Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-09-30

knowing that Mr. Folger had some money be-
longing to the estate of his wife, he told MIN We
ry peremptoriy that he must no: throw MIN
destitute on the world that if he did SO the oies-
sing of God would depart from him, but mat II
he gave him money to support him, the pressing
of God should continue to him." MIR. FolSer
then gave him one hundred dollars IN Dliis oi
the Bank of the United States. Matthew's re-
| ceiyed this money few days prior 10 tlie io'n
| September and on that day he told Mr. Folger
that he was about to leave his house, out lnsiSteo
on being supplied with more money before ne
| took his departure. In order to obtain II, ne
| had recourse to his old expedient of threaten
| ing and promising the wrath or blessing oil Co.,
according as his demand was refused or COM
nIied with. and so wrought on Mr.. Folger, that
| in addition to the hundred dollars he mad area
DIV given to him in bills, he now gave Matthew's
! FIVE hundred and thirty dollars IN goa COIN; Oh
receiving which he left Mr. Folger's house and
| Immediately after departed from this city. BE-
sides the above mentioned sums OF money, and
those which he obtained at different other Pc
RODS. from Messrs. Foger and Person, he also
obtained watch from the latter gentleman,
and in the month of January last he informed
Mr.. Foger that some person had taken me
watch from him. and that lit was Mr. FolSer's
duty to provide him with another, and that the
! blessing of God would rest upon him II he dd
sou Mr.. Folger immediately purchased me
gold watch, with chain and seal, for which ne
gave one hundred and fifteen dollars, and gave
| il to Matthews
Soon after Matthews left this city, Mr. Folger
began to get rid Of the delusion which he had SO
long labored under regarding the fellows cha
racter, and having fully satisfied himself that
Matthews was a rank impostor, and had gross
! w imposed upon him, he offered reward ior
| his apprehension, and the pretended prophc'
was arrested and committed to prison al Aloahy.
The sum of six hundred dollars in gold was
~ Anfh u'ha
arrested in Albany, besides small amount OF
bank bills which were found under the lining OF
his boot-N y. Jour. Com.
We find the following additional particulars
relative to this Impostor in the New York Com
mercial:
The above article is from the Journal of Com
merce of this morning. The details given, we
presume are, in the main, correct, as far as they
90; although there is some confusion, and some
error. we believe in dates. For instance, from
the reading of the article the reader would sup
pose that Mr. Pierson died prior to March last,
whereas he died only few weeks since, and
under very suspicious circumstances, which we
heard of yesterday, and which we find detailed
in the Albany Journal oflast evening. A short
time previous TO his death, says the Journal,
" and while in health, we understand, Matthews
prevailed upon Mr.. P. to assign 10 him his whole
estate. He was shortly after taken sick, and,
although his friends who were with him, insisted
upon calling medical aid, they were deferred by
Matthews, who told them that "hehad pouer Of
life and death, and Mr.. PiersOn apouid not dte!'
But he did die; and subsequent examination
of the body by three able physicians, resulted
in the conviction that he had been poisoned, and
certificates to this effect were drawn up and
signed by these physicians, and are now in New
York. Who poisoned Mr. Pierson, is to be de-
termined by the proper tribunal" We under
stood yesterday that post morfem ex examination
of Mr. Persons remains was on FOOT but did
not learn that it had taken place. Only three or
tour DAYS before his decease, Mr. Plerson came
to this city, in company with friend OF ours,
with whom in conversation, ne was perfectly
rational upon all subjects excepting that OF re-
lgion. The Evening Journal proceeds:
"The mysterious death OfMr. Pierson and the
accompanying circumstances, shook the conn.,
dence of Mr. Foger and his family, and they re.
solved to abandon Matthews and his principles.
After his return to New York, they announced
this determination to the GO Prophet" who de-
clared to them that if they did, sickness, and
perhaps death, would follow' This threat was
not sufficient to overthrow their resolution, and
a day was fixed upon when Matthews should
leave the house. Upon the morning OF that day
Matthews partook of but very little breakfast,
and scarcely tasted the coffee, saying, as an eX-
cuse. that he was unwell. Immediately alter
breakfast Mr.. Folger, his wife, and children,
were taken violently sick. MIR. Folger did not
suspect the cause of the sickness, until after the
villain had left the city; when, upon examina.
ton, he learned that the black woman who had
done the cooking for the family, had also abb
stained from the use of any coffee upon that
morning. and, from other circumstances, he be-
came confirmed that the 1uoman aDas bri6ed by
Matthews to poison the family. From some
cause the effort was not successful. To none of
the family did it prove fatal although all of them
have not yet recovered from its effects"
Whether all these particulars are correct: we
are not informed but we have this morning
learned beyond doubt that an attempt was
made to poison Mr.. Folger and his family, and
had we'll nigh succeeded.
Mathews or Msthies, commenced his career
as religious impostor, in Albany, about five
years since. He came to Albany from Wash
ngton county, with his family, and worked as a
journeyman house-joiner During period of
religious excitement in the church of the Rev.
Mr. -, he took an active part, and applied
for admission into the church, by certificate
from Washington county. He was refused, and
subsequently applied for admission on his profess
sion-but was again refused. He then COM