The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-12-20

a,iestcsi by n,sny persons in Rhode-Isiand,
philadelphia, BaltimQrc and Charleston, 5. c.
: In Rhode Islsnd, among numerous other
yiIlainous acts, he married a widow with
family and a comfortable farm well stocked,
who was induced by him under false preten-
ces, to sell all her property amounted to
$4,000 or upwards, which when he got into
possession he decamped, and left her and her
children without cent or home.
In Charleston, he put the Homespun
Company to several thousand dolls. expense,
by pretending to make their machinery, and
at the same time obtained credit of different
store-kecpers to the amount of several thous-
and more, which he stole off without paying,
and yet, strange to tell, none of these gen.
tlemen thought proper to guard their fellow
citizens from the same fate, by advertising
him..
Numerous other facts, and circumstances
could be mentioned, but as they will take up
too much room in an advertisement, we de-
cline stating them here, especially as these
will suffice to shew his prominent features.
He has done us and another person here
considerable injury by pretending to make
machinery, and has obtained credit from sew
era. persons, whom he has left unpaid He
also assumes different religious habits
sometimes he will pass for strict Metho-
dist, and at others pretends to belong to the
society of Friends, commonly called Qua
kers, &c. as best suits his detestabc purpo-
scs of fraud.
In person he Is about FIVE feet six inches
high, well made, fair complexion, round face,
with scar on his forehead, which is bald, but
has rather feminine softncss in his features,
walks quick and sprightly, talks much and
fast, but is rather apt to stammcr when wish
ing to deceive but not quite settled his pan,a
great boaster, fond of musick and dancing,
but much more SO of liquor, in which he fire.
quently INDUCES to excees, and is then very
quarrclsomc !; he is SO much given to lying
that it is supposed by those who have been
most in his company, not above one story to
hundred, is true.
He left this place about three weeks ago
and took the road to Louisville, and may pro-
coed to Natchez or Newt Orleans but as that
is only conjecture, citizens in every direction
had better be on their guard, as the first ap-
pcarance has something prepossessing. Should
therefore any person after reading this, dis
cover the fellow in any place, now, or at any
future time, they should Immediately eau
ton the publick to beware of him, as there is
no end to his wiles and deceptions. We have
had our suspicious that he is British incen-
diary, of which country he is native, for
certain We are that by his practices he dis
couragcs manufacturers almost as effectu-
ally as if he burnt down their buildings, nor
should We have tkcn this trouble were it not
more particularly to guard our fellow ,citi-
sehs who may be embarking in the manufac-
ltpring line, rs we know from experience
such impostcrs to be agreat discourage in
their present infant state ~T
JOHN WRIGGLESWORTH s. Co.
Harrington Cotton Factory, Nov. 1909.
We the undersigned, having observed the
conduct of Mathew Hancock in this place,
consider the above description of him to be
just and proper, and from the known respec-
liability of John Wrigglesworth s, Go. are
confident they would not state the circum-
stances which happencdin other places with
out just grounds for SO doing.
L. Yeiser, L. West,
Leaving Young, William Tod,
Richard Marsh. James Wilson,
Jchn Marsh,c Henry Kelly,
Daniel M'Intosh, John Anderson,
Zachariah Duval, ]. H. Fishcll,
Simon Hickey, Luke Usher, ~g
John Price, Ridhard Marsh, Jun.
James Boardman, Benz. Puryiance.
John CALDWELL,
The Editors of different papers through
out the Union, would render the citizens a