this unique trade he has
managed TO 1.-Two comfortably, always
having a home at the brides expense
He once fell into the grasp OF the law
and served nine months in Michigan
jail for bigamy. This little eGperince
apparently had no effect on him,
for in few weeks after he had left Jail
prison he turned up with new wife. 1t
was not long before he left her and mar
ned again. and he has kept this sort OF
thing up until the time of his arrest last
week in Chicago. Aside from his one
besetting sin Brown seems to have no
very grave faults, and it is said that even
now, in the face of his exposure, there
are some dozen or fifteen wives who are
willing to welcome him back singly or
collectively.
The pelice, aided by Miss Benjamin,
who is known as wife No. -, have been
investigating the names and numbers of
the bigamist's victims. There are several
wives in distant States that have not
been reached vet. Brown is known to
have grass-widow in Bangor, Me. one
in some part of Massachusetts,; one in
New York, another across the river in
Brooklyn one in New Jersey, and one
in Niagara Falls, n. y, and others in
different towns in the Middle States.
Beginning with No. - the police are
able to give a complete table OF the
wives up to No. %. who is Mrs. Kate
Santelle. of Chicago, the last matrimo-
NAL venture.
LIST OF VICTIMS.
This is the list from No. 10 to No. %:
Miss Ida Kelly, who lived on Jefferson
avenue, Detroit, and married Brown in
the fall of 1885.
Unknown lady of Muskegon. Mich,
for whose sake Brown forsook Miss
Kelly, and whom he married in January,
1885.
Annie NJ. Hagel, of Pontiac, Mich,
who married Brown at Pontiac, January
90, 1887.
Miss Belle BurnelI. of Auburn, ILL.,,
who was united to the prisoner at Chicago
IN August, 1887.
May A. Benjamin, OF Detroit, who fell
a victim to Browns destinations August
81. 1887.
Mary Kiel, OF Marine City. whom he
met in the latter part of September and
married in October.
Mrs. Robinson, a widow with little
fortune, which he ran away with soon ai
ter their wedding in December.
Anna Winters, also of Detroit, for
whose sake and purse be forsook Mrs.
Robinson. lie married Anna in March,
1888.
Mrs. Kate Santelle, the last Chicago
wife, whom Brown took to Englewood
10 live with him. On hearing Of his
actions she shut up her house and took
refuge with friend in the city.
Brown is O native of New York State,
and it is probable that the legal Mrs.
Brown lives ia Rochester with her four
legitimate children. He is forty-fiye years
old, of handsome and intelligent APP
pearance, and stands six feet two inches
in his stocking feet. After many con-
quests Brown first attracted tho eve OF
the police in 1855, when he deserted
Miss Ida Kelly, young lady living on
Jefferson avenue, Detroit Miss Kelly
discovered that her husband had at least
ono wife living, but when she ac-
cused him he fed to Muskegon,
where she traced him, and found
him some months later married to an
other woman. Brown was arrested for
bsamy and was taken to Saginaw,
where he was tried aaa sentenced to
nine months Imprisonment in the peni-
Tertiary at Jackssn. On his way to
prison no attempted to cut his throat
with razor. He succeeded in cutting
bad cash on the side OF his neck, but
his lifa was saved. After rervins his
tern Brown went to Pontiac, Mich, and
married Annie NJ. Hassl, with whom he
lived but short time before his wife's
brother, eighteen years Of age, discover
ed his past record. The hey was mad
with rage, and threatened TO kill
Brown on sight, but tho gay
bigamist heard OF Hsgels threat,
and left the town, taking with him
about $500 which belonged to his wife.
From Pontiac he went to Ohio, and
then to Chicago, where he located just
about year ago in the family of ID. NJ.
Flanders. q grocer, at 1893 west Madison
street. For time Brown seemed con-
tent with single blessedness, and
boarded in Flanders's family. Then he
furnished fiat and advertised for a
housekeeper. From the applicants for
the position he selected May Burnell,
handsome girl from Auburn, Ill. She
had few hundred dollars saved up, but
when Brown married her, three days
later he took charge of it, and five weeks
afterwards he ran away with the money,
leaving his defenceless grass-widow he
hind. She could find no trace of him
and finally gave up the search.
WIPE NO. 10.
In the mean time Brown went back to
Detroit, and few days after his arrival
married Mary A. Benjamin, who had q
neat little dressmaking business. She
supported him well, and he lived with
her several weeks. Then he left, and
Mary found that he had taken with him