Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-11-11
LORD HARRINGTON" SAYS NOTED
sWlNDLER AND M'cANN ARE
.,.. SAME PERSON.
WAS MARRIED OFTEN
Assumes to be English Nobeman and
Weds Three Times-One Wife
Was an Iowa GirI-Seeks
-4r..- Parole. s

ton, who is serving life sentence
for the murder of James P. Mccain
near St. Louis in 1902, will be held
by the state board of pardons when
1t meets here Monday. says Jeffer-
son, Mo-, dispatch. That the United
States department of justice will be
drawn into the case seems certain, as
Barrington's chief point in his de-
Tense is that the man he was convict
ed of Staying Is now alive in the
person of James P. Maybray, whose
band of horse and foot racing swind-
lers was broken up by the federal
government after many of them had
been sent to prison.
There are many persons who be-
lieve that the Maybray story is worthy
of investigation. 1t is considered a
rather strange coincidence that the
three initials of Maybray should be
the same as those of the alleged muir
der victim. Both Mccain and May
bray were gamblers and followers of
the races. When Maybray was arrest
ed and tried in this state little could be
learned of his past history. And,
the strongest point of all, there were
many persons who, at the time of
Barrington's Arrest, conviction and
sentence to death, still believed that
positive proof was lacking that Nc
Cam had ever been killed.
IA Polite Crook"
It is understood that Darlington
has furnished the board Of pardons
with a chronogical history of his life
from his birth until his arrest for the
Mccain murder. There is little doubt
that his previous bad record had
much to do with his conviction on the
murder charge. He was known in
Europe and America as one of the
most picturesque figures in polite"
c:ookdom, for although he was of low
ly origin his speciality of passing as
a member of the British peerage went
to live without work for many years.
Darlington began his unique saun-
ter through the calendar Of crime
when a 7-year old boy by setting fire
to number Of cottages in Brighton,
England, where he was born. At the
age of 16 he was given sentence OF
ten years for burglary. Four years
later he escaped, deceiying the police
when apprehended by producing a
pardon which was not discovered to be
forgery until later. He joined the
army, forged a furlough, committed
a burglary and was given another ten
years stretch. About the same time
lie was arrested for the murder of
an army oficer, but was released for
lack of evidence.
He studied while in prison and
when he, came to America after
his release in 1891 he was a well pol
ished fraud He posed here as the
son of an English nobleman. AS such
he won Miss e. Celestine Miller. Of
Brooklyn, who possessed a fortune in
her own right. With his bride he re-
turned to England and established
home in Brighton. Soon stripped Of
every penny by her husband, the I'M
happy wife returned to America with
her child, and Darlington was return
ed to prison to serve out an old SEN
tence. .,.. III s -.
Marries Iowa Girl.
Upon his release ne again came to
the United States and as Lord Bur
goyne' was received in Philadelphia
society. Here he married Miss Mar
garet Rafferty,, also an heiress. Soon
after he disappeared and was
T.
Darlington" In that city he met and
Independence, Iowa. Miss Cochran
later had her marriage annulled and
was instrumental in sending him to
prison. One Of the strangest phases
Of the case at present is the fact that
Miss Cochran Is said now to be aiding
IN his fight for freedom.
~ - -
rington and Mccain, who was his
friend and patron, visited numerous
drinking resorts in st. Louis suburbs.
One week later the nude body of a
man was found floating in an aban-
doned quarry near Creve Couer lake.
Friends identified the body as that
of Mccain. Darlington was at once
arrested on charge of murder. For
five years he was in jail in st. Louis
while his case was carried through
the courts. The supreme court of the
United States finally upheld his con-
viction and sentence of DEATH Not
withstanding this many persons con-
tinued in the belief that the bogus
lord was innocent of the murder. Ow-.
ing, perhaps. to the prevalence Of this
sentiment the sentence was committed
to life imprisonment. IT,. ~
Jack Bennett Of this city, former
ST. Louis street car conductor. who
says that the body found in the quar-
~ was not the body of Mccain, whom
he knew well, doubtless will be called
by Darlington to testify before the
board of pardons. Bennett declares
that he saw Mccain in San Fran
cisco long after the supposed murder,
but failed to get to speak to him.
the circulars carrying his picture and
the $25 reward offered by Sheriff
Dowis. He was arrested by con-
stable. His picture has been sent to
all mining towns and locals as he was