Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-08

MINNEAPOLIS, March 7.-Charles W.
Sterling, who has just been sent to the State
penitentiarv of Ohio for bigamy, was the
most numerously married man in the West,
he having welded no less than eight women
three in Minneapolis, one in Milwaukee and
four in points further East. Sterling was
leading man" at the Ponce Opera House,
Minneapolis. for two years. During his
stay here he kept the heart crushing busi-
ness going at Lively rate, and the strangest
thing about it all is that his remarkable
escapades were kept out of the papers.
This is all the more singular when it is
known that while the first Minneapolis Mrs.
Sterling of which there is any knowledge
was in tears over the mysterious disappear
ance of her newly made husband the second
Minneapolis wife was prostrated by Ster-
ling s abandonment of her at a private board
ing house in Milwaukee, and before Mime
apolis wife No. 2 realized that she had been
betrayed another Mrs. Sterling called at
police headquarters in Chicago and reported
that her husband had left her suddenly and
without giving her any idea Of his destina-
tion.
WEDDINGS CAME OFTEN.
The latter's tale of woe was published in
the Chicago papers, but Mrs. Sterling No.
knew nothing about what had occurred in
Minneapolis and Milwaukee. The District
Court records in Minneapolis show that on
November 8, 1888, marriage license was
issued to Charles W. Sterling and Frances
NJ. Roach, and on January q following
license was issued to Charles Sterling and
Emma Jean Mars.
Miss Roach was a pretty brunette, about
20 wears OF age, and first met Sterling at the
hotel at which she was employed. They
were married four days after the license was
issued at the parsonage of the Centenary
Methodist Episcopal Church by Rev. George
W. Miller.
The honeymoon had not continued week
when Sterling met and mashed" a
sprightly widow, Mrs. Emma Jean Mars,
whom he married at the home of Mr.. Fol-
som, a we'll known resident of East Mime
apolis, on the evening of January 81, the
ceremony being performed by Rev. r. N.
McKaig, of the HenDepin Avenue Metho-
dist Episcopal Church.
PAID WITH A BOGUS CHECK.
The reverend gentleman will always re-
knot was tied the groom shook the hand of
the divine in truly cordial manner, and
after thanking him handed him check for
$40 on the Peoples Bank. The minister
aiterward found that Sterling never had
penny to his credit in that bank.
On February 8, just two weeks after this
wedding, Sterling deserted this wife. She
reported her desertion to the police, but re-
quested that the facts be kept secret. This
was done. Sterling had taken S. from her
all the money she had-and she was left
penniless. After he had been gone several
davs he wrote to his wife that he had been
called away suddenly and expected to join
her again. He toid her where she could
find her trunk.
About this time the abandoned wife No.
(nee Roach), in Minneapolis, also re-
ceived tender missive from the actor. He
apologized for his sudden departure and e1-
cused his conduct by saving that Manager
Book, of the Ponce Opera House, with whom
he had been associated. intended to "make
trouble" But it is not known that he ever
returned to them. Wife No. and wife No.
have both lived in Minneapolis during
the past year.
HIS LAST CONQUEST.
After going to Chicago Sterling appeared
as Squire Arden in 'My Geraldine"
which was being played at the Bon Ton
Theater. He was a guest at the Ogden
House and there he met and won Miss
Helen Walter, an attractive blonde. They
were married about February %, and a few
days afterward there was another case of de-
sertion.
What occurred after Sterling left Chicago
is not known any more than that he kept up
the marrying business until he got into the
Ohio penitentiary. He is about 40 years of
age, good looking, particular about his dress