The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-06
Machinist Poses as Doctor and
Admits He Has Three
Living Wives
ONE IS DEAD AND He HAS
DESERTED THE CHILDREN
John Osborne, Alias Or. Ellwood j..
Osborne, Took His Last Wife In
Birmingham and He Is Now
Behind the Bars.

Birmingham, in the person of John Os-
borne alias DR.. Ellwood j. Osborne
FORCES to the front with a modern Prince
Charming. He is a man who has man
aged successfully to captivate women
from one end of the country to the other
He has a most marvellous career in his
dealing with wives, having in his time
been the husband of four, only one of
whom at this time is dead. He has aban-
doped them recklessly, and taken to him.
self a new one whenever tired of the
old.
He spent last night in the city JAIL
and against him are the charges: Big
amy practicing medicine without a IL
cense.
His fourth wife, whom he married in
July, was Mrs. A. B. Whitaker, who lived
at 624 South Fifteenth street, Birming-
ham.
Until recently the couple resided at 1909
Avenue G. 1t was learned last night from
a talk with the detectives who arrested
Mr.. Osborne, that his fourth wife, having
got wind of the escapades in which her
husband had figured left him recently
and returned to the arms of her family
OF both charges the defendant pleads
guilty, and to all the subsidiary charges,
matter of mere detail he makes clean
breast.
Osborne, while answering every ques-
In
a perspiration.
His Numerous Wives.
The defendant was born in Elizabeth, N.
T., thirty-two years ago. He is son OF
John G. Osborne, who is carpenter,
thoroughly honest, though humble man.
Both of the prisoner parents still live.
After attaining the age of discretion, os-
borne became a machinist in the employ
OF the Singer Sewing Machine company
In Elizabeth, his home town, he was hrst
married, his wife being Miss Bessie
Bettey He deserted this wife and her
one child.
From Elizabeth Osborne moved to
Jamesburg, N. ]. There he met, and lived
as husband to Miss Van Nostrand, daugh-
ter of William A. Van Nostrand, the
latter being still alive. BY Miss Van Nos
trand, Osborne became the father of two
children, a boy and girl, both of whom
are alive. He deserted the children after
the death of Miss Van Nostrand and
went to Philadelphia. In Philadelphia he
met and married Mrs. Ella Barry, 1856
North Twenty-second street. After living
with this wife for short length of time
then
landed in Mobile.
From Mobile he came to Birmingham,
and as stated, became the husband of
Mrs. Whitaker.
That the above is true, the prisoner
does not deny. He does deny having be-
come legally married to Miss Van Nos
trand, but admits that he lived with her
as husband for a number of years, and
that her children are his. He admits
further that the father of this woman
whom he claims not to have legally mar
ried was under the impression that the
union was legal in the eyes of the law.
Called Himself doctor"
In Birmingham, Mr.. Osborne repre-
scented himself DR.. Ellwood. ].
Osborne, son of Dr. Osborne, lately
famous specialist of Philadelphia.
He admits having practced the profess
sion of medicine in Birmingham as far
as officiating at one or more child births.
He stated last night that he was EN-
ployed at present by the Southern rail-
way, in the capacity of machinist.
He was arrested yesterday afternoon by
Detectives Bodeker and Hamilton at the
Brewer house, First avenue. between
Twenty-second and Twenty-third streets.
He was escorted to police headquarters,
and in the private office of the detectives,
was questioned. The detectives stated to
an Age-Herald reporter that he. had made
a "clean breast of the numerous
escapades held against him. The reporter
questioned the prisoner, and he made a
confession to him. He appeared to be in
much fear and worry. and during the in
terrogation, beads of perspiration burst
from his forehead. At each question,
however, he raised his head, and an
swered plainly
He made no effort to conceal anything,
though he gave the impression that the
numerous questions propounded, were
source of ennui to him.
The First CIew.
Had it not been for the father of the
woman whom he denies having married,
it is probable that DR." Osborne would
still be at liberty. Early in December, d
letter was received at police headquarters.
under date of December 16. This letter
follows.
'Jamesburg, N. j., Dec. 16, 1906
Up. o. Box 14S.)
wv. E. Wier, Esq, Chief of Police.
MY Dear Sir-The information con-
tained herein is absolutely a fact, and
open to your investigation, and in refer
nece to same, l believe. for humanity's
sake some action should be taken without
delay.
There resides at 1903 Avenue G, DIR.
Osborne, and who is machinist by trade:
therefore he is practicing medicine
illegally.
He claims to Be son of the late DIR.
Osborne of Philadelphia, when in reality
he is a son of John G. Osborne of 213
Marshall street, Elizabeth, ". J. The
father is carpenter, and hard working
man.
This man so called Ellwood j. is also
a bigamist, having married girl in
Elizabeth, N. J., when he worked as a
machinist in the Singer Sewing Machine
company.
He deserted this first wife, and one
child then married my daughter. who is
now dead. BY my daughter he had two
children, boy and girl, now living.
AFTER (the death OF my daughter. he