Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-04
WARNING TO WOMEN.
"eLAcK JoHNp WRITES A LETTER
AND THEN SWALLOWS POISON.
He Had Thirteen wives--A Black Crimi-
nal Record--Foupd His Easiest VIC
tins Among the Aristecrscy.

A LOS AnGties NShi. J SpSN'". W e"~
says A stranger was found dying on sun
day morning last in the room in private
house which he had rented Immediately
fter bis arrival here ten days ago.
A nearly empty vial, labeled sulphate
OF morphine powders. II. Wiehtman,
Philadelphia" found in tho room, betrayed
the cause of his condition. and letters ne
had written left no room to doubt that ne
had purposely sought death; :,
All clues that could establish MS luen-
tity had been destroyed.
His face, smooth-shaven, was badly
marked by smallpox, his features were
coarse. his lips thick and sensual, his COM
plexion dark, and his large head was coy
cred with brown hair. closely cut, he
apparently was about 40 years Old, ms
height was feet inches, and he weighed
100 pounds.
one OF the letters he had written was an
apology 10 his landlady.
HIS STATEMENT.
Another of greater length, addressed to
the San Francisco Examiner, enclosed tnls
statement:
ITO AZ Whom II Mdy Concern:
This, my last act except to swal low the
poisonous drug, is to certify that this ends
the career of one of the blacklist criminals
who has ever enjoyed life.
Forty wears old and q native-born
American, | have string OF assumed
names almost as long as the moral law,
and have operated from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and from Canada TO the 18TH
mus of Panama. have crossed and re-
crossed the Atlantic several times and am
familiar with all the leading cities OF Eng
land. France, and Germany. speak seven
different languages. all of which have
learned since | was 10 years old, except
English, my native tongue.
II am a member of one of the largest
and most prominent families in the United
states. Ny ancestors were among the hrst
settlers OF Jamestown, and So far as the
family record shows | am tho only traitor
to the name all the rest having been GOOD
citizens and having figured prominently
in all the different avocations OF life.
TO my certain knowledge | have never
taken but one life. / am not an assassin,
for the one life / did take was taken IN
self-defence, and | was tried by twelve
good and honorable citizens, who all said
they would have acted as | did under the
same circumstances. But, nevertheless,
nv dark record begins at TINS point. when
was still in my teens. My crimes were
of an entirely different nature from that
of the assassin or highwayman, but L am
sure If verdict were pronounced on me
bv a iury of good and noble women 1t
would be that | was much worse than
mere murderer.
during period of about twenty-one
years have been married to thirteen dill
ferent women. In every case. except the
first. nv sole motive was to secure money,
not love or affection. / have three chill
dren by the first, and one by all the rest
except three. One of the women TO whom
| have been married had 100000 in her
own right. three others had from $4,000
to S2OO, 900. and none OF the Others was
worth less than $4,000.
MY rule generally was to live with my
wife until got the money IN my control,
and then | was off for new fields to win an
other fair bride.
Il always had plenty Of money and went
in the best of style, and only operated IN
and among the aristocracy of the country.
In this sphere my vain and glddy victims
were easily captured, and it was often a
case of love at first sight with them"
DETECTIVES oUrwITTED.
Notwithstanding large rewards were
offered for him. he proudly writes that he
outwitted the shrewdest detectives, FIRE.
quently passing them in the streets and
sometimes even dining and drinking with
them MltnOuk DtluH ItNORhAAphs i'uk AA'
death blow" as he calls II, came two
wears ago, when he contracted an lncurable
disease. lie knew 1t would eventually
carry him of, aud therefore, not caring to
live longer, determined to end his career.
de continues:
:" In most cases of suicide l have known
or read of it is claimed that the persons
were insane, but wish TO say that | am IN
my right mind and know as well what L
am doing as / ever did in my life. 1t is no
rash act done on the impulse OF the mo-
ment II has been duly considered IN Its
every phase and bearing for the present
and future.
II have some hesitation about leaving a
statement, but for several reasons have
decided 70 do so.
Il Those around me, of course, know
nothing Of my intentions. and are perfect
" innocent of what am about to do, and
this statement wall relieve them OF any sus-
pIcion.
-. II may be a warning TO some good
women, who are too often ready TO receive
and entertain strange men of whom they
know nothing more than that they wear q
silk hat. display a big lot Of diamonds. and
toy with a gold-headed cane. Beware of
this class.
"3. II these would-be detectives and
officers of the law will pay more attention
to the class of men whom | warn the wo-
men against | can assure them that
thew will succeed in their business better.
have often seen poor, dirty, and ragged
tramp dragged to jail whose only offence
was to beg quarter or dime TO buy q
much-needed meal, while perhaps halt a
dozen of the worst criminals in the coun-
trv, like myself, were lookers-on, but in
the euise of gentleman whom MIR. Officer
would scarcely dare to look at much less
attempt to arrest.
A request is made that no inquest be
held, but that his body be sent to San
Francisco medical college 80 TO be disposed
of az it may see fit" The statement con-
cludes:
None of my family have seen or known
ANYTHING OF me in fifteen years. and sim
cerely hope they never will know my end.
Nv dear old mother is still living, and no
doubt expects TO see me again before she
dies; but have burned the bridge be-
hind me" and covered my tracks too
closely for any of nv family or relatives
to know anything of my whereabouts.
Yours truly, BLACK JOHN.