The morning call., 1894-09-18
SHE WAS BAsELY DECEIVED.
Married Under a Fictitious Name
in June.
CREDITORS LEFT IN THE LURCH.
A Real Estate Broker Disappears
After Getting His Wife's Money
and Operating on Dupes.

of W. p. Larkin, the real estate broker,
they had trusted with business and money.
But so far as greving can do them any
good toward recovering what Larkin did
not leave behind they may continue the
unpleasant occupation, fer their whilOm
friend is said to have gone to pastures
green beyond the jurisdiction of San Fran
cisco minions Of the law.
He failed TO reach his Office on Monday
morning as usual. Tuesday came, and
then Wed neSday, and so the week passed,
but Larkin's Office was deserted. People
with whom he had business transactions
called daily, but could learn nothing as to
what became of him.
Among the persons who called was Mrs.
Florence Larkln, the deserted wife.
The agents who knew Lsrkin had missed
him from his Office, but thought he had
taken a vacation or trip into the country
and would soon return. But when the
wife asked them for some tidings of her
newly acquired hubby Friday afternoon
they knew he had slipped away quietly TO
parts unknown. Mrs. Larkin had waited
in vain for him to come home and it was
only when no other course was possible
she visited the real-estate Office to begin a
search that SO far has been vainer than
her waiting. She found the Office deserted
aud to let. The furniture was gone and
the truth then flashed on her mind that
she had been duped and forsaken by a
husband of ten weeks. In the adjoining
Offices were brokers who confirmed her
fears. They were as thoroughly aston
iished to meet Mrs. LarkiU as she was at
finding out the truth regarding her hus-
bands character, for they bad not heard
of Barkin's marriage. but. instead, were
under the impression he had a wife in
Chicago.
To one of these brokers Mrs. Lar kin
told pitlful tale. 1t appears that Larkin
made her acquaintance few months ago
in this city, and learning that she had
some money be paid her attentions, which
were reel prOcated. Larkin is handsome
man of 30 years, tall and possessed of
military bearing and we'll proportional
figure. He dressed with pretensions to
style and elegance in a black Prince AL
bert suit and invariably a polished silk
hat, underneath which his hair curled and
hung in nodding masses. All combined
had the desired effect. for the couple were
married on June q last.
The honeymoon was ridiculously short :;
the days of welded bliss were fieeting, be-
cause there was little happiness in the
match, since the husband did nothing but
spend the brides money. And when that
source of supply gave out he left her
among strangers and in destitute circum-
stances.
Larkin came to San Francisco last No
vember and located at $50 Market street
in the real estate business. He lived at the
Palace, the Langham and st. Nicholas no.
tells, and told his acquaintance that
money ana business were rolling into his
office.
His stay at the Palace was limited to
night or two. out he continued to loiter
around the Palace courtyard and Office
and received mail there. While leading
people to believe be occupied a swell suite
of apartments on the aristocratic seventh
floor. he opened an Office across the street
as a dealer in country lands. His first act
was to inform notary in the building
that ne had invested $40, 900 in tract of
California land, and had made $1,000 CON-
mission in his first real estate deal. To
the same man he made fattering prop
osition to exchange a hotel property in
Chicago for tract Of 5000 acres in Tehama
County valued at $500, 600. He was acting
in the matter as broker for a Chicago
agent, so he said, but upon Investigation
ii was discovered Larkin had nothing to
offer, and that the hotel proposition was
myth.
Larkin did little or no business in real
estate. his plan being TO advertise for
partners and selling interests in bis broker
age. He first secured a young man named
Heidler, who stayed only a very brief
time 10 the partnership and Withdrew.
Heidler is a commercial man who travels
in the interior.
The next victim was young man named
Page from Philadelphia. Page saw Lar
kin's advertisement and paid 500, $40 in
cash and $50 in a check on a bank in his
native city, for an interest in the bust
ness. 1t did not take him more than a
few days to learn there was nothing in the
connection and lie parted from Larkin. He
telegrapbed to stop payment of the check,
and by so doing saved $50.
Then an old gentleman was induced to
try his hand. He deposited $40 on a lot as
part payment, but the lot never had an ex-
istence and the $40 never went back.
A. M. James thought that Larkin might
be good hustler to join in business and
gave him trial before actually becoming
partner. James sold some country land
and made 500 commission, which Lark
collected and kept. This is the story of
the man who lost his commission. The
transaction settled matters so far as James
was concerned, and the partnership was
not formed.
a broker, named Brown. agreed to 90
into the business with Larkin and paid
$40 as guarantee of his intentions. He.
TOO. backed out. leaving the money behind.
Meantime, Larkin borrowed money
wherever he could get it and managed to
keep an Office and support himself in CON-
Portable style.
Those who know him best declare his
action toward his wife was identical with
his business methods. To begin with,
there is indisputsble evidence of this in
the marriage record, which shows that the
ceremony was a disgraceful deception
Larkiu procured license on June 81 to
marry Miss Florence Harrington. He gave
his address at 917 Market street, where the
landlady asserts he never dwelt. But the
worst deception Of all was that be married
under fictitious name. In all letters and
documents and in every way he signed
himself Nv. p. LarkiD," ard that is his
true name On the marriage register is a
copy of his certificate, which shows be
married as Penn Larkan." His sigma