A HUNDRED WIVES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2072, 6 May 1907, Page 4

A HUNDRED WIVES.

AN AMAZING RECORD IN MATRIMONY.

If the legendary Bluebeard were alive to-day he would no. doubt bo consumed with envy of a certain gentleman, whom we will call “Dr. X—,” who was run to earth not long ago in America after an amazing career of polygamy, the story of which leaves the inventions of fiction-writers irnpotently behind. A brief sketch of the matrimonial feats of this modern Bluebeard can scarcely fail to interest our readers.

X)r. X— was born in Switzerland 45 years ago, and is described as a mail of athletic build and attractive exterior, and with a strange hypnotic power, which lie has done ample justice to over susceptible females. Until a few years ago he was known as an exceedingly clever dentist, and seems to have been content with that useful, if painful role, until he discovered that there was a more lucrative exercise for his talents in the hearts of his fair patients than in tlioir mouths.

Olio of his earliest experiments in the domain of Cupid was on a pretty patient who speedily fell a victim to liis fascinations, and whom he led to tlie altar in 1903. But her tenure of married bliss was brief; for after borrowing £6OO from his father-in-law, ostensibly to buy a dental practice, ho disappeared, and a few weeks later became the husband of another bride at Boston. Again the volatile husband vanished, this time before the honeymoon was over and with £4OO of liis wife’s money, in search of fresh conquests. From one State to another he wandered, under a series of assumed names and disguises and in each lie found a new victiin of his cruel arts. He married a Polish widow and robbed her of £OO. In Indiana lie found a willing bride in tho daughter of a wealthy family, and alter a brief honeymoon left his young wife and wont to New York with £4OO of her money, ostensibly to take out a patent. Then followed alliances with half-a-dozen widows in Brooklyn, all of whom he deserted after relieving them of sums ranging from £SOO to £3OOO. To each lie gave a different name and appeared in a different guise. Now fie was clean shaven, now lie boasted a sweeping moustache; as Mr. Il — he was “boarded like the paid,” as Mr. B— lie wore side whiskers only, and so on through the whole gamut of facial transformation.

And thus ho continued his career of polygamy, finding a fresh wife and a now source of revenue once a month on an average; until, it is estimated, lie had won and deserted a hundred brides. When ho had exhausted the States ho transferred his misguided talents to London and Manchester, leaving behind him a wake of abandoned wives, of debts, and warrants for his arrest, until at last Nemesis, in the form of one of his outraged victims, overtook him. Jt£e was recognised and arrested in New York, and we may assume that for a time at any rate his act ivities will find a less pleasant and more restricted field lor their exercise.

As a champion polygamist Dr. Xhas established a record which we sincerely hope will never be approached. So far, his most dangerous rival was one Emile o—, a native of Lyons, who, in the space of six years wooed and won 36 wives in various parts oi the Continent, and was finally shot by one of his victims while honeymooning with the last of his brides.