The Forrest City times., 1894-06-22
A MUSICAL THIEF.
Pianos Distributed Free-Ona of
 Our Citizens Taken In.


 Last Thursday evening a neatly dressed young man, accompanied by a young woman, registered at the Izard House in this city as w. N. Steadman and wife, of Black Rock, Ark. Stead Inan represented himself as agent for D. H. Baldwin & Co, music dealers, of Mem phis. and to substantiate the as- sertion, magnificent Baldwin piano was received by express the next day. The young Esan talked glibly, and said bis firm intended to establish branch houses in Forrest City, Brinkley and Black Rock, and these sample pianos were to be sold at a sacrifice to intro- duce them; and on Saturday evening he found purchaser in D. G. Cook, for sample No. l for fifty dollars cash. X few hours later he took the train. pre- sumably for Brinkley where he said the Company had shipped another sample leaving his wife at the hotel 10 await his return next morning. But the man never came back.
 Tuesday mornings train brought M. J. Maritime, representing the house of Baldwin & Co.,, of Memphis. on d still hunt for Steadman. Our reporter suc- ceed ill getting the following statement of ''how the old thing worked:o
 Last Thursday evening"" said Mir. Maritime. "a tall, neatly dressed young man, with sandy hair and moUsrache, called at our business house and stated that he wished to purchase piano, representing himself as an engineer on the l.. R. tS M. Ry., and claimed to re- side at Forrest City. He said that his name was W. N. Steadman. and said that he had five days layoff, and took advantage of it to visit Memphis in company with his wife, who was at the Fransioli Hotel. and was not able to visit the store and select an instrument herself, but requested him to do so and have 1t shipped to this point, sub- ject to her inspection. Anxious to sell, these dull times, prudence was showed aside, and an elegant S350 instrument sent by express the following morning, prepaid, on these terms: S200 cash on delivery, balance in monthly install ments. Steadman on Saturday ac knowledged the receipt of piano, and stated that his wife was still too i'll to inspect the instrument, but hoped she would soon be able to do so, when he would notify the house to come over for settlement In the meantime the house became uneasy and sent him over to investigate, when he found that Steadman had sold the piano and skip ped out"
 Mrs. Steadman for time would not believe that she was deserted. but the following letter by special delivery on Sunday and Steadman's non- appear ance up to this time has convinced her that it is too true:
 Brinkley, Juno r, 1894. Mrs. Matte Steadman.
 Dear Wife-It will be impossible for me to get back to Forrest City before the night train. We will go to Memphis tomorrow evening Your husband.
 In an interview with the deserted bride,n she said her maiden name was Matte Smith and that her father, Jas. Nj. Smith, resided at Melissa Station, five miles south of Jackson, Tenn. She met Steadmsn at a party at her grand mothers in Jackson, and ignorant of the ways of the world. was easily per suaded into an elorement. She said they were married by the Rev. MT. Treble, a Baptist minister at Jackson on the 18th inst, and went direct to Mem phis aud thence to. Forrest City. Stead man told her he was school teacher, but was going to act as agent for mu- SIC house. With some little inconsis- tencies, her story is a straight one and is generally believed. Means were raised to send her home to Jackson this morning. q sad warning to young girls who place confidence in comparative strangers.