The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-16
THE DAILY DISPATCH.


tuesday Mornlns, December I6, 1856.
ROMANTIC swINDLRR-A brief no,i.. -.
published yesterday Of publications in the New
Io'A papers concerning Al alleged swindler named
Df Lyon Thrasher. The story 10 . severe com
mentary on Northern society and its guIbili.y-
The Tribune tells the story as follows;
49, During the past year q man call NJ himself DR.. s.
Thrssher Lyons has been sojournins iu Nav YorL
ana moving IN respectable circles He Represented
himseif a. man of wealth. and a. he lived ana an
pesfed well, thsse circumstances seemed to corfrm
ms representations though facts recently deyeoped
show him to have been not only q Jeremy DidsIer
but deep-dyed scoundrel, capable of psrpetra,ins
any crime Lyons, It 70 said, 10 BY birth Phi.del
ph'an bat has lived if Clinton Loui,iara where he
states he has brothsr residing, who is engaged in
the practice of the lew. Another brother Judge he
states r. 'sidesin California He has resided also in
extensively Ia Europe. India and South Americas and
has been stated that while ia Liverpool he was con
vcted OF soma crime fer which he was sentenced to
transportation to Bo'any Bay, whence he subse.
qusntlv msre his eFcspe. He il about Is wears of
age, about four feet eleven inches in height and
weighs about i7o pounds his black hair inclined to
curl, eyes dark with q snakish expression Roman
nose and rather oval face The general cast of his
lace Is peevsh; but his features are arked indea
ne MIN to possess strong indivdualities of charac
ter de 10 an If superior address, 10 highly edu
Gated, speaks French with huency, convsues intei.
gently upon all topics plays the piano forte with good
taste and 10 extremely engaging in his manner. So
schemes OF rascality to swindng women out of mo
n-y with whom he would ret into communication
oy advertising for wives 10 the morning papers. So
sy,temat1c and extensive, indeed. have been his
scn IN es that scarcely week has passed that he has
not advertised.
Once in communication with lady he would
obtain Knowledge of her pecunisry circumst
and II she bad leans, he would continue the &C.
quaintance ogrstiate himself in her favor make
formal engagement advise her as to tie empoym ent
of her mears Offer bis services in making invest
meuts for her, accept her money pocket it and dis
continue his visits In one instance which has come
to our knowledge, he engaged to two ladies' in
this city, both OF whom were getting their wedding
dresses made by the sans drsssmaker. 1t il stated
that during last summer he eoped with the wife of
citizen, accompanied hs to ueizhberng city where
he robbed her Of her j.welry asd then Il ft her 1t
is said, sso that he has ried several wives, and
htvng possessed himself Of their means has left
;hem to tas care of themselves. Recently, he acc
dentey formed the acquaintance of lady. who con.
templsted going to California with her family. He
volunteered advice and assis.snce, and ihe gave
him 81 100 to make the necessary separations for
their departure and procure the tickets.
Soon after giving the money, the lady accidentally
learned Lyons character and a. he was miasing she
caused a warrant to be Issued for his arrest and
though it in the hands of the policeman for two
dsya previous to Lyons departure, AMI the officer
srprised of Lyons residence, no arrest was effected
nd Lyons left for Phiiadephia, whore he left on
Wednesday week in the steamship City of Washing
ton for Liverpool it il said, route for Australia
But Lyons has not only been guilty of robbing his
victims peculiarly, but has aso in various instances
accom- pished their ruin. Five instances of char
acter have come to our knowledge, In ons Of which
the victim IA young sdy) is now insane and, wher
ever he goes 1t will only be undoubtedly to move in
tha same path CT viainy which he knows 50 well.
The n Y. Times has the following abou. the
successful chevalier:
He gives to Philadelphia tbs honor of his birth.
place. How long he lived in that city, or when he
first left it, is not known. 1t is certain, however
of Louisiana. Certain it is, that ths evening OF
the GIN of August, 1850, he was married in the
OF C", Lonisiana, to young and Lowell woman
for some two ye eafs-for, in about ls53, he reap
peared in Phadelp pha, where he soon made quite
sensation He soon succeeded, by false representa-
lch widow Of that place, who finally married him,
fully persuaded that she had meds happy choice
Bet her honeymoon was of short duration
Three days after this wedding, tbs bride and bride
groom qu-rrsted. Tho I" Rich Southern planter
and happy BRIDEGROOM wanted some money. The
rich and happy bride refused to give him any, whersat
she v as assailed BY the bid, ,oom, who putting
pistol to her hsad threatened TO blow her brains
ualess she handed out the -edful. fhe threat did
not avail and the bridegroom left the premises and
never again returned to either Thus the charm was
broken The d.sconsoate bride gtleved, and would
not bs Iacifed The inquiries that we're made
brought to light ths fact that her hui band had anoth
er aud lawful wife land child) living in Louisiana;
that he also had female friend with whom be i ad
been hving egally, in Philadelphia; and previ-
GUS to his departure he had contrved by forging his
Wi es name, to obtain the sum of a 1860
Information OF this circumstance given to the
police, and was Issued fJr ths ssy Dostor's
apprehension but he had fed-to Mexico 1t is sad
TEe deceived lady quietly obtained divorce, ana
the mat YVES kept still possible from the vu
gar pubic The lazy subsequently married DR.. P,
with whom she lives happily
Wherever the Doctor took refuge from PhiledeI-
phia he did not long remain for in the latter part of
1853 he nsde his appearance in New York City, and
hare began 10 play at his old game. How he sue
ce.ded IN Eaming himself off for wha. he was not
may be easily guessed. His polished manners fie
appearance and unbounded assurance. carried him
successfully through, and mtde him great favorite
with all tho ladies whose acquaintance ho contrived
to make.
FACILITIES FOR COMMITTING CRIME.-The
Nnrt DnIina nE lnka