The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-19

Brooklyn, Nov 1s.-William F. VAL
entine, alleged swindler, who is be-
lieved to be one OF gang of sharpers
that has successfully operated in sew
eral cities, was arraigned this morning
to plead to indictments for forgery and
grand larceny and abduction, and as
sault, recently found by the grand jury
District Attorney Backus moved his
trial on the charge of forgery in OBJ
tanning money from Henry Batterman
on a forged check, but Valentine
pleaded guilty to the indictment. Then
Mr.. Rackus said he would prefer 10
have his plea taken for the second
count in the indictment, which was
forgery in the second degree. and Val
entine's counsel agreed to this The
district attorney then moved Tor the
trial of the prisoner on the charge or
abduction and assault in living with
May Vintage, at 81 Adams street, While
she was under age. Valentine pleaded
guilty to abduction. which plea was
entered, and he was remanded for SEN
tence.
District Attorney Backus later con-
scented TO divulge the mysterious evil
dence which he has held back so long
in connection with the alleged gang OF
swindlers. 1t is the official statement
May Vintage in 1895 for the first time,
when she was injured by falling from
a trolley car, and he saved her from be-
ing run over. The acquaintance quickly
ripened Valentine representing hlmSelr
as a wealthy builder. and giving his
name as Edgar. The couple met several
times and went to Staten Island and
Timer park for pleasure trips. She
finally consented to live with him as
his wife on his assurance that under
the laws of God and man she would be
his wife as much as if they had gone
through a ceremonial.
Miss Vintage told her parents that
she had married Valentine in a New
York church After living with him
for some time, she discovered that he
had a wife and family in HemDstead.
L. l. but he said he was justified in
leaving his wife and Miss Vintage was
brCugf,- about. but when the latter dis
covered that Mrs. Valentine was a re-
spectacle woman she begged her sup
posed husband to leave her and return
to his rightfuI wife. Before leaving the
house, she had a fainting spell The girl
then wrote her parents. asking forgive
ness for having deceived them She
asked permission to return home and
find work This letter was written on
paper headed STANDARD Coal and Oil
company. capitaI stock So 600 000 fully
secretary and treasurer. Edward TOle-
free, president. Main office Washing
ton, D. c., New York Office 293 Liberty
street.
On Valentines return, after an alb
sence of several days. May told him
she would leave him: then he told her
that if she did so she would be prose-
cuted for Dassing counterfeit checks
and he would skip the country. It was
the first time she had heard of any
bad checks having been passed. The
girl says that when she still insisted on
going away, he grasped her by the
throat and threatened to kill her and
said that if she dared to tell anything
about him she would be killed. Fright
ened by his violence. she remained with
him. Then he wrote a postal card to
her father. saying that May did not
mean what she said in the letter and
assuring bin that everything was all
right. Shortly after this Valentine
and May Vintage were arrested for
passing bad checks on Adams & Conn
pany. Valentine got out of the scrape
by having friend make good the
amount. May begged the man 70 set
tie all the forged checks. but he did not
do so. Miss Vintage then left Vala7-
tine and went to live at 120 Ralph
avenue. where she attempted to COM
nit suicide on October % last while
she was in st. Mary's hospital, VaIen-
tine was arrested for passing a check
on H. Batterman.
Valentine said that Job L. Bollgh
signed the name of L. Monk to the Bat
terman check.