The Springfield herald., 1898-11-18

tured so many hearts. Woodruff be-
gan his career near Buffalo. He went
south, and then west. lie Vlsltea
many places, but since the death OF MS
first wife he has passed more time IN
Buffalo and St. Louis than elsewhere.
AZ times he has advertised for women
to marry. At other times he has WOO
e., and won women whom he met. HIS
victims are nearly all women VINO
worked for a living, and who looked
to matrimony for better conditions.
What manner of looking and acting
man is this creature who has broken
all matrimonial records? One might
expect to find tall, strong man, hand-
some after certain coarse style, a
man with an impressive personality
The things that have been told about
him suggest black moustache and
dashing air. And the strangest part
of it is that Woodruff is very homely.
He is another Illustration of the truth
that men who have the greatest power
over women are seldom handsome
men. Thus Ct all the prisoners in the
Erie county jail Woodruff appears the
last man who should have won so
many hearts. He is thin and under
sized; his frame is shrunken from Ill
health. He seems crouching in fear
of blow. His hair was once red. He
has n fringe of gray above his neck.
The top of his head is bald A scraggy,
red mustache falls weakly over his
mouth. His skin Is green and blotch-
ed, his chin weak. He has good eyes.
There is certain frankness and di-
rcctness in them. He looks straight
at you when he is speaking. He
shakes hands in firm, honest way.
likely to inspire confidence. His trade
has given him strong muscles in his
arms. His voice is pleasant, although
| he talks with hesitancy, natural
enough to a man in jail who fears that
he might say too much. He married
FIVE or six women before he left Buff
falo in 1890 and sought other fields.
There is evidence to prove that he
married eight or ten women before ne
cached St. Louis. One or two of those
i've in New York. He was a masseur
In the metropolis and called himself
Prof. Woodruff. He drifted to San
Francisco. where he posed as an en-
gineer. There is nothing to show that
he married in California, or in New
Mexico, where he afterward appeared,
although letters found in his trunk
indicated that he was corresponding
with women in that region with matri-
mony In mind. One of the remarkable
things in connection with Woodruff
was the celerity with which he could
cover the ground between the meeting
with a woman and the altar. 1t is
impossible to learn the identity of half
the women whom Woodruff married.
The documentary evidence In the
hands OF the police indicates many by
their first names only, and the photo
graphs may include several whom he
contemplated marrying. More than
5000 letters with love and marriage
for their theme were found in Wood
ruff's room. The chief charm of the
man was his appearance of sincerity.
1t is not likely that he had any moral
perception that he was doing wrong.
He knew that he was breaking the
law, but did not feel bound by legal
enactments. In each instance ne
plunged into wooing with enthusiasm.
He seemed to have clear understand
ing of the viewpoints of his victims.
At times he took care to be well
dressed and talked about his wealth.
At others he was a plain man. MAX
ing good income and Offering a good
home and deep love to the woman who
would become his wife. He seemed
able TO make each woman believe that
no other had ever attracted him as she
had, characteristic possessed by all
men who delight in conquering wom-
en-. He always gave the impression
that he was a sober. sedate man who
had tired Of the follies of youth. IN
some instances he admitted that he
was poor. AS rule he offered the
bait OF wealth, usually prospective.
When women were few or when ne
was in strange town he advertised.
We found the theatrical bait the most
attractive. He announced that he was
forming a company and wanted a
a. ~