The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-27
POLICE TRACE CAREER
OF MODERN BLUEBEARD
Man Who Escaped Arrest by Cut
ting His Throat Had Many
Wives.
VICTIMS BODY IN TRUNK

LONDON, March 26.-Public interest con-
tinues to be largely absorbed in the ex-
traordinary developments following the
suicide of a man named George Crossman.
On the night of March % Crossman, who
was living in a respectable suburb of Ken
salrise, killed himself to avoid arrest by
the police, whose suspicious had been
aroused regarding the contents of trunk
which Crossman was sending away from
his house.
On opening the trunk the body of wom-
an was found incased in cement. An inves-
tigation proved that she was murdered
about six months ago. and that she was
one of Cheeseman's eight wives. Five of
his wives were traced and found alive. one
is dead and two are missing.
The identity of the body found in the ce-.
ment cannot yet be ascertained on account
of decomposition and injury to the skull,
which had been split with an AK or similar
instrument. The police believe it possible
the investigation may prove that Crossman
adopted a similar method in Kidding him.
self of other superfluous wives, of which it
is suspected he may have had several who
have not yet been traced.
But thirty years of age, CrOssman's ca
reer rivals that of the most famous GRIM
inals. Under various aliases he led
uOuDle anu even Il married lie, pos
ing successfully, according to the fancy of
the moment, as an engineer, compositor,
wigmaker or bookmaker. His chief means
of support however, appears to have been
derived from his wives, several of whom
he secured through advertisements. In 1899
Crossman sentenced to five years inn
prisonment for bigamy and when he killed
himself he was still on ticket of leave. Yet
his neighbors always regarded Crossman
as respectable man, who led a quiet and
embarrassing life.
CrnSSmapfS
of natural causes in 1897. He remarked in
1898 at Maidstone, and the same year con-
tracted a bigamouS marriage at MaldOn.
For this he was sentenced to five years
penal servitude. Good conduct in prison
enabled Crossman to avoid the full term.
Once free he Sc to work TO marry by
wholesale. Wife No. was quickly secured.
She and her baby were recently living at
Crossman's house at kensalrise. At Read
ing Crossman secured fifth wife under
the name of Seaton. month later he
married again. The whereabouts and fate
of this sixth wife are still uncertain. For
year he kept up the deception and ap-
parently none of his living wives had the
faintest suspicion of his honesty.
Crossman found his eighth wife in the
young daughter of a London railroad en-
ploye, and she is supposed to be the vic
tim he enCased in cement.
At the time of his suicide Crossman thus
had five wives, besides several children.
The discovery occurred through the sus-
picions of ledger to whom Crossman let
some rooms at Kensalrise For several
weeks the ledger had noticed an obnoxious
odor and complained of 1t, but Crossman
attributed ii 10 the drains. At this period
Crossman was living with one of his many
wives. who occupied the same room where
the dead body of another wife was con-
cealed in a trunk. The lodger traced the
odor TO the trunk, and Crossman agreed to
send il away. Just as the grewsome load
was being lifted into a cart the police ap-
peared. With a cry Crossman started to
run. For three-quarters of a mile ne fled
for his life. The police gained on him,
and the foremost of the pursuers were
on his heels Crossman pulled a razor from
his pocket and cut his throat from ear to
| ear. Death was almost instantaneous.