SHAM NOBLEMAN SENTENCED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12225, 21 March 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

SHAM NOBLEMAN SENTENCED.

CAREER OF AN ENGISH BIGAMIST

IN AMERICA. New Yoke, February 4.—George Barton, an Englishman calling himself Lord Frederick Seymour Burlington, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment at St. Louis yesterday.

Barton recently advertised in the St. Louis newspaper's that a titled Englishman wanted a wife. Miss Cochran, a young lady of good family, answered the advertisement and marriage followed, the bride passing as Lady Barrington. Her brother, however, eventually discovered that the title was a sham one, and gave Barton a sound thrashing, afterwards handing him over to the police. The newspapers state that the prisoner recently married a wealthy young woman of Philadelphia, deserted her, and decamped with her money and trousseau. A third woman, living in Brooklyn, also claims to be his wife. Barton, who is well educated and speaks three languages, is said to be the son of a Brighton cabdriver.

The newspapers devote columns to his alleged criminal career. He is said to have been sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment in England and to have escaped by producing a forced pardon from the Home Secretary. He is also stated to have gained entrance into good society here by means of forged letters of introduction from titled Englishmen. The New York Herald says that Barrington is a, notorious embezzler, burglar, and convict, and that Scotland Yard has his full record.