A MATRIMONIAL TRAP.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume 7, Issue 614, 9 October 1877, Page 3

A MATRIMONIAL TRAP.

The English papers give an account of a new Mtrimflni»l confidence game which a Dgfbjman »ma playing snccessfolly upon gneeiptible widows. Bis 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 at her home in Manchester. He introduced himself as Dr Walter Wilkhia, said he had received his degree of MJ). hi America, where also he had considerable property. When he saw the woman, and she had given him an mventry of her mea-ts, 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 consented to this arrangement. He borrowed £SO for the purpose of paying their passage out, £2O to purchase surgical instruments, and £ls t« buy a dress which he 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 cored—and he would return a sound man in three months to many 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 the one that ha-1 duped her. She followed this one np, but for a different purpose. She took the police into her confidence and soon had the satisfaction of seeing sDr Walter Wilkins walking between two to having defrauded the lady, himself by pleading that be was money and had to have it. His pockets were full of letters in answer to his advertisement, indicating that he made this

sort of confidence a regular business. Wilkins

is an upholster, and has a living wife and children. Hj is evidently “ one grand rascal,” and will be prosecuted to the bitter end.