The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-26
Holds the Record a. a Marrying Man.

Holds the Record as Marrying Man.
There is an elderly, gray-haired man
in the Maryland penitentiary, says the
Baltimore Sun, who has made re-
markable record.
The man is James Clarke, about sixty
five years old, one-armed, and, it is
claimed, man so singularly fascina-
ting to women that he had married 50
of them before he was arrested, nearly
four years ago. by detective Al Gault.
Detective Gault tells the story of
Clarke's adventures in Baltimore, and
expresses his belief that Clarke was one
of the smoothest takers that ever "wag-
ged tongue He says that there are
indictments out in almost every State
in the Union against Clarke, and that
he is known to have married 55 women.
He says his charm was his wonderful
tongue, with which he was able to pour
forth in soft language such stories that
hardly a woman could be found to re-
sist him.
1t seems Clarke's regular game was
to pick out some young widow, with
little money, represent to her that ne
was quite wealthy cattle owner from
California, and marry her. Then by
little persuasion he would induce the
bride to turn over her savings to be
placed in the same bank with all his
wealth. After this was done, Mr.. Clarke
simply ''flew the COOP and never came
back.
The singular part of this is that,
while he has been married 80 times,
none of his wives have ever prosecuted
him, and he is serving his term now
for stealing, and not for bigamy.
''Clarke, after being in Baltimore for
some time, became acquainted with
Mrs. Sadie l.. Culleny, who lived on
Robert street, and was said to have So
600. Clarke told her about his cattle
ranch in California, and compared her
with his dear departed wife, eminently
to Mrs. Culleny's advantage. Finally,
Mrs Culleny decided to marry him and
go at once TO California with Clarke.
No one was told except a very conf
Dental friend of Mrs. Culeny's. Mr..
Clarke discovered minister from one
of the counties to whom he promised
$ If he would perform the ceremony.
'0n the eventful night Mrs. Culleny
invited all her friends to the house
without telling them what was the oc-
casion. She had rugged up a curtain
in the parlor, dividing of half the
room. The young minister arrived late
ON a car, having missed the carriage
sent for him. He found the guests as
sembled, and whispers going around of
what was about to occur The minis
ter was taken apart by the confidential
friend and told that she suspected some
thing wrong, and did not like Mr..
Clarkes actions. He had, she said,
promised to give his wife a check for
800, 900 at the marriage supper, but was
acting queerly. The minister looked
stern, and said be would talk to Mr..
Clarke. He and the bridegroom went
into room together and before the
minister could start, Clarke was telling
all about his California cattle, and fl
nally told the minister he would make
his fee $50.
''The jump from $ to $50 ratified the
clergyman, and he came Out and told
the confidential friend that the BRIDE
groom was perfectly straight, and fine
gentleman. Finally everything was
arranged, and at the tinkle of a bell the
curtains were parted aud the guests
looked upon Mrs. Culleny and Clarke
in wedding attire. There was much
surprise, but the young minister started
in and married them in business-like
manner. The rumOr about the great
wealth of the bridegroom and his prom
ise of giving the bride 100000 check
at the marriage table kept the interest
stirring among the friends
"When the supper was announced
and the couple with the others sat down
every one was watching and waiting
for the event of the check. Old Clarke
knew they were sizing him up, and was
particularly deliberate about making
any move. Gradually every one stop
ped eating TO watch and wait on Clarke.
He, without seeming to notice any
thing, reached his hand in his pocket,
aud, taking out neatly-folded slip of
paper, passed it eovertly to the minis
ter. The movement was seen by all,
and the minister quickly slipped the
paper in his pocket, with happy feel
ing. AS soon as the supper was over
the minister hurried out to see the size
of his check, and read with horror :
Owing to the intense excitement under
which / am laboring, on this, the eve
of my marriage, / have not been able
to get TO bank to-day
"The poor preacher, seizing his hat,
fled from the house, into the carriage
and away. After he left, others began
to get suspicious, and there finally was
fight, and poor old Clarke was thrown
out. He went from there to Mrs. Fields,
where he got the keys Of her trunk,
and then left town.
"If he had not made that 100000
check promise it is probable he would
have gotten Mrs. Culleny's money in
the same way in which he had that of
many other widows. He was a remark
able man, and only had one arm. This
did II seem to affect him at all with
the women, and from Sacramento to
Baltimore ne has met and married them
when he pleased"
"CIarke's time will expire within
less than a year. He was convicted in
March, 1895.