Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-05-08
VOL. 3.---NO. 232
DAILY VIRGINTAN.
Sketch of a California millionaire

mnnlfy so convulsed in our young State as il has
been during the past month. A true record of
events throughout the State would put the burst
ing OF the South Sea Bubble. and the annals of
old Newgate to the blush, and Benton's Thirty
Years in the United States Senate" would be bnt
primer IN comparison of size.
Banks iailing, crashing, swindline; merohants
suspendng- some from failure of the banks, 9TH
ers from rash specuatons. few from the ab-
sorptloh oi their whole profits in the payment
oi high rates OF interest, but scarcely one from
iar' legitimate cause. New systems of fraud
anu viiinny are almost daily exposed. and always
does tho exposure come just too lnte to afford ms
tce to arrest the perpetrators. Meiggs-bonest
Harry Meiggs-struck out in II somewhat new
| line, although that elegant Wall siroet fnanc;er
schuyler gave him cue. but these two pale be-
lore tho brilliant accomplishment of the latest on
erator-G. Hubert Sanders
This gentleman came to our city some tbreo
years ago, poor and meek. He hired him small
Office. ongnged with II partner equally poor, and
tho two hung out modest yellow painted sign,
which told that they were .'Attorneys and
Counsellers at Law" Sanders is Frencbman
! bell'v"' hence no soon got very fine practice
from his counfrymen. IIo had married an Amer
lean lady in one of the Eastern cities, n widow,
tho mother OF two girls; one of dazzling beauty.
The iamly moved to this city Tho wonderful
beauty OF the daughter drew to their house
crowds OF admirers-the wealth and aristocracv
of our CITY smile from tho lovely fair ono
was btss to ponder on. With increa sed prao-
tice IN hs profession, Sanders plunged out in
truly fashionable style His handsome daugh-
ter IN winning suitors to herself, brought briefs
to her father, as her admirers eagerly rvalled
each other IN gaining his confidence and friend
ship, the better to succeed in their suit for the
daughter Soon the family became noted in
high ciroles' and somo even assigned to them
the front rank among the ton. They rode in the
finest carriage in town. had the best horses and
plunged into all the extravaganza essential to
support their newly assumed position. The
beauty married lawyer of some wealth. n Mr.
Alfred Wheeler. The party given on the oooa-
sion eclpscd anything of tho sort over known
in the country.
with tho accumulation of business, Sanders
felt II necessary to purchase the appointment of
Notary Public, merely to facilitate his own prac-
tlce' for he was now Conveyancer, and loaned
other peoples money on tho best secured real
estate; and by having tho authority to take tho
acknowledgements of the borrowing and loanng
parties in his own Office. no was saved the trou-
BILE and annoyance of running here and there to
ntiiN the notnrial seal. He did the largest busi-
ness OF the kind III town. Frenohmen especially
conided in him. Thoy were not going to put
their money in banks, for sometimes banks failed;
they were determined to invest safely; put their
money in mortgages upon the best improved,
well secured real estate in the oity,-so they
went To Sanders, and he did the business for
them all. r..
u. Hubert Sanders was now one of our wealth.
lest citizens certainly tho most extravagant.-
lie drove span of sorres before light buggy
in the morning; span of blacks to a handsome
rookaway in the afternoon and in the evening
he sported carriage and spanking pair of bays.
His office hours were shortened from till 5,
down to from 10 till p hut between those hours
he was always in his office save at lunch hours,
| when, if any of his distinguished family were
! down shopping, he would escort them to the ice-
cream saloon. and the skill of the catering
artstes taxed to their utmost, in providing
| danies for them.
On one occasion last year, when strawberries
first appeared in the market, it is said himself
aud Mrs. Wheeler ate the moderate allowance Of
500 worth each at single sitting. The stories
now told Of his lavish extravaganza would fill
fair sised octave. About two weeks ago the ell
dest daughter was married to a gentleman of
Sacramento. Another magnificent and cost
! ly entertainment given on tho occasion.
Young wife hunters mourned that there no
more daughters in tho family, SO that they might
form matrimonial alliance with SO distinguish
ed sot. Their soirees outshone those of all
others To be invited at Sanders was the zenith
/ of bliss TO all codfshdon Tut time works won-
ders. The mutations ot human life beyond
the power or the prediction of man. Last week
G. Hubert Sanders arrested on charge of
forgery, and was released upon giving bonds in
the sum Of 100000 for his appearance Mt Court
to answer the charge His SOU in law and his
partner were his sureties That evening he fled
and has not yet been found nor heard of. The
following day forged mortgages and deeds were
| discovered in his office, upon which he had raised
over S:,O0,0J0.
In one instance he actually mortgaged mans
own property to him for $4,000, and strange to
tell, the poor fellow discovered it until the
news OF the forgeries two days old To some
he gave mortgages upon the highway. the boun-
darlcs and descriptions being given in the usual
style. lie also drew mortgages upon the proper.
ty of Bolton +. Banon, John Parrost, Sam Bran.
nan. and others of our wealthy men, who never
had dollar upon their estates. All these he
conveyned to his victims, who paid him their
money. gave him the commission, and went away
confident in the security that held their funds
One great cause why he was enabled to cOntin-
ue his frauds so long undiscovered. is the fact
that nearly all of his sufferers are French, who
do not understand our language, and who were
ignorant of the legal procedure in such cases.
Every day, so far, has brought to light some new
act of his villany. ur'
Of all our splendid rascals, Sanders has prov
ed himself the chief. His new system of rob-
berry is entitled to the first rank in the Patent Of
fee of rascaty, and old style forgers such as
Munroe Edwards was, must not hope for the dis
tinguished reputation that is richly merited
by Sanders Meiggs and Schuyler.-N. Y. Mir
| tor.