William Weightman III

William Walker Weightman III (February 4, 1895 – June 13, 1965) was an American bigamist who was the grandson of tycoon William Weightman, one of the richest men in American history. Weightman's arrest, conviction and subsequent suicide attempt were the subject of considerable attention.

Weightman, c. 1913

When William Weightman died in 1904 leaving a $30 million estate, his heirs launched a legal battle over who would inherit it. Weightman III eventually received $750,000 (equivalent to $21,342,000 in 2019).

In 1925, he was convicted of bigamy and sentenced to two years in prison.[1]

On July 10, 1926, he was sent back to Auburn Prison by a grand jury in Vineland, New Jersey.[2] When his second wife left him he tried to commit suicide with a pistol on November 10, 1926.[3]

References

"Grandson of Chemical Founder Sentenced for Bigamy". New York Times. January 31, 1925. Retrieved 2010-10-20. William Weightman was today sentenced by County Judge Benjamin Baker to two years in Auburn Prison on a conviction of bigamy. Weightman, is the grandson of William Weightman, founder of the chemical firm of the Powers, Weightman, Rosengarten Company, whose death left an estate of $30,000,000, his grandson, William Weightman, inheriting $750,000.
"Weightman Returns To Auburn Prison; Philadelphian Will Surrender for Violating Parole. Held for Grand Jury at Vineland, N.J." New York Times. July 10, 1926. Retrieved 2010-10-20. William Weightman 3d, the three times married and once divorced member of a wealthy Philadelphia family, was on his way to Auburn Prison today to surrender as a violator of his parole.
"Weightman, Bigamist, Tries To Kill Himself. Uses Pistol in His New Jersey Home When Woman Leaves. Had Four Wives". New York Times. November 10, 1926. Retrieved 2010-10-20. William Weightman 3d, 36 years old, great-grandson of one of the founders of the Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten Company, chemical dealers, of Philadelphia, who left an estate valued at $50,000,000, tried to commit suicide here today by shooting himself because his second wife by a bigamous marriage had left him.

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[1] "Grandson of Chemical Founder Sentenced for Bigamy". New York Times. January 31, 1925. Retrieved 2010-10-20. William Weightman was today sentenced by County Judge Benjamin Baker to two years in Auburn Prison on a conviction of bigamy. Weightman, is the grandson of William Weightman, founder of the chemical firm of the Powers, Weightman, Rosengarten Company, whose death left an estate of $30,000,000, his grandson, William Weightman, inheriting $750,000.

[2] "Weightman Returns To Auburn Prison; Philadelphian Will Surrender for Violating Parole. Held for Grand Jury at Vineland, N.J." New York Times. July 10, 1926. Retrieved 2010-10-20. William Weightman 3d, the three times married and once divorced member of a wealthy Philadelphia family, was on his way to Auburn Prison today to surrender as a violator of his parole.

[3] "Weightman, Bigamist, Tries To Kill Himself. Uses Pistol in His New Jersey Home When Woman Leaves. Had Four Wives". New York Times. November 10, 1926. Retrieved 2010-10-20. William Weightman 3d, 36 years old, great-grandson of one of the founders of the Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten Company, chemical dealers, of Philadelphia, who left an estate valued at $50,000,000, tried to commit suicide here today by shooting himself because his second wife by a bigamous marriage had left him.