Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-09-10

Nv own iFGa, 4 sraaHt veins ';,, 80 blue
or thy wandering soul
.wu..r,.o, s.rr. a.S, 1851. ID,M.c,
Great Excitement In PhiIndeIphia.
( a .Ffsneh Woman Tempts C2ergyman-Er-
traorainqry Derelopments-7He ConJf'ence
! Game on a Grand Scale
The main points or facts of one of the most
stnpendous and successful swindiing operations
were brought to light few days since. 10
sxindle the unsophistiratcd of the world may
indeed he an easy matter, with Sharpers, but to
deceive learned, intelligent, distinguished and
devOut minister of the gospel, in the enlightened
city Of Philadelphia. by Slittering haubles OF
supposed wealth, cannot be very readily COM
pretended in these days of penny papers But
such is the case, as the sequel will show.
Several months since, a gay, pleasant, and
accomplished French lady arrived in this city,
and engaged apartments at the Glrard House.
She was in search of distant relative, who, by
G due process of law, was entitled to portion of
large estates which she held in Texas. She was
exceedingly rich, and expected an additional
fortune in consequence of the recent decensc OF
an uncle, who had quietly passed into the shades
of DEATH at good old age, in the city Of Paris.
The lady had with her a servant whose
name, with that Of her own, was registered on
the books of tho Girard. On looking over the
newspapers one certain Saturday, she observed;
an advertisement that the Rev - would
preach on the following day, He is well
known minister, and is at the head of one of the
most fashionable and intelligent congregations
in the city. of BTotherly Love. His name was
familiar to her, and she conceived the idea that
he must be the very person she was in search
Of She made dilligent inquiry; found out all
about him, where he was born, where he had
been, where he had gradunted, and, in fact,
when and by whom he was married.
Sho st1rOJ1 him made
known her business. At first he was incredul-
GUS and firmly banished all idea about his being
entitled to any inheritance whatever from that
source. The wife of the reverend gentleman,
however, concluded that her husband was in err
ror, and, on expressing her view, he was led
into train of dooP meditation, and finally came
to the conclusion that perhaps hew destined
tn hecomea millionaire without much hard work.
The French Indy and the wife of the reverend
gentleman now became intimate; they associated
together daily, enjoyed each others hospitality,
paid frequent visits to members of the congrc-
CATION, and, in fact, lived high. This continued
for period of several months During this time
the deeds of the property in Texas, nil ofwhich
seemed so well Observation-Disclosures closely scan
ned, and so well was everything conducted on
the part of the French Indy, that the many
friends of the reverend and his wife congrntula-
ted them on their good fortune. AT one time,
on the arrival of a steamer from Europe, the
French lady received letter, in (which it was
stated that in consequence ofanother death hav=
ing occurred in the family Mt Paris some time
must necessarily elapsc before remittance
could be sent or; pcrhapsn not for several months.
At this announcement she seemed to gricve con-
Siderably, because it put her to such n nonplus
that she could not return the hospitality in a
style equal to that which had been so kindly ex-
tended TO her. She tailIed fluently about the af-
fairs of the nation, giving glowing accounts of
her travels through Europe and the United
knka
ameliorating influences of tie Gospel, gave her
opinion on the all-absorhing question OF slavery,
and hy dint of the most daring etfrontery sue
ceeded IN all her applications for small sums OF
money, ranging from $50 to 5000. She, in
company with several of her admirers, would
nay visits to some of the first-class stores on
Chestnut street Being rich French lady, in
company with rich ladies Of our city, whose
well. known faces had often been reflected in the
mirrors that embelish the stores, the worthy at
PENDANTS cndcayored to ontdo each other IN po-
likeness.
All this time the "fair creature was weaving
rs pretty piece ofnet work around her unsus-
pecting admirers MS could well be thought OF.
Arrangements were finally made for the French
lady and servant, the Reverend and his wife, to
go to Texas in order to settle up the estates,
then to return to Philadelphia and purchase
| large and splendid mansion on Broad street,
above Brown. a short time previous to this,
considerable quantity ofssilyer plate, silks and
satins were obtained by the French lady, for
which the Reverend became responsible. While
making all these arrangements the minister NJ
most forgot to visit the sick and to pray with the
dying, and at last, when the moment arrived
that he and his wife and the French lady were
to proceed to Texas, the Inter was nowhere to
/ be found.
Here was, indeed, n dilemma not expected.
All the hopes that had been built up: the visions
of gold that had glistened before them; the cas-.
fhokh
the Reverend had fallen heir to; the many inter-
lchanges of hospitality and other "reminiscences
and pleasing reflections arising therefron. faded
away like n crimson cloud in the sunsetblrne."
Railroad trains were sought; and the Reverend
gentleman succeeded in tracing her to car on
Ia Western road and attempted to seize her
and pull her out. The passengers interposed,
and finally he thrust out of the car, and she
went her way rejoicing.
Il The VanS detectives were brought into re
| QUESTION, but they were ofno use-the telegraph
sent forth its messages hut all to no avail.
Such sudden transition from wealth to COM
parative poverty-such plunging into the
depths of despair-were almost too much to
/ bear. Tho fact leaked out-thc congregation
got to hear 1.-THE Yestry of the church exam
ined into the subicct-the pastor or rector felt
| like ''the subscriber did when he unexpec-
teddy met q grizzly" in CALIFORNIA; GER
tain goneness abont the stomach '-and snch
Consideration, such gossiping rs conyulsed
luppertendom, never took place before, and per-
baps never will again. Who the accomplished
French lady is, where she came from, or whittier
she has gone, no one knows. She figured in
this city for several months, and twas only
few days since that the facts leaked out. The
minister who was egregiouslY duped paid the
several amounts for which he had become Sc
curity, and it is presumed that he will agree
/ that he paid dear for his whistle. Hold iast !
to that which is good
- .
Tue PRrcs or REvoLur1oS.-It is estimated
in Missouri that the expenses of that State in
the war on Kansas was s., 500, 1a0 A leading
merchant of Independence stated recently, that
he could not have continued in business six