Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1877 — A Matrimonial Trap. [ARTICLE]

A Matrimonial Trap.

Late English papers give an account of a new matrimonial confidence game which a Derby man was playing successfully upon susceptible widows. His plan of advertisement in the Manchester papers 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 put up against some pieans. A Manchester widow of thirty-five answered the call for a housekeeper ancl ultimate mate. The man interviewed the woman at her home in Manchester. He introduced himself as Dr. Wallace Wilkins, said lie had received his degree of M. D. in America, where also he had consittera ble property. When he saw the woman and site had given him an inventory of her means, lie 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 lie wished to go to America immediately after the ceremony to look after his property. She consented to this arrangement. He borrowed £SO for the purpose of paying their passage out, £2O to purchase surgicai instruments, and £ls to buy a dress which lie wished to present to his intended bride. The game was up; Wilkins did not return to claim his bride, but he wrote her a note stating that he was sick and had gone off to America to get cured —and he would return, a sound man, in three months to marry her. This was last November. The widow returned to her home in Manchester, a wiser but a poorer Woman. A short time ago she saw another advertisement in the Manchester paper, similar to th'e one that had duped her She followed this one up, but for a different purpose. She took the police into her confidence, ancl soon had the satisfaction of seeing Dr. Walter Wilkins walking between two officers, “ with gyves upor his wrists.” He acknowledged to having defrauded the lady, but excused himself by pleading that he was short of money and had to have it. His pockets were full of letters in answer to his advertisement, indicating that lie made this sort of confidence a regular business. Wilkins is an upholsterer and has a living wife and children. He is evidently one grand rascal, ancl will be prosecuted to the bitter end.— St. Louis Republican.