, 1889-02-21
A Matrimonial Adventurer in
Minnesota.
Believed to be the Missing
Wadsworth, Alias Ward.
He Gives His Name as La Cr0ix aud Plays
Hold Dame Closing with the De-
ssriiou OF . wife.

seemed to be none other than A. b. Wads-
worth, so we'll known In this city. Find
ing that he was identified as Wadsworth.
the Dakota general" skipped out and the
latest information from tue REVIEWS
correspondent at Grand Forks Is TO the
effect that he has not been heard from
since his sudden departure. tis also re-
vealed through this source that he left at
Grand Forks an innocent and confdinR
girl wife in delicate condition, he having
been married to her In Providence, Rhode
Island.
The st. Paul Pioneer Press contains the
following further particulars regarding
this
DISTINGUISHED BLK:
The recent disup ppearance Of Gen" A.
B. Ward from Grand Forks recalls an.
other disappearance which occurred at St.
Peter 10 the fall of 1862. The descriptions
given Of Ward tally quite closely with
those of an affable bipamist who came to
st. Peter in 1850 or 1861 and then van
ished from view like . meteor. Despite
the fact that no one knew positively
whence he came, his alleged credentials
we're such as TO impress those who came in
ooatsct with him that he possessed at least
q comfortable fortune ana had travelled ex-
tepsively. Those who conqersed with him
never doubted his experience IA traveller.
no matter how much they may have aus
pected his autecedtnts Ia other respects.
Every old resident OF st. Peter who reads
about the political and financial achieve.
aaeuts OF Gen. A. b. Ward Of DAKOTA will
naturally recall
WILLIAM n, LA CRoix,
And without very positive proof to the
contrary will believe that the two names
~x.A he ind AtxftI It,al A.
remarked heretofore, William n. LaCroix
blszsd out suddenly and beautifully in the
Minnesota valley about twenty.eight years
ago, aud his captivating manners soon
won the affections of AZ estin,able Young
lady of peighborin0 town. This was
quite speedily followed by q marriage, in
which the bride was regarded "a excep-
tionally fortunate by some, while others.
with larger knowledge of the world, oe-
lieved that an elegant gentleman" like
the groom should come without any dis
turbinR veil of mystery surrounding him.
Mr.. LaCroix represented himself rs bach
eor in his frst surrender, but there were
unbelievers at the ceremony who felt con-
vinced that William II. LaCroix mad
played the same part on at least one pre-
vious occasion of the kind.
Shortly after the marriage Mr.. La Croix
and bride located at st. Peter 10 do the
man justice, it must be said that for near
J two years he was AN exemplary and
seeming affectionate husband-only to un-
mask as q heartless miscreant and nearly
prove the death OF the confiding and ur.
suspecting wife. While ut st. Peter he
was bookkeeper OF Colonel b. +. Pratt
onee leading business MAJ. Of the Min-
nes0ta Valley, and seemed well qualified
for the position. He attepd ded TO his
business with such 6delity and met all
the requirements Of social life 80 grace
fully that first suspicion was largely dis
armed. but there was one man who no.
ticed that William II. La Croix. in spite
of his claim of extensive and distin.
guished acquaintance, never received any
letters and his only mail WAS the New
ork Herald.
In the middle Of his career at st. Peter
he opened fencing school. and among
his more distinguished pupils were Judge
Charles 4 Flandrau, now ut st. Paul, and
other gentlemen Of prominence. A Young
son erased his home, and he had apparent
ly settled down TO . life of useful domesti-
Gty, when hs vanished without leaving q
traes behind; except . heArt.bro.en wife
friendship and tindliest sympathy Of
those who had known them. Il was said
that LaCroix. before his disappearau ce.
had attempted TO obtain No less than
$1,000 from P. H. Kelly 4 Co. On Colonel
Pratt's credit, but this was not substanti.
ated. The deserted wife returned to her
friends with her little one, and years have
healed the SCAR left BY the cruel wound in.
Ricted by William II. LaCroix.
AN UNKPECrRD DISCOVERY.
A year or two after the events above re.
sordsd q resident Of st. Peter met him on
train in Ohio, but he did not stop to re-
new the acquaintance. He was next seen
st Cleveland in company With an attract.
i've young lady, but again vanished rather
than meet y former friend. Il Vas found,
however, that he was occupying . respon.
sible position with . leading insurance
company OF Connecticut. He had by this
tune concluded that = change Of climate
Ohio after the Cleveland incident.
About the close OF the war he turned up
Ut Hartford. Conn.,, a. General Ward, q
hero who had risen from the ranks TO the
position of brigadier general through
gallant and naarit0rious service. Accord.
ing TO bis custom, he proceeded to court q
young lady at Hartford, and married her
With his characteristic celerity in such
matters. Ia some way her friends were
led to believe that General Ward was not
what he pretended to be. and che wrote to
closing photograph Of the heroic soldier.
The photo was exhibited and was ct once
identified - that Of William II La Croix.
The exposure reached Hartford W fast ~
the mail could carry IL, and General Ward
disappeared By the next train. Sine then
his acquaintances Of 1902 have not been
able 70 fad his hiding place OF follow his
ups and downs while bnptinR gold, glory,
wives Of strange. adventures.