The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-27
A MUCH-MARRIED MAN
LIVES BY BEGUILING WELL-TO-DO
WIDOWS INTO MARRYING HIM.
Married Muncie Woman for Her
Money and More Recently Took to
Wife q Resident Of Richmond.

Wife u Resident Of Richmond.
Mrs. Matilda j. Feathers. of Muncie, was
living temporarily with her daughter, Mrs.
McGuffin, on West Ohio street, about a
year and a half ago. Mrs. McGuffin kept
lodging house. One day an elderly, we'll
dressed man, giving the name Of Charles
j. Warren, engaged room, and soon won
the good opinion of the entire family. Mrs.
Feathers formed his acquaintance, and in a
short time they were on the best of terms.
He told her he was from New York. where
he owned large farm. He said he was a
lumber inspector for carriage factory,
and was in Indiana for the purpose of pur-
chasing hard wood lumber. After a few
days he left Indianapolis for Marion, os-
tensibly to buy lumber After he went
away Mrs. Feathers corresponded with him
frequently. She finally returned to Muncie,
where she continued to receive letters from
Warren, until one day ne called in person
and proposed marriage. Mrs. Feathers was
a widow of some means. her children were
all grown, and, as Warren represented him
self to be fairly we'll off, she consented, and
they were married Oct. 9, 1894. He returned
to Marion, and she came to this city and
had her furniture shipped to- Muncie.
After few days Warren joined her there
and the couple began housekeeping. Then
Warren's purpose began to crop out He
minated ne was getting too old to be on
the road and would prefer to engage in
some little business. His newly made wife
looked with favor upon the proposition, and
hnally agreed TO mortgage one Of her houses
and lots for sufficient money to start a
cigar store. Warren rented a room and
made all preparations Tor opening the bust
ness with the exception of purchasing the
stock. IL was his idea that the goods
could be bought more cheaply here than in
Muncie. Mrs. Warren borrowed $500, mort
gaging one Of her houses. Part of this was
consumed in paying some debts, rent on the
business room, etc. and when they came
here the day following Christmas, 1894, but
$SO0 was left This amount Mrs. Warren
carried with her.
They went to Mrs. McGuffin's house to
spend the night, and after supper Mrs Nc
Guffin placed the purse containing the
money in dresser drawer at her mother S
request. The key was dropped in a little
mug and showed behind a clock. The next
morning at breakfast Warren complained of
feeling faint and left the table before the
other members of the family. A few mo-
the room where the money was locked up.
smoking good cigar. He chatted gayly
for few moments and said it was neces-
sary for him to go down town to look after
some OF his private business.
Il will come back at o'clock" said he,
and then we can go up town and select
Muncie"
Mrs. Warren assented to his proposition,
and that was. the last she ever saw of
him. Four O'Clock came, but no husband.
A half hour later his wife became a little
nervous, fearing they would miss, the train.
rhen All OF sudden, she SAD last nign ~
her.
Look for the money" she cried to her
daughter. The key was in the little mug,
but when the drawer was unlocked no mon
ey was found, and the poor old woman real
lied that she had been duped into marry
ing a thief. Back to Muncie she wen,,
a divorce, which was granted shortly after
wards. She wrote 70 the firm Warren
claimed to represent, but was Informed no
Nothing more was heard of him until
last October, when a man giving his name
as Charles j. Halen arrived in Wayne
Cal, and after a short courtship married
Mrs. Mary Gunion. of Centerville. They
removed to Richmond and rented a room,
in which they expected to go into business,
and then went to Cincinnati to purchase a
stock of goods. Mrs Hallen had $3.50, which
she took along to pay her part Of the bill.
a safe for fear of loss theft. Hallen,
pretending to have found stock of goods
over in Covington that he could buy at a
bargain, took his wife's money from the
safe and disappeared, and that is the last
she ever heard OF him.
Mrs. Warren read an account of Mrs
Gunion's experience with Hallen in Cincirf-
| natl papers, and from the similarity of the
circumstances and the initials given at once
man. She wrote Mrs. Hallen, giving de-
scription of Warren. Last week Mrs. War
rem received a reply. The description given
comedies with that of Hallen in every par
ticular save one-Hallen wore only a mus
tache, while Warren had a short, gray
beard. Hallen stated to his latest bride,
a short time previous to his arrival in Gen.
terviile. Mrs. Hallen wrote that her hus-
band wore gold-rimmed eye glasses. and
Mrs. Warren said last night she believes
they are her glasses, which he carried away
with him.
Mrs. Warren. is a very intelligent old lady
and laughed quite heartily last night when
relating her experiences. She says she fully
believes it was Warren's intention to get
all her property when he married her, but
that he found she was not so easily worked
as he imagined She consented to borrow
the money only with the distinct under
standing that the cigar business was to be
should account to her for every cent.
"Of course, regret the loss of the
money" she said, but what 1 hate worst
| of all is to think 1 was tied to a thief.
| want to say he is the smartest man you
| ever saw. He pretended to be strict Pres
| byterian, but l tell my daughters he meant
| a strict thief. L hope the rascal can be
| found and punished before he robs another
| poor old woman. By marrying me he got
an interest in all my property, and l had
| houses, which had to do TO save myself.
Mrs. Warren says that after her mar
| riage she learned that another widow OF
| Muncie-a Mrs. North--had married a man
| calling himself George Warren about three
years ago. He went to that city, claiming
| to be book agent. After marrying him
| Mrs. North accompanied him to Cincinnati
| where he got $40 of her money, which had
been placed in their trunk for safe-keeping
He went away in the morning. promising
TO return in time to take her to dinner, but
| she never head of him again.
After selling her property in Muncie Mrs
| Warren moved to West indianapolis, wnere
she now lives at 20 Oliver avenue.