The San Francisco call., 1898-10-11

Society people of this city were aston ished when the engagement was an- nounced recently of Charles A. Williams, a mine owner from South Africa. to one of the most beautiful belles of this city a reigning favorite with all. Society stood aghast yesterday when 1t was dis closed that Mr Williams, millionaire clubman and society beau, was passing under an assumed name, being known in other cities as Charles A. White; that he was g fugitive from justice GnL a wife beater.
 When the first rumors of MT Williams past career reached the family of his be- trothed. the members of 1t were 10th to believe them When proof of his mis- deeds accumulated they were forced to take cognizance of them. MT. Williams paved the way for his own destruction by pos ing before his fiancee as martyred hero, telling a fanciful tale in which he ad- mitted having changed his name to escape the calumny heaped upon 1t by the mis- doings of a former wife.
 The following information was received from New York by friend of the family, and was the first intimation of the true state of affairs:
 Charles A. White was arrested in New York on October 15. 1892, upon a requisi- ton from Wyoming for larceny of money and securities aggregating about S10o GOO White was tall. good looking, business like and about S6 years of age. He had won the affections of Mrs. Elma J. Nagle of Cheyenne. She was 65 years old and the widow of Erasmus Nag1e of Cheyenne. Wyo., who had left her an es- tate of more than half million dollars White, it was charged, had backed up his attractive personality by saying he was the manager of the American edition of the London Illustrated News at sal ary of 5000 a month. He was, in fact, only a canvasser at much smaller sal ary. Mrs. White, previous to the mar riage, moved in the best of society. Af- ter she welded White she was cut by her old friends, most of whom believed that White was an adventurer. When Mrs White sued for q divorce, the whole truth came out. The petition told of continu- ous abuse from the first week of their union, White living entirely on the bounty of the woman abusing her servants and beating them. The last thing he did be- fore leaving for New York, 1t Is alleged, was to blacken his wife's eyes and beat her into insensibility. The case was brought to the attention of the New York police by the receipt of this telegram to Superintendent Byrnes on September II, 1892:
 CHEYENNE, wyo.
 To Byrnes Superintendent of Police. New York: Get boy named George Nagle. light hair and complexion heavy build, blue eyes. short stature 16 years old, round face, in care of C. A. White Is supposed to be staying at St. James Hotel He is wanted here by his mother at once Boy has large estate. White is scheming to get control of 1t by secreting boy. White has about s150, GOO worth of stocks, bonds and mortgages belonging to boy mother. These stocks were obtained by violence and fraud. Case against him just commenced in court here. OHa rcfn Trfr ernbezzlement and Kidnapping, and requsition asked for If boy cannot be found White refuses to give him up, arrest White at once and hold him for requisition. W. R. SToLL. Attorney for George Nagle and Nagle Estate
 second and confirmatory dispatch, received by Superintendent ByrneS later in the day. read:
 Obtain possession of George H. Nagle at St James Hotel described in telegram by George R. Stoll Deliver him to R. Tenbroeck, general agent Union Pacific Railway and make every effort. This is important.
 w R. SCHNITGER Chief of Police.
 Two detectives were at once sent to the St. James Hotel and found White had left that morning, accompanied by young Nagle. Sheriff Kelly of Cheyenne arrived with requisition papers on October 5. White was located and arrested during the afternoon. In the meantime he learned that the Cheyenne police had complained 10 byIneS about his detention of young Nagle and he promptly put the boy on a westbound train and sent him to Rock Island. Illi- nois.. where the boys grandmother lived. When taken into custody he said his mar riage was a purely business proposition. that he sold himself to the widow for s1oo .0O0 As ready money was short, he took s25,0Oo cash and mortgage of s75 600. Mrs White insisted that so chn concerned if a love match and that the mortgage which White finally obtained was extort- ed under a threat of violence After a few weeks of marriage the bride said she found her dashing. young husband setting up a stable, running a pack of hounds and absenting himself for long trips to Chicago. White left Cheyenne on Septem- Der 6, taking with him s100.0o0 of Mrs. Whites property. He came direct to New York and at oncs assigned his S75 900 mortgage to the Central Trust Company, if is said, without consideration. A charge of grand larceny was preferred against White in wyoming and requisition for him was obtained from Acting Governor Barber.
 from his wife the property he carried of, consisting of bonds worth $61 $50 and abo,1t $40 900 in cash White secuted the idea that he would steal anything, and while he admitted he could never love his elderly wife. he would fulfill his mart of the contract and manage her business and her money if given q chance He said he would be perfectly willing to return to Wyoming if he could be assured of a fair trial, but public opinion had been prejudiced against him. He was sure that repeated threats of tar and feathers if he ever appeared in