The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-01
FINDS SHE WED
ABRITISH CROOK
Florence Brainerd Asks to Be
Freed From "Capt." Grim
wood, Convict.
FAMILY LEFT IN ENGLAND
Strutted Here at War Chari-
ties-Posed as Hero, With
Forged Papers.
FAMILY LEFT IN ENGLAND

British justice, with stolen passports
and a winning address. was able to
personate a British officer. to swindle
by fake charities New Workers. whose
confidence he gained and eventually
to marry a young woman who had no
idea he had left a wife and two chill
dren in England, is told in papers ex-
amined by Justice Cohalan in the Su-
preme Court yesterday.
The American wife, Florence Brain
erd Grimwood. Of Chevy Chase, Wash
ington, d. c., got from the Justice an
order permitting service by publica-
ton of a copy of tho summons and
complaint in an annulment suit she
has started against William Robert
Archer. also known as William F. G.
Grimwood, now believed to be in Eng
land.
She says that Archer. posing as Capt.
Grimwood OF the British army. arrived
in New York on French liner in the
spring of 1916. On the boat he gained
the sympathy of fellow passengers by
reason OF the pain he suffered from a
supposed bullet wound. He spoke
modestly Of membership in proud Eng
lish family and Of his having been a
for Parliament. OF his having
been a physician with offices in Harley
street, London. and OF having Loyalty
given up his practice and gone to war
with the first division of British regulars,
the "Contemptibles." in August. 1914.
showered With Attentions Here.
His tale obtained for him introduction
into the homes of we'll known New York
ers. He was showered with attentions
and contributions for his war charities.
According TO the complaint Miss
Brainerd came to New York to be the
guest of a young matron in whose home
Archer. then interested in the Allied
Bazaar. was a guest She was % years
old. She became much interested in the
young officer and his war record. He
proposed marriage.
These proposals became importuni-
ties" the complaint says "He said he
must soon return to England and pleaded
with me to return as his wife. l hesi-
tated, not because OF any doubt but that
he was all he represented himself to be,
but rather because OF our short acauaint-
ance. l was not certain of the depth OF
my love for him. My parents knew moth
ing of him, and wanted them to meet
him before I consented to marriage"
However. on July %. 1916. Miss
Brainerd telephoned her mother that she
was about to be married. They got a
license, Archer saying he was 81 years
old and a widower with two children in
a French convent. and were married in
the presence OF two friends by the Rev
DR.. George c. Houghton in the Church
Of the Transfiguration. A few days later
they went TO Washington and were made
welcome by the young woman's parents
Mrs. Grimwood says that because OF
her husbands 3 pleasing manners and per
sonality her family treated him not only
as her husband but In a manner betting
his supposed distinction. He displayed
cablegrams in which his reputed rela-
tives In England felicitated him on his
marriage and expressed a desire to wei.
come his wife in the English home.
Captain" Arrcsted In Washington
At Christmas time the Captain" who
had been in New York went TO Wash.
ington to rejoin his wife and push hi,
war charities there. A week later ht
was arrested on charges Of grand lar.
ceny and obtaining money by false pre-
lenses. He pleaded guilty and was sen.
fenced to three years in the penitentlary
but because of his supposed good stand
ing was paroled. When next heard OF
he was arrested in England
Meanwhile his wife's family haC
financed a private investigation. which
the complaint says has revealed this:
The mans name is really William
Robert Archer. He was born in Eng
lapd forty-three years ago "ot parents
of the plainest extraction and in tho
humblest of circumstances" He never
studied medicine. but was articled tc
a solicitor named Grimwood OF Chad
well Heath, London. He married
Alice Lenard of 1lford. Essex, and de-
serted her and their two children
Arrested in April. 1914. on a forgery
charge, and released on bail, he stol,
his employers passport and fed tc
France. There he enlisted with ar
orderly until he went to the United
States In the guise of a disabled Off
Ger. The bullet wound" was the re
suit of an old surgical operation
When Archer reached England afteI
his conviction in this country he wa.
rearrested on the standing charge o.
forgery and arraigned in the Ole
Bailey. according to a Daily Mai clip
ping filed with his wife's complain
here. At the request of the prosecu
tion the hearing was adjourned anC
on March last he was discharged be
cause the two witnesses against hin
had been killed In the war.
Another exhibit is a letter from tn,
English Mrs. Archer to Mrs, Grimwood
saying
He is at last trapped. We are fellow
victims Of his and no one knows how
many other brave women In Englanr
and America he has treated in simila
manner. Re brave, dear girl, and an vii
be well. will help YOU have your mar
riage annulled. God alone knows tn,
sunerings he has caused me-"
Mrs. Grinwood asks the court to per
| NIT her 10 resume her maiden name ant
| have the custody of her daughter, Rose
| mary Brainerd Grimwood, who was bori
In Washington In July. 1917.