The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-31

BosroN, Dec. 3O-The Grew Will
lam Hammond, known throughout tho
United States, and especially New Eng
land, as confidence man, bigamist,
swindler. and almost every kind of q
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 informa
tion by the Auckland authorities. BE.
fore he was exposed, however, he sue
ceeded in marrying wealthy widow
there, and aftSr 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, and at least five of tho victim.
lied women are living.
Hammond has acted as Methodist,
Unitarian, Frcewill Baptist, and Pros.
byterian minister, as n physician and
lawyer, and has Joined and been ex-
PEELED from many secret societies. Yet,
with all his misdeeds, he has been
arrested but twice, and each time
escaped just punishment. He appeared
In 4uka, 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 tho Methodist Church,
and his apparent piety won for him
high regard. Complaints began to arise,
however, OF his attentions to women of
his congregation, and while the citizens
were preparing to investigate him, his
alleged wife and sister died within n
week of each other He collected some
$4,000 on policies on their lives, and
shortly afterward left the town and a
number Of creditors.
At South Pultney, n. V, he acted as
Catholic priest, and il said to have ap-
propriated o sum Of church money, when
he left town suddenly. -:
In Allentown, Pa, he is rememb barred
as Presbyterian minister and a con
scienceless liar and profligate."
In bigonier, Ind, he appeared as a
physician, butt the town growing too
warm for him, no went to Wolf Lake,
Ind. When he LETT there tho citizens
expressed their gratitude by firing can
non.
At Indian Lake, Ind, the house that
he lived in was burned, and he So
cured 81, 500 insurance on the furniture.
Ill ere another alleged wife died and
81, 900 life insurance camo to him. Late
in 1888 he appeared as preacher in
Bedford, Mass, and after six months
service was driven out or town. He
then wont to Madison. N. H., and later
appeared at Franklin Falls in that State.
He was a Free-Will baptist minister
there, and made love to widow, Mrs. Dr.
II. w. Brockaway, who had money. Sho
finally consented co marry him. Just
after the marriage he got 81, 900 depos-
tied in savings bank in her name and
also secured a $4,000 bond she had
Then, Mrs. Brockaway says, he dosed
her with morphine and left town. A
neighbor found Mrs. Brockaway in u
stupor and saved her life. The 50, 600
was in the form OF a draft on Boston,
payment of which was stopped by tele.
graph. Hammond was arrested in Bos-
ton and taken to Franklin Falls, but
when his wife found that her money
was safe she was persuaded to drop the
criminal complaint.
Hammond quit Franklin Falls and,
picking up woman whom he called his
wife, came to tho surface next in Mon
treal. He procured employment for a
time in the .Etna Life Insurance agency
in Montreal, but was discharged He
had obtained his situation on forged
letters of recommendation A few
months later he was arrested for per-
jury, and the police found in his room
full kit of burglars tools, and in pawn
shop. for which he had tickets, a set of
safe breaking appliances, including a
brace and diamond drills.
In the summer of 1887 he was law
yer in Macon, Fla, and married wife
No. s. He was arrested for selling
liquor without a license, but jumped his
bail and deserted his wife. He turned
up in Savannah, Ga, where, represent.
ing himself as a Mason and Odd Follow,
he sold piece Of land which did not OK
ist to a Mr. Jackson. In Decemb Der,
1887. he was arrested in Fulton county,
H., the day before he was to marry
again. and was charged with fleeing
farmer out of $1,000 The money was
returned, and Hammond got off with an
eight-months' sentence. After his dis
charge he was heard from in two or
three Western towns and cities, but in
1880 ne again disappeared, and has lust
been heard from again.
Professor Briggs Comes Out Ahead.
NJ