The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-04-27
bride TRAILED
LECLAIR HERE.
Said She Nr,ried Him Last
Fall an Gle Deserted
Her
DEPT. &C JUSTICE
L'$ KING HIM UP
Trail ok .lleged Polygamy
of Barre Man Extends
Afar

| ~
4 John LeCIair, who was mentioned in
yesterdays Associated Press dispatches
as having been arrested in Pcughkeeps
sic, N. II, on charge Of forgery ard
who was wanted in Massachusetts, for
alleged poIygamy. is well known in
Barre, where he has resided nearly all
his life. He is about % years Of age
and his home is at 81 Summer street
He is one Of large family.
At least one of the women wAom he
is alleged to have married came to
Barre to look up the marital career Of
her young husband She was from
| Gloucester, Mass, a preposscssing look
ing young lady Of 10 years, who en-
listed the services Of the Barre police.
The Gloucester young woman said
she was married to young LeCiair last
fab and that he left her. She was Ia
Barre not more than ten days ago apl
secured considerable information about
LeClair. The young man had preceded
her to Barre for visit by about fony
weeks, according to the information
which the young woman was able to
obtain; but he had gone again before
she arrived.
| Poughkeepsie, N. ", April 27.--Tne
national department of justice has
started an investigation into the case
Of Sergt Maj. John LeClair, alias john
johnson, who Ia held here on charges
Of passing bad checks in this city and
polygamy. LeClair, the local police
say, has perhaps dozen wives The
indicate that he has two or three in
Boston, several in Gloucester, Mass.
and one apiece in Salem and Fitch
burg. Mass.
LeClair is a man Of mystery. He pos
sesses personality 20 fascinating that
when he was stopping here at the Mel
son house, the finest hotel in town.
and evidently without funds. he was
able to borrow funds from the beilboys
to pay for a marriage license and then
ministers fee
His latest wife, so far as IL known.
he married in this city about four
weeks ago. She was widow with ore
three yesr-old child, Mrs. Bertha
Pasadena avenue, Detroit. Mich. They
Mere married at q Methodist parson-
age by Rev. George A. Shallan. and re-
sided in Poughkeepsie until few days
ago, when Mrs. LeClair left TO sisi,
friends in Albany.
Since her departure check given
the hotel typist for $40 in payment II
a S. bill and on which she returned Sls
has been returned as no good. aud la
Clair has been arrested With his ar.
rest came telegrans from cities all
over New England stating that he aad
many aliases and that he is wanted IN
Salem and Gloucester. sa
lem wants John Johnson held for
polygamy, and says that warrant is
on its way. Fitchburg asks ''where is
veIma Farr. wife No. 2g" and Glou-
rester has sent warrant on charge
If polygamy.
The department of justice in Boston
has advised the local police to turn the
nan over TO the Gloucester authorities.
vho have the more serious charge
against him, and this may be done, the
ocal police waving claims.
LeClair claims Fort Worth, Texas, as
MS own home and the authorities are
Waiting TO see il he has a wife or wives
here. He says that his father, Peter
.eClair. runs q machine shop in Hart
ord. Conn. and that his mother lives
n Barre, VT.
The young sergeant major saw serv-
ce overseas. he says, was wounded at
,hateau Thierry and was confined to
Iospital for III months, during which
ime, he saws, the doctors were obliged
0 relieve his pain with cocaine.
Boston, April 27.--Rev. William NJ.
'obie, pastor Of the Central Square
BAPTIST church. Cambridge. yesterday
tated that he married Miss Velms
arr of Gloucester and Major John
.awrence LeClair in. Fitchburg before
e came to Cambridge. At that time
eClair told him that he tI.eClsirl had
cen left lot of money, but had tn
ct married at once in order to get it.
lev. Mr.. Gobie said that LeClair asked
i'm 10 marry them for nothing as he
LeClairl had lost all his money run
ing to the ministers house.
He married them and LeClair prom
ed to send him his pay for the. ccre-
lony later on. The minister has never
card from the couple since. Continu-
", Mr. Gobie said that LeClair told
itchburg Y. VI. G. A. clerk the same
ory about the need OF his getting
arried to get the inheritance and the
ERIK loaned LeClair IS and advised
eClsir to 20 TO Mr. Gobie to get n~s-
ed.