William Walker Weightman (February 4, 1895 – June 13, 1965), who styled himself as William Weightman III, was an American

bigamist In cultures where monogamy is mandated, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. A legal or de facto separation of the couple does not alter their marital status as married persons. I ...

who was the great-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. 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 (). He was occasionally a

racing driver Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organise ...

. In 1925, he was convicted of

bigamy In cultures where monogamy is mandated, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. A legal or de facto separation of the couple does not alter their marital status as married persons. I ...

and sentenced to two years in prison. On July 10, 1926, he was sent back to

Auburn Prison Auburn Correctional Facility is a state prison on State Street in Auburn, New York, United States. It was built on land that was once a Cayuga village. It is classified as a maximum security facility. History Constructed in 1816 as Auburn Pri ...

by a

grand jury A grand jury is a jury—a group of citizens—empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. A grand jury may subpoena physical evidence or a pe ...

Vineland, New Jersey Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city had a total population of 60,780. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 61,156 ...

. When his second wife left him, Weightman attempted to commit

suicide Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and s ...

with a pistol on November 10, 1926.

References

1895 births 1965 deaths American people convicted of bigamy Businesspeople from Philadelphia {{US-autoracing-bio-stub