Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1906-03-14


{ quarry June %, 1908.
{ Darlington indicted for the murder.
) October 2, 1903.
} After numerous delays trial began {
February %, 1904.
I Verdict of murder in the first degree
I March 3, 1904.
I Date of execution fixed for June IA {
( 1904
s Appeal taken to the supreme court
{ April %, 1904.
{ Judgment of trial court afr ed ian
) ua1y 81. 1906.
) Date of execution fixed for March 10. {
1906
1~~-~-~~~~~~~-~-~-~~-
ST. LOUIS, Mo-. March 12.-With
apparently but three days between him
and the gallows George Barton. tho
bogus Lord Darlington, maintains his
nerve and continues to assure visitors
that the revision of his case by the
supreme court would prove him innocent
OF the crime with which he is charged
and establish his identity as Lieut. Col.
the Honorable Seymour Darlington of
his majesty's Light Horse, heir to the
dukedom OF Darlington.
The man was sentenced to hang in the
little Jail at Clayton next Thursday for
the murder of his friend and patron.
James t. McGann, two years ago.
Few Parallels on Record.
career of Lord Darlington, or George
Barton. He was born near Brighton.
England, about fifty years ago. At the
age OF 10 he was given Il sentence Of
ten years imprisonment for burglary.
the proceeds of which had Melted him
$4,000; and four years later lie escaped.
deceiving the police when unprecedented
by producing a pardon which was not
discovered to be a forgery until long aft
erWard
The next year. in 1881 he was ar
rested Tor the murder of an army Of
hcer, whose valet he had been. but no
evidence could be secured against him.
Then he wandered in many lands.
Women proved easy victims of his
charm and his romantic tales. Ccca-
sionally his sins found him out and
prison gates closed upon him, but he
never failed to improve these periods of
Incarceration with study which rendered
him more fit for his cavalier role after
his term had expired. Sir Frederick
Sydenham Burgoyne and Earl Barring
ton OF Barton We're two of the favorite
MONS deguerre used by this foe of So
clety III the earlier stages of his career.
and he lived up to them with a con
summate grace which many a genuine
lord might envy.
II America with Money.
In 1889 he came to America for the
second time. with a draft for 100000.
In 1890 he selected the daughter OF q
wealthy widow in Brooklyn. Miss Celps-
tine E. Miller. and wooed and won hpr
persuaded the girl and her mother to sell
their property in order that he might III
vest 1t in England. and then took his
victims across the Atlantic to introduce
them 10 his ducal parents. But when
they reached London, Barton discovered
that his titled relatives were visiting in
al | nd fnr +l,n5, III
up quarters in London to await their
return.
After four months he was recognized
by the police and arrested upon an old
charge of embezzlement. The two wom-
en-, upon the site which Barton had de
scrIbed with such a wealth of details.
discovered an old man and woman who
did not even own the little cottage in
which they dwelt. Heartbroken. the
women returned to Brooklyn, where they
are now operating a steam laundry.
WEEDS in Philadelphia.
After serving seven years il English
prisons, Barton returned TO the United
States. He married Miss Margaret Raj
ferty. daughter of 4 wealthy coal dealer
in Philadelphia, and abandoned her in
Pittsburg one week ;..terward, having
robbed her of $1,000. Then he came to
st. Louis. in October, 1902. pretending
to be an emissary sent by the British
government to the Louisiana Purchase
exposition He was accepted in many
and caDtivated Miss Wilhcmina Grace
Cochrane of Kansas City, who was Wis
iting here.
They were welded on January =.
1908. but Miss Cochrane's brother dis
covered Barton and administered a pub
three days afterward. and then he was
sent 70 the workhOuse for yagrancy and
dlSorderly conduct
At the End of the Rope
Tho crime which brought him to the
end Of lis rope was the murder of james
L. McGann, owner Of race horses and
man about town. who took him ND and
befriended him after his release from
the workhouse. On June Is. 1903. Nc
Gam was lured to Il lonely spot near
the Bonfls postoffice. shot and killed.
and his body thrown into an abandoned
quarry. At the time the Missouri river
had overfowed its banks and had almost
reached the quarry. 1t is supposed that
the murderer thought it would be washed
away by the flood. Darlington admitted
having gone to the place with McGann.
but declared that while walking along
the road they were attacked by two
strange men who evidently had
grudge against McGann. He said he
was struck from behind and left uncop-
scious in the road. When he .awoke he
was alone.
Barrington's trial lasted two weeks in
Clayton. He was convicted March :.
1914. and sentenced to be hanged. He
appealed and the appeal was pending in
the supreme court until January 81 last.
when that tribunal affirmed the iudc-
ment Of the trial court
Miss Jennie Matthews of Lansing
Mich, interested herself nearly two
years ago in Barrington's behalf. and
since has been furnishing him with mon
ey to pay his laundry, barber, newspaper
and sundry other bills. She also fur
nished his cell. which resembles a small
parlor. harrington always has dressed
IN broadcloth since entering the jail He
has been troublesome prisoner to the
Jail authorities and tasted for more than
thirty days before Christmas as u otest
against the jail fare
MANN Is AGAIN INDICTED,
NEW YORK. March 12-Col. VIII
liam ID. Mann editor Of Town Topics.