A MAN WITH TEN WIVES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9587, 6 September 1909, Page 3

A MAN WITH TEN WIVES

A man who literally earned his livelihood by his miscellaneous poivgamyjs in the hands of the San Franciso police. Christian 0. Johnson, alias John Madsen, by marrying and abandoning wife after wife, wheedling from each all the money and valuables he was able, has maintained himself very comfortably—almost in luxury, in fact. His "earnings" for the past three years, during which period the police have obtained pretty complete details as {to his operations, have been complied as at the rate of £I,OOO a year. Since the latter part of 1904 Johnson, it is charged, married ten women. From no one of them did he obtain freedom by death or divorce before remarrying. Besides the ten "wives" informaion has been recei\ed by the authoriie a of fourteen women to whom he was "engaged." His victims are 1 scattered all over the union. Occasionally there were two in one city, as for instance in St. Louis; but usually Johnson was too ascute to take such risks. The police are convinced they have in him the most notorious polygamist who ever operated in America. Johnson is about 55 years of age, an immaculate dresser, and of suave manner. Little or no difficulty has been experienced by him in winning the heart of any woman he had determined to make his dupe. Almost without exception his victims have been widows or divorced women of middle age with a little propery, and whenever possible he has opened his siege by making advances to young children. The trust he inspired enabled him to swindle his wives of their money with as much ease as he gained their hands. One woman :n Kansas'he induced to sell her house, giving him the proceeds, £4OO. Another turned her property into cash, giving him £2OO before marriage and other sums subsequently. From a third he obtained all she had in the world —£150 and a diamond ring. The women who have talked of their experiences with Johnson say they found themselves under the influence. of a hypnotic sway when in his presence, and that they were compelled to obey his every wish and suggestion. For the last two years Johnson has confined his operations to Clifornia. He has two wives in San Francisco, one in Stockton and one in San Jose. He admitted to the San Francisco marriages, but strenuously denies all the others. He thinks that with but one extra wife he will get oft' lightly. Qaite recently a ,San Francisco judge gave liberty on probation to a man with two wives.