Omaha daily bee., 1918-10-10
MATRIMONIAL
KING ARRESTED
ON HONEYMOON
Career Of Weddings and For.
geries Started in Syracuse,
Neb., Ends in SYRIA
CuSe, N. Y.

After long chase, extending to
all parts of the continent, Edward
E. Cook. as he was known in Oma-
ha, the man who took the honey"
out of honeymoon. has been ar
rested at Syracuse, N. Y.
By a peculiar coincidence, the
first crime that brought him into po-
lice notice here, was committed at
Syracuse. Neb. Cook, who has
many aliases, first appeared in Oma-
ha in November. 1917. He was about
Is years of age, of prepossessing
appearance and put up at one of the
leading hotels.
He had way about him that
took the fair sex, and it was only
short time when he won the af-
fections of an Omaha nurse, whose
stepfather. D. Mossman, a wealthy
farmer. lived near Syracuse, Neb.
She became enamored of him and
became his hancee.
Anxious to exhibit her conquest,
she had the groom-to-be hire an au-
tomobile and drive to the home of
her parents. He made a good i'm
preston, said he was a member of
an eastern family of wealth and
prominence. After a few days he
said he was getting short of ready
cash and drew a check on the Union
Trust company Of Pittsburgh, Pa,
for $500, and presented it to the
State Bank OF Syracuse. The cash
ier demanded endorsement, which
was made by MoSsman.
Hasty Retreat to Denver.
In due time Cook disappeared
without marrying the girl and the
check came back dishonored.
Cook was traced to Denyer, where
he was arrested, given an indeter-
inmate sentence of from one to 10
years at Nebraska City, which was
later rescinded by the Judge on con-
dition that Cook enter the army.
Under parole he went to Lincoln
and enlisted, becoming a member of
the headquarters troop of the 18th
cavalry
He foated another fraudulent
check in Lincoln, went to Denver
and defrauded the Red Cross of a
sum of money. Under the name of
Chase he swept through the state
OF Kansas and with the assistance of
impressionable girls whom he
promised to marry, cashed many bad
checks.
At Watertown, Wis, he married
one of the prominent young women
of the town, secured her endorse
ment to large check and disap-
peared. Bluffton, Ind, was the
scene of his next operations where
he made big haul and left heart
broken girl.
AS 1t. John Judson Wilson he ap-
peared at Pittsburgh, Pa, became
acquainted with a prominent society
girl of Altoona. Pa, proposed to her,
was accepted, and got her father to
endorse a check for $500 and her
brother one for $500.
On July % he was married to a
Syracuse, N. Y, girl, whom he also
mulcted of a sum of money.
Tuesday of this week, the career
of the man who started out in Oma-
ha nearly year ago was suddenly
checked at Syracuse, N. Y, where
the police arrested him on a forgery
charge.
As Stephen A. Wick, of the Unit
ed States army. he had married Miss
Mary McWheeny. an Auburn, N. Y,
nurse, and while on their honeymoon
the rude hand of the law was laid
on him.
Cook-Wilson- Chase-Wick is said
to have at least five young brides
mourning him in different parts of the
country, and at least II fancees, two
of whom live in Omaha.
He was turned over to officers from
Watertown. Wis, on presentation of
requisition papers on charges of
forgery and grand larceny.