The record-union., 1896-11-19
SWINDLER VALENTINE.
HE PLEADS GUILTY TO SEVERAL
INDICTMENTS.
Obtaining Money Under False Pre-
lenses Not the Only Crimes OF
Which He Was Guilty.

BROOKLYN, Nov. 1S.-William F.
Valentine, the alleged swindler, who is
believed to be one of the gang OF
sharpers that has successfully oper-
ated in several cities, was arraigned
this morning to plead to indictments for
forgery and grand larceny and abduc-
tion and assault recently found by the
Grand Jury.
District Attorney Backus moved mrs
trial on the charge of forgery in obtain
ing money from Henry Batterman on
forged check, but Valentine pleaded
guilty to the indictment. Then Mr..
Backus said he would prefer to have
his plea taken for the second count, and
Valentines counsel agreed to this. The
District Attorney then moved for the
trial of the prisoner on the charge of
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 en-
tered, and he was remanded for Sep-
tence.
District Attorney Backus later con-
sented to divulge the mysterious evil
dence which he has held back so long in
connection with the alleged gang of
swindlers. 1t is the first official state
ment made as to the effect that Val
entine met May Vintage in 1895 for the
first time when she was injured by fall.
ing from a trolley car, and he saved her
from being run over. The acquaintance
quickly ripened, Valentine representing
himself as a wealthy builder and giving
his name as Edgar. The couple met
n
Island and Ulmer 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 ceremony.
Miss Vintage told her parents that
she married Valentine in New York
church. After living with him for some
time she discovered that he had a wife
and family in Hampstead, L. L., but he
said he was justified in leaving his wife,
and Miss Vintage was brought about,
and when the latter discovered that
Mrs Valentine was a respectable
woman she begged her supposed hus-
band to leave her and return to his
r1ghtful wife. Before leaving the house
she had fainting spell. The girl then
wrote to her parents, asking forgive-
ness FOR having deceived them She
asked permission to return home II a
letter was written on paper headed.
standard Coal and Coal Company.
Capital stock, $2,0OO000. fully paid.
ron -assessable. j. r. Mclaughlin. Sec
retary and Treasurer. Edward Tole-
Tree, President. Main office. Washing
ton. ID q
street"
oh Valentines return from an alb
seilce OF several days May told him she
would leave him. Then he told her that
IL she did SO she would be prosecuted for
Passing counterfeit checks. and he
would skip the country. It was the first
time she had heard OF any bad checks
having heen passed. The girl SAYS that
When she still insisted on going away he
grasped her by the throat and threat
ened to kill her, and said that If she
dared to tell anything about him she
would be killed. Frightened by his yio-
ience, she remained with him. Then he
wrote a postal card to her father saw
ing that May did not mean what she
said in the Letter, and assuring him that
everything was all right Shortly after
this Valentine and May Vintage were
arrested for passing bad checks on Ad-
ans Il Co. Valentine got out of the
scrape by having a friend make good
the loss. May begged the man to settle
all the checks, but he did not do so.
Miss Vintage then left Valentine and
went to live az 123 Ralph avenue. where
she attempted to commit suicide on Oc-
tober Sth last. While she was in ST.
Marys Hospital Valentine was ar
rested for passing check on H. Bat
terman. Valentine said that Job l..
| Bough signed the name Of l. Monk to
the Batterman check.