Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-22
Washington City,
February 1st, 1884.

An Adroit Saoindler.-On Monday oflast week
young man Of genteel, prepossessing appear
ance, called on a respectable lady in the Bowe-
ry with a note from her landlord, requesting
her to lend him $40, or as much as she could
spare and he would return it the next day
Knowing that quarters rent was then due. she
was little surprised at the phraseology Of the
note, but supposing it was intended as polite
dun she counted out $50 and gave him. request
ing him to count it over He replied, it is no
matter; guess it is right" and gave a receipt
for the money, subscribing his name Henry
Smith. Immediately after he had gone, it &C.
Cured to the lady's mind that possibly the young
gentleman might be an imposter. She accord
ingly stepped over to her landlord who dsa-
vowed any knowledge of her morning visitor,
and said he authorized no one to call on her for
money on his account Finding that she had
been swindled, she repaired to the Police Office
to lodge her complaint, and was surprised to
find seven complaints of similar nature had
been preferred there from other sufferers who
had no doubt been swindled by the same indivi-
dual.
The circumstances in one Of the other cases
were as follows-A lady had lost her husband,
and while he lay corpse in the house, the vii
lain called upon her with forged order from
the Undertaken for his bill. She told him that
she was overwhelmed with affection; that she
he would leave it few days. He said his en-
ployer had a bill unexpectedly presented for
payment, and that he would not leave the house
without the money. She accordingly procured
it, and paid him.
On another occasion he called on a gentleman
and inquired the name and residence of his Mi
nister giving him to understand that his mother
was dead, and that he wanted him to preach her
funeral sermon. On learning his name and re-
sidence, he Immediately prepared an order in
favor of the aforesaid gentleman on the minister
for small amount, and presented it for pay
ment. In this, however, he did not succeed; the
person on whom he drew not being in cash at
the time
Another attempt was as follows. He called at
the house of the sexton of church, and after
making some inquiries Of the servant girl about
him. and the name Of the Pastor of the church,
forged an order in favor of the sexton upon him
for $10 alleging, when he offered it, that he (the
sexton) had just received bill from his grocer;
that the money was very much wanted; that
the Clergyman would oblige him much by lend
ing him the amount, and that he would return
it the next day. After some deliberation, the
money was paid. Shortly AFTER the fellow
returned with the bills, alleging that one of
them Ga S. billy was counterfeit The Clergy
man observed to him that it was impossible it
should be so, for he drew those very bills from
the bank himself But, says he, will exchange
it; and accordingly gave him another.
The circumstance that led to the discovery of
his real name and character, was an attempt
to obtain a small sum in a similar manner from
landlord, for a lady who occupied one of his
houses as tenant He, not being particularly
acquainted with her. declined sending the mo-
ney; but said he would call and see her shortly.
On enquiry Of his tenant, he found her entirely
ignorant of the affair. She had given no one
an order to borrow money on her account, and
further was not in want of any. She stated to
him that person had called on her few days
previous and enquired particularly about the
location Of the landlords houses the names of
his tenants, &c, and that he was the same per-
son that had been sent there to repair the locks
in her house. The gentleman then went imme-
diately to the locksmth where he had applied
for person to do this work. and was enabled
to ascertain the real name and character of the
swindler. 1t appears that his real name is John
Huntington; that he is graduate of the State
Prison; and that, having been detected in seve-
Ial petty thefts from his employer, he was con-
sequenty discharged. The officers of the Po-
lice have been for some time on the alert, but |
have not as yet succeeded in finding him.
" Y Cour.