The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-12
The False Prctence Case I'm Philadelphia.
MoKE CURIOUS DEVELOPMENTS.

From The Philadelphia Bulletin, Now 10
Van Colt had another hearing before the Mayor
this morning Mr.. James Mtton of New York, was exa
amined and testified that the defendant had called upon
him at his place Of business and made the usual repre-
morandun Of large lot Of goods willed to Mr. L. but
which could not be got into his possession without Ger
tain charges being first paid Mr. Iitton diddled to
the tune Of $685. and afterwards followed the scamp to
this city.
A man named Major Rose, who had been engaged ~
Van Colt 60 to Camden for letter directed to the latter
by Mr.. Litton, examined. The witness poor
Iaborng man. and had been engaged by the swinder to
70 upon farm belonging to him in the Sta Of New York.
lie receive good wages and have many very
comfortable priveges but in the language of the Wit
ness hae never yet seen anything Of the farm or Of
Miss Lovatt residing at s1e North Third rect test.
fed that the defendant had called upon her father Mr.
that nephew Of that gentleman had died in England
was stored near baltimore Mr. Lovatt was Induced to
advance fifty dollars for the purpose of obtaining the
goods Van Colt strove to get $500 out of this victim,
but not succeeding 10 his attempt he suddenly vanished
leaving carpet bag of valuable papers with his dupe
with strict charge to take good care Of them The BAG
was subsequently found to contain pair OF soed socks
and &c me other trash
knew the defendant BY the of Trbman and by one
or two other He had come to his house with
city The latter to be the recipient of certain valu
able dry goods which had been wiled to him by de-
ceased relative in Europe and which he said stored
at q farm house Tacony Some little cash pro-
cured from the victims in this case but they
cautious than usual Mr. Kinney had suspicious of
the scamp and drove him the farm house of
sIectabe Quaker farmer where he said the goods
stol ed Mr. K requested to remain outside while
Van Colt went In and inquired about the pro ,erty He
after out of the house and said that all was
right, and the goods would in few hours be thsIr
way to New York
Van Colt, finding himself suspected in this case de-
camped without having made much by tie operation,
afterwards ascertaned that while the was
in the farmhouse pretence Of seeing the dry
goocs stored there he actually engaged humbuggin
the farmer into snare about moaey or vauabes
sent to him from CALIFORNIA; and the duped Quaker sub
sequenty accompanied the scamp to this city for the
purpose Of getting possession Of his wndfa We have
not learned to what amount the farmer suffered
1t will doubtless appear strange to most persons that
so large number of victims, many of whom inte.
gent and practical business men, should be eeced BY
such seemingly shallow Devices but the fact must 30
borne in mind that in all the nsan which have coma
to light Van Colt has made himself familiar with tia
family history Of his dupes and this knowledge in the
possession Of perfect stranger Joined his plausible
manner and well conived stories of course oalc
lated to throw the victims off their guard.
Van Colt is about forty five fifty years of age He
Is COARSE i'll favored looking man. and appears too stu
d to concoct the schemes in which he has an actor
this fact has probably tended to the of his tricks
he looks and talks like Engshman but he is II IL
believed, native of the city ofNew York He was mar
red to quite young woman about two months since.
Unless be is shockingy beed he is of the most con-
summate scoundres that figured in our criminal
annals. There several other charges against him
which have not yet been heard