The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-02
A LOTHARIO FROM JERSEY.
JOHN H. BLA CkFORD IN JAIL, AND
1WO WIVES CRYING OVER HIM.


employ Of the Central Railroad OF New Jersey.
is languishing in cell In tho Tombs prison to-
day. while out in New Jersey two Mrs. Black
fords are mourning. Each OF the New Jersey
Mrs Blackfords trusted her husband Inn
pIicitly, and each was basely deceived. Yet
both are crying over his fate and stand ready
to forgive him for his duplicity. II the New
York police will only lot him 60. But the New
York police won't. and even II they were 80
inclined. the New Jersey authorities stand
ready to nab him. for the morals OF tho
Mosquito State have been badly battered by
this same Mr.. Blackford
II anything was admired In the plural mar
riaees Of Mr. Blackford by those who heard the
taIe yesterday. 1t was the consummate nerve OF
the principal actor. Ho lived for ten years in
Planfed with his first wife. and there he was
honored and respected. For two years OF this
time he was counting q young woman OF
Nrstneld. which Is only Ave miles from
IlanReld Finally having pledged her with
q diamond surreptitiously extracted from
his wife's engagement ring. and having
borrowed the wherewithal from this
same wife. he married the young miss OF Vest
field. never taking the trouble to change his
name for the occasion. There 10 no explaining
why he wasn't caught; he simply wasn't. He
was enjoying his honeymoon in the Hotel
Marlborough. in this city. at K O'Clock yester-
day morning. when the Painfeld Mrs. Black
ford mpanled by indignant relatives OF the
Hestneld Mrs Blackford. and two detectives
hauled him and his bride out OF bed.
The hero OF this romance IL a little. insig-
riflcant-ookng man. with no noticeable
mental or physical advantages to recommend
him to the good offices OF any woman. He has
no money and his pay as u detective is small.
yet two more than ordinarily pretty women.
.-.- a a
him yesterday. declaring that they iorgave
him the injury he had done them and asked
that he be set free to 20 to either wife he saw
II. ltthe New York police have their way he
will 80 to prison and stay there for q good long
time.
Blackford's work as a railroad detective
naturally consumed a large part OF his time.
His wife never thought 1t strange that he was
away from home night after night and appar-
ertly his absences were legitimate up TO two
years ago. when he met Miss Alice Morgan OF
westneld. Miss Morgan mado great pres
sion on the detective and he became q regular
visitor at her house. He brought her flowers
and handsome presents and tbe family
came to regard him as sutton for
Miss Morgan's hand He made u declaration OF
love after six months OF this sort OF thing
mud placed his hand and his heart at her dis
rosal He told her he was widower OF several
years standing. and was accepted. During all
this time Blackford had Sonscientiously sailed
name. his occupation and that 8 home was in
llalpticd. A notice OF the engagement was
icsH 81 IN BasSioIds friends. sIthoush Miss
MorGan's friends hurried 70 congratulate her
And all this time B.acktord was living with his
wife la PlHinteld. They had never had any
children and were apparently happy together.
BlacStord spent his evenings with his hancee.
but told his wife that ne was out on the road.
4 short time alter the AunOulgtmelt oil the
engagement 10 Westaeld. BlacSford took
6s vile wSsn he Became ne
70 Mss Morgan. He emained as devoted a
wedding Sedi was anaiy set Tor thursday Of last
week. No engraved invitations were sent
that the ceremony would lake place at
Poon and that she would be glad 70
n shd oa 1S ta ;Ss 9 his Vie
end had purchased a irock coat and silk
then et,irsd himself in his new fMnery and
a xf to Morssn
home. and was regularly marie TO Miss
Morgan. The couple came to this city where
fad an d finally came back here. putting up at
the Hotel Marlborough
B.acktorI might have carried this sort OF
SUSPECTED him OF Gig ANYTHING but faithful
and true husband, but Charles Brennsrhottz, a
Morgan, had taken n great dislke to Black
PAtnreld and the first rerson he interviewed
there was Mrs. Blackford. who berated him
sogpdly for his lnslnuations against her hus-
collected all the portable evidence OF Black:
lords ,aupiicity that he could lind and carried
said Mrs; Blacktord,. Hes been away ioE a
But Brennerho!tz saw that there was no mis-
take when Mrs B!ackford produced a picture
9G Il She'd w snd n day s snd MAKE MEs
70 move herself in the meantime, Mrs. Black
i2rd promised; so BrGsnnerhoitz came came 70
r. Mpr5IGSr9ush IL hHI5 nS a., back Ito :.
husbands iaithIessness. Mrs Black ford was
wnE LII she s TEua go Alone Thsre
B,ackford'- mother, and John Collins, a friend
wer" summoned. 4 was after midnight when
when they landed at Police Headquarters In
There they related the whole story to De:
tectIve Sergeant Webb who was on duty and
he sent Detective Gargan and another officer
g. the Marlborough with the party. Blacki9'rd
hat registered there under his own name. He
nni his bride were sound asleep. but were
aroused and BIackiort was. accused Of bigamy
! don't el.eve word OF it," said tho bride.
By his wife - downstairs nowpm n, said TIE
detective. - She lust came in from Pla!nneld.'
On" was my VIE, sdln IlucklOFu cOOHy.
but got divorce from her out in Dakota.
last year
the detective. and after the couple had dressed
he took them 10 Police Headquarters The
rest OF tho party had preceded Them there; II
anybody expected Blackford to break down
they were greatly dIsappointed He faced
wife No. ! with grin. =, She promptly
burst into tears. Wife No. followed
suit Then both wives said they had
locked Bluckiord up all the same and sent
both wives over 10 the Broadway Central
Hotel. The wives didn't talk to each other,
tut went TO their respective rooms. They met
again later In the morning In Capt. McClusky' :
Office at Police Headquarters. Blackford was
there, as cool as ever. lie reiterated his Da-
Rota divorce story, but admitted that he had
not gone for the divorce himself A friend OF
his had attended to the matter for him. he
sad.
Both Mrs. Backfords said thnt they didn't
care 10 make charges against Backford, and
10 amount OF persuasion would induce either
one T. change her mind on this point. The
real Mrs Bluckford said that her husband had
probably become tangled up with Miss Nor
gan and had married her to square himself.
lie had always treated her pretty we'll. she
fhii, 80 she VAS willing to forgive him. Mrs.
Bhckford No said that she was confident
tha' her hust and would be- able to show that
b" had II right no marry her when he did.