A MUCH MARRIED MAN.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 104, 6 May 1907, Page 7

A MUCH MARRIED MAN.

If the legendary Bluebeard were alive to-day he would no doubt be 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 impotently behind. A brief sketch of the matrimonial feats of this modern Blueberad can scarely fail to interest our readers. Dr. X—was bom in Switzerland 45 years ago, and io described aB a man of athletic build and attractive exterior, and with a strange hypnotic power, which he has done ample justice to over susceptible females. Until a few yeras ago lie 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 their mcuths.

One of his earliest experiments in the domain of Cupid was on a protty patient who speedily fell a victim to his fascinations, and whom he led to the altar in 1905. But her tenure of married bliss was brief; for after borrowing £600 from his father-in-law, ostensibly to buy a dental practice, he disappeared, and a few later became the husband of another bride at Boston. Again the volatile husband vanished, this time before the honeymoon was over and with £400 lof his wife's money, in search of fesh conquests. From one State to another he wandered, tinder a series of assumed names and disguises, and in each he found a new victim of his cruel arts.

He married a Polish widow and robbed her of £60. In Indianna he found a willing bride in the daughter of a wealthy family, and after a brief honeymoon left his young wife and went to New York with £400 of lier money, ostensibly to take out a patent. Then followed alliancs with half-a-dozen widows in Brooklyn, all of whom he deserted after relieving them- of sums ranging from £500 to £3000. To each he gave a different name and appeared in a different guise. Now he was cleanshaven, now he boasted a sweeping moustache, as Mr R—he was "bearded like the pard," as Mr B— lie wore side whiskers only, and so on through the whole gamut of facial transformation.

And thus he continued his career of polygamy, finding a fresh wife and a new source of revenue once a month on an average; until, it is estimated, he had won and deserted a hundred wives"; When he had exhausted the States he transferred his misguided talents to London and Manchester, leaving behind him a wake of abandoned wives, of debt, and warrants for his arrest, until at last Nemesis, in the form of, one, of his outraged victims, overtook him. He was recognised and arrested in New York, and we may assume that for a time at any rate his activities will find a less pleasant and more restricted field for their exercise. As a champion polygamist Dr. X—has established a record which we sincerely hope will never be approached. So far, his most dangerous xival was one Emil G—, a native of Lyons, who, in the space of six years wooed and won 36 wives in various parts of the Continent, and was finally shot by one of his victims while honeymooning with the. last of his brides.