The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1852-03-24
Most Accomplished and Thorough Rogue.

The Philadelphia papcre give some Of the
adventures OF a most daring and successful
thief and s'vindler, no has been operating
in that city very extensively for about six
weeks, to the loss of hotel keepers, siablers,
traders. &c. and who is withal a fugitive
from justice in Kentucky. lie is described
as a man Of gentecl appearance and gentle
manly address, a little past fifty years of age,
and as assuming various characters, and
giving different names and residences. His
previous history is skotched thus
His name is G. Rand Thompson. He is
one Of the smartcst, %shrewdesi, coolest, and
most desperate criminals in the country
fIe IS an American of Southern extraction,
and is n mar. of education ond extensive
travel and observation. His family is highly
respectable, and. in his younger days, he
made the tour OF Europe. He has visited
in his day, almost every part OF the United
States, Once he had wealth, and there was
no occasion for him TO do wrong to supply
himself with pecuniary means CIrcum-
stances, perhaps. made him a criminal. lie
early acquired Il passion for gambling, and
played high and risked much.
In 1888, while in Washington city, where
he had resided for a number of years, he
lost $4,000 at the gaming liable. lie grew
desperate, and perpc'raicd the first forgery
of Treasury no,es. For this he was arrest
ted and committed TO prison at the Capitol,
under the name of Henderson. He broke
Jail, add fled West ard down the Ohio. Al
Cincinnati, a gambler with whom he had
quarrelled informed on him, and had him
re-arrested. lie was taken back 10 Wash
ington, and sentenced TO ten years. In
lS43, amer he had served four years, Presi,
dent Tyler pardoned him.
After leaving the Washington Pen;tentia-
nv, he went south, and followed sporting,
In New Orleans he married the widow OF n
we'll known officer OF volunteers in our city
who lost his life by exposure in the South
waIk riots.
In 1876, he was arrested in Louisville,
KY, where he had lived for about a year,
for some forty robberies at the Gait House,
and other hotels. The money and other
property stolen by him amounted TO a heavy
sum. He made a compromise, and plead
| ed guilty 10 a certain number Of bills, out OF
twenty-five indictments against him, on
which he was sentenced 10 five years in the
Frankfort Peniteniiary. Previous to lis
trial he broke Jail, anil was re,captured at
| New Orleans. His wife, after his detection
and conviction, procured a divorce from him,
and married again.
After serving out about half Of his sem
tence, he one day threw snuff into the keep
er's eyes. and ran out ofa gate. They fired
at him, aud he quickly broke down and was
retaken. For this attempted csc ape he re-
ceived two years more, Again after serv-
ing his Original sentence, all but nine months,
on the 9Th of July last, he, in company with
two other convicts, escaped, and had been
at large until captured by the Marshal's po-
lice. He win now be detained until the
author tiles Of Kentucky can be communities
ted with.
lie is a Kentuckian by birth, and isa man
Of genius and education. In address he 10
extremely affable and Rentlemanly, and his
manners arc polished and winning. Though
past fifty years Of age, but for a grey color
Of a luxuriant growth Of hair, he would not
be taken for more han forty at most. Ills
vigor, both Of mind aud body, is Uuly won-
dsrfu | for his lime Of life his carriage is
erect, his eye sleadfast and piercing bis