A MATRIMONIAL TRAP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 235, 4 October 1877, Page 4

A MATRIMONIAL TRAP.

The English papers give an account of a new matrimonial confidence game which a Derby uiau was playing successfully upon susceptible widows. His plan of advertisement in the Manchester paper was : — " "Wanted — A widow lady as housekeeper to a, widower, a professional gentleman ; a lady of means will be required, ultimately with a view to matrimony." This trick took. It was professional dignity against some means. A Manchester widow of thirty five answered the call of housekeeper and ultimate mate. The man interviewed the woman afc her home in Manchntar. He introduced himself a*** Dr Walter Wilkins, said he had received his degree of M.D. in America, where also he had considerable property. When he saw the woman, and she had given him an inventory of he means, he began to talk marriage right off, and she agreeing, he went to London to make arrangements for the wedding. In a few days the lady joined him by arrangement. He told her that he wished to go to America immediately after the ceremony to look after his property. She consonted to this arrangement. He borrowed £50 for the purpose of paying their passage out, £20 to purchase surgical instruments and £15 to buy a dress which he wished to present to his intended bride. The game was up • Wilkins did not return to claim his bride,, bufc he wrote a note stating thafc he was sick and had gone off to America to gefc cured — and he would return a sound man in three months to marry her. This was last November. The widow returned fco her home in Manchester, a wiser bufc a poorer woman. A shorttime ago she saw another advertisement in the Manchester paper, similar to fche one fchafc had duped her. She followed this one up, bufc for a different purpose. She took the police into her confidence, and soon had fche satisfaction of seeing Dr Walter. Wilkins walking between fcwo officers, " with gyves upon his wri3's." He aeknowleged to having defrauded the lady, bufc excused himself by pleading that he was short; of money and had to have ifc. His pockets were full of letters in answer to his advertisement indicating fchafc he made this sorfc of confidence a regular business. Wilkins is an upholsterer, and has a living wife and children. He is evidently " one graud rascal," and wiil be prosecuted to fche bitter end.