The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-12-31
An Arrant Scoundrel.

BoSroN, December 29-Wm. Hammond.
known throughout the United States, and
especially New England, as a confidence man.
bigamist, swinder and almost every kind of
a criminal has been up to his old tricks in
Auckland, New Zealand, according to adviceS
received by the police Of this city, who were
applied to for information by the Auckland
authorities. Before he was exposed, how
ever, he succeeded in marrying n wealthy
widow there, and after securing $4,000 of her
money deserted her, leaving for Japan, where
he is now supposed to be. This marriage
makes his ninth as far as known. aud at least
FIVE of the victimized women are living.
He has acted as Il Methodist, Unitarian.
Free VIII Baptist and Presbyterian minister;
as physician and lawyer, and had joined
and been expelled from many secret socie-
ties, yet, with all of his misdeeds, he has been
arrested but twice and each time escaped
punishment by some startling theatrical play
at his trials.
He appeared in Yuka, CAL, some years
ago, and had with him two women, one Of
whom he called his wife and the other his
sister. He preached in the Methodist church,
and his apparent piety won for him high re-
gard. Complaints began TO arise however
of his attentions to other women of his con-
gregation, and while the citizens were pre-
pairing to investigate him his alleged wife
and sister died within week of each other.
He collected some s., 600 on policies on their
lives and shortly afterward skipped the town,
leaving a number of creditors.
At South Poultney, y. Y, he acted as Il
Catholic priest, aud is said to have appro-
priated a sum of church money when he left
town suddenly.
In Allentown, Pa, he is remembered as a
Presbyterian minister and constituencies
liar and proiigate." In Ligonier Indiana,
he appeared as physician, but the town
growing too warm for him he went to World
Lake, Ind. When he left there the citizens
expressed their gratitude by firing cannon.
At Indian Lake, Ind, house that he lived
in was burned and he secured 81 800 insur-
ance on the furniture. Here another alleged
wife died and $1,000 life insurance came 10
him.
Late in 1855 he appeared as a preacher in
Bedford, Mass, and after six months service
was driven out of the town. He was a Uni.
tartan there. He then went to Madison, n
H., and later appeared at Franklin Falls, in
the same state. He was a Free-Will Baptist
minister there and made love to widow,
Mrs. DR.. H. W. Brockway, who has money
She finally consented to marry him. Just
after the marriage he got 81, 900 deposited in
a savings bank in her name, and also secured
81 900 bond she held. Then, Mrs. Brock.
way says, he dosed her with morphine and
left town. A neighbor found Mrs Broekway
in stupor and saved her life. The s., 900
was in the form ola draft on Boston, payment
Of which was stopped by telegraph.
Hammond was arrested IN Boston and
taken to Franklin Falls, but when his wife
found that her money was safe she was per-
suaded to drop the criminal complaint. Ham.
mond quit Franklin Falls aud picking up a
woman whom he called his wife came to the
surface next in Montreal. He procured EN-
ployment for a time in the .Etna Life Insnr-
ance agency in Montreal, but was discharged.
he had obtained a situation on forged letters
of recommendation. A few months later he
was arrested for perjury and the police found
IN his room full Xii of burglar tools and in
pawnshop, for which he had tickets, set
of safe breaking appliances, including brace
and diamond drills.
In the summer of 1887 he was lawyer in
Macon, Fla. and married wife number eight.
he was arrested for selling liquor without a
license, but jumped his bail aud deserted his
wife. He turned up in Savannah, Ca, where.
representing himself as Mason and an Odd
Fellow, he sold a piece of land which did not
exist to a Mr. jackson In December. 1887.
he was arrested in Fulton county, Ill.,, the
day before he was to be married again, and
was charged with fleeing farmer out of
$1,000. The money was returned and Ham
mond got off with an eight months sentence.
After his discharge he was heard from in two
or three Western towns and cities, butin 1883
he again disappeared and has just been heard
from again.