The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-28
William $. Wedge, in a London
Prison, Has an Atlanta
Record.
WAS IN MANY EsCAPADEs.
Is Man of Talent, Suavity and
Wide Travel, and Has
Wonderful Way
With Women.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Atlanta, Ga. July 2T-Atlanta is very
much interested in the news. brought by ca.
bic from London that William S. Wedge is
under arrest there. charged with drowning
his sixth wife.
For Mr.. Wedge had metecric and nota.
BILE career in Atlanta at the time OF the
Exposition Of laSo He was the principal in
so many adventures and escapades that his
name became as familiar to newspaper
readers as though it stood for a patent
medicine
According to accounts which have come
TO the city from England, Wedge has been
travelling over there for some time. Re-
Gently he married Miss Edith Lydie Hoy OF
London. On Sunday. July IA, Wedge took
his London wife out for a boat ride on the
Avon.
She never returned alive BY an accident,
rs Wedge claims. she fell into the water
and was drowned. notwithstanding the eff
forts of Wedge to save her life.
In his story before the Coroner's jury
Wedge testified that, while she was chang
ing her position in the boat, it tilted and
she went over. He plunged in and tried
repeatedly TO save her. but was unable to
do so. He says he threw her an oar, but
s'Hh SNeH tiiis uia iiol Seem 10 nelp HeT OUT.
Why He Was Arrested.
In his testimony Wedge says at one hear
Ing that his wife sank three times. and at
another sitting of the jury that she sank
two times. This fact, coupled with other
circumstances, namely. that the woman
wedge telegraphed to a life insurance COM
pany Tor the money due upon his wifes
death the day after she was dead. are
taken as evidences that Wedge had more
10 do with the death of his wife than he has
admitted.
1t is also stated that Wedge made in
Quiries as to the time the river was less
irequented than at other times. and that
when he went upon the stream there was
no one near
Wedges checkered career did not begin
In Atlanta. He came here In 1895. when the
exposition was opened. and began selling a
suost,dut aa Tor razors. a preparation of
SAID. removed the skin as well as the
beard. Then he was charged with forgery. BY
ms suavity of manner and smooth speech
ne attracted the attention Of Barton HUFF,
the head of food company. MT. Hun be,
gan movement in behalf of Wedge and
soon had him released from prison.
Joined the Adventists.
wedge then began to take a great in
terest IN the Adventists. who conduct a
eanitarium at Battle Creek. Mich. In this
Hun was also greatly interested. wedge.
through his power of adaptability, soon be-
came one OF the leading members of the
Soetrne In Atanta as gushing g forward the
eoMmenoeo TO work for the food company
ne followed this for time. but again
changed his occupation and was lost siEht
VI rnui ms recent escapade In England
Wedge is an accomplished man of the
world. He has manner OF approa cfins,
Without a eo into sns their sio,
sne person. to whom he is talking knowing
a. he ngratiated himself easily in the
Es ehfes OF strangers He is particularly de-
manner which charms them. which as h. q
,,evea to account largely for his MANY
His Many Wives.
He has Travelled over the world serer.,
gions. "o'e re-
AT the Paris Exposition he was seen as
s on. conducting side show with vigor-
The story of Wedges six wives is prob-
S,ply the most interesting chapter OF his
fie. according to the best obtainabie in.
woman. This marriage took place wben
Meoge was away up in affairs They lived
nMs MP put In about three years. it Is said,
said to reside now in Baltimore with a ron
nl His second wife. Wedge says. was of a
s nns.y ana high temper. and she left him
arSr TWO weeks Oh aed piss
The third wife was inconstant. and in
5ew weeks she lief. her husband 40 recen.lv
Seuse at the time he married
or No. 2. - "Ae W.
May Investigate Other Deaths.
"He NO. was an Indiana woman. She
was drowned year after marriage in the
Suif OF Mexico. with her baby. Mystery
surrounded this incident.
Wedges next wife was woman of Eat.
ne creek. Mich. She died in q sanitari
there while under the knife. For the pur
DOSE OF performing an operation she vas
eiven an anaetheac, from the effectx ~
which she never recovered
Wedge to his end. -a' oAoushs
1T Is said that the investigation against
Meoge IN the present case will take the
direction OF discovering whether he oh
famed life insurance on his other wives
and II Is believed that IL this is shown II
Will De strong circumstance to show thai
there was a motive behind the mysterious
death OF the adventurer's six WINS