The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-26
KANSAS NEWS.
One Mr.. SharpeIy Proves a Very
Smooth Citizen.
Not Only Fooled a Reno County
Girl and Parents.
HAD OTHER VICTIMS
HAD OTHER VICTIMS.
Worked on a Ranch Out in ELS
worth County.
He BuncOed Several of His Fell
low Workmen.
Investigation Proves sThe
Stranger Has Four Wives.

Ellsworth, Nov. ga story recently
sent out from Hutchinson in regard to
one Mr.. Sharpely marrying a Reno
county girl and deserving her shortly
after marriage recalls the career of
Sharpely in this county. It is recalled
by the return of Joe and Bert Long
from a. wild goose chase to ST. Louis.
Last summer a stranger drifted into the
Sherman ranch, this county. He had
the appearance OF a tramp and subse-
quent events have proved that he was.
although a clever one. He asked for
work and got a job. Soon he became
confidential with several of the boys and
told them he was in the west tramping
simply for rest and for his health, which
had become impaired by too close ap-
plication to business in st. Louis. He
was a smooth customer. told his story in
a connected and logical way, and soon
succeeded in making the boys on the
ranch believe he was just what he rep
resented himself to be-a business man
from St. Louis in quest of health.
After working a month or two he con-
ddentially told one of the boys that he
had to return to st. Louis to take up the
duties of superintendent of an extension
of a certain street railway; that he
could guarantee him and a few of his
friends good jobs ON the extension all
that was necessary that he should send
their names to st. Louis together with
report on a certain date for work.
Eight or ten of the boys put up their
money, and about the first of November
quit work on the ranch. In the mean
time Mr.. Sharpely formed the acQuain-
lance of a. young lady, whom he mar
ried about three weeks ago. The we'd
ding, which took place at the home of
the bride in Reno county, was an elab-
crate affair, for which the brides father
is said to have expended about $500.
Among the presents was a check for
$500, payable to the groom and purpOrt-
ing to come from his father. Another
was a check for $3.50, payable to the
bride from a sister of the groom. These
checks were Of course bogus and not
worth a cent, but at the time this was
not known, SO the brides parents
thought their new son-in-laW was all
right, of good family with plenty OF
money.
A few days after the marriage the
groom was called east and has not been
seen since.
One of the boys who went to ST. Louis
upon the representations of this sharper
after telling his story to some Of the
street car officials, was told where he
could find Sharpely's St Louis wife. He
called on her and learned that she was
not the only wife he had. She told him
that Sharpely had another wife living
within twenty miles Of St Louis and
Kansas wife four in all The ST. Louis
wife has two children
Sharpely is said to have gone to Mis-
souri, from Reno county, and to have re-
Gently succeeded in working a scheme
whereby he beat someone out of five or
six hundred dollars
The street railway jobs in St Louis
were myths and the boys who gave up
$40 and good jobs here would like to
meet Sharpely again.