Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-03

thu day after his arrival there, however, he
sent the child home with letter for her mother,
in which he stated that he had learned at the
Consu's house in Philadel phia, that his particular
friend, CaZanova, died at Baltimore and left a
very large sum Of money in the hands Of his part
ner to his (Mina's) credit, and that he was about
to proceed to that city to recover it.
From Baltimore he wrote the letter of July 10
from that city lie again wrote, stating that the
law did not allow him to take possession of the
S45 900 alluded to in the letter Of the 10Th, and
added that he was going to Washington to see
the President and obtain redress. From Wash
ington he wrote the letters of 26th eth and 18th
July, published above. Whilst in that CITY he
boarded at highly respectable boarding house,
where he circulated report that he had lost his
pocket book containing $500, whilst he was
walking down Pennsylvania avenue. He even
published an advertisement in the Washington
papers, describing the notes, and offering suita-
BILE reward for their recovery. To the boarders
in the house he represented himself as having
Just arrived from MexicO-that he expected fur
Their remittances daily, aud several other stories
of like character. Under the belief that these
things were true, one gentleman lent him $50,
another lent him 800, and became answerable
for his board, and for some clothing got from
tailor there; and the impostor left Washington
under the pretence OF going ON to his agent Tor
money.
In the meantime Mrs. Chapman found. in
some part the room which he occupied at Anda-
lusia, a bill from the proprietor Of one the hotels
in Philadelphia, charging 81 for the use OF
room and board from the 9Th to the 9th July, for
Nina and two ladies'. Fearing, as she herself
says. before the date Of his letter of the 9th Ju
" from Baltimore, that he was sick, she went to
Philadelphia to make some inquiries relative to
him; she was informed that the Consul was at
the Falls of Niagara; she then called at the tall
or's where Mina's clothes were procured for him,
and the tailor told her that the Consul believed
him to be an impostor. In this state of things,
she wrote to Nina at Washington letter full Of
upbraidings, and concluding with the remarkable
expression, that she was constrained to acknow-
ledge that " God would not permit either him or
her to be happy tins side of the grave" This
last letter Nina never received, as he had left
Washington for Andalusia before il arrived at
the former city. On his arrival at Andalus'a,
she charged him, in the presence OF her sister,
with being an imposter, and wished him 10 leave
her; he consented apparently, but said he first
wished to speak to her in priva,e-after private
conference had taken place, she led him to her
sister, and declared her conviiion that he was
not an ImpOstor, but "a very line fellow. -
This was not all he not on yinduced her to believe
that he was going on to Boston to receive the
S45, 900 left him by his friend, but even prevail
ed on her to give him letters Ut Introduction to
some of her friends at Cape Cod In these let
tiers, at his special request. no mention was
made OF his marriage with Mrs Chapman.
The letter Of complaint which Mrs. c. had
sent to Nina, directed to Washington, lay in the
Post Office unclaimed. and was consequently
advertised with other unclaimed letters-the gen
t'enan whom he had cheated IN that city. not
receiving remittance from him, and suspecting
from various causes that he was an impostor, had
the letter opened, and perceivins Its contents,
il was forwarded to the Recorder Of Philadelphia,
woo immediately proceeded to Mrs. Chapman's
residence and informed her of all that had been
communicated to him by the gentleman in WASH
ington. He told her that he believed Nina to be
ar impostor; she affected TO disbelieve it, and
exhibited certificate of his birth and rank. sign.
ed by the Mexican Minister, and stated that he
was on terms of great intimacy with the Consul.
I he Recorder soon learned from the Consul that
that minister's signature was forgery, and that
the statement of his intimacy with Nina was a
falsehood. She also exhibited to the Recorder
several letters from Nina.
The Recorder immeda ely wrote to the autho-
rites at Boston, and the arrest of Nina was the
consequence.
Whilst amongst the friends of Mrs.C. IN the
east. the diaboical propensltics Of the imposter
did not seem at all weakened; by the ridiculous
fabrication which he had before published, he
was able so far to impnse upon the credulity Of
young lady, niece to Mrs. Chapman, as to induce
her to consent to marry him, and the marriage
was actually to have taken place in Boston on
the 9TH or 9th September, if he had not been ar.
rested on the day previous! What could tempt
him to plunge this female into ruin. is nothing
short of demonial mind-since he must know
that the young lady's aunt would soon discover
the occurrence. s
From the Boston Prison he was then convey
ed to Doylstown Jail, from whence he soon after
made his escape. This he effected in the follow
~ mafsher: The room In which he was confined
was small, but not fastened with any extraordlaa-
ry degree of strength, in consequence OF the fact
that the outer door was perfectly safe; Nina was
able bv some extra exerton to break the lock,
and was thus enabled to get down to the large
room in which the prisoners were allowed to sit
l,,,,,, ,ha d,y. hero fortunately for his design.