Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-09-18
TERMS OF ADvERTTsING.
Great Excitement I'm PhladeIphla-A French Woman
Tempts Clergyman Extraordinary Develop
ments-The Confidence Game a Grand Scale.

Great Excitement III Phladelphla--A French
Tempts Clergyman Extraordinary Develop
ments-The Confidence Game OH n Grand Scale.
| From the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin.
The main point facts of one of the most stupendous
and successful swindling operations brought to
light few days since. To swindle the msophisticated
OF the world may indeed be an easy NATTER with sharp
ers put TO deceive learned, intelligent distinguished
and deyout minister of the Gospel in the enlightened city
of Philadelphia, by glitterng baubes of supposed
wealth. cannot be very readily comprehended in these
days OF penny papers But such is the case as the Sc
quel will show.
Several months since gay, pleasant and accomp sh-
ed French lady arrived in this CITY, and engaged ap art
ments at the Gmard House. She was in search of
relative who, by due process of aw was entitled to "a
portion of large estates WEIGH she held in Texas She
was exceedingly rich and expected an additional fortune
in consequence of the decease 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 servant, whose name, with
that of her own, registered on the books of the
Glrard On looking the newspapers certain
Saturday she observed advertisement that the Rev.
- would preach on the following day. He is well
known minister and is at the head of of the most
fashionable and intelligent congregations in the city Of
Brotherly Love His familiar to her, and she
conceived the idea that he must be the very person she
was In search Of She made dilgent inquiry found out
all about him. where he was born where he had been,
where he had graduated and i'll fact when and by whom
he married.
In few days she called upon him and made known
her business. AT first he was inCredulOus and firmly
banshed all idea about his being entitled to anv inber-
tance whatever from that The wife of the re-
verend gentleman however, concluded that her husband
was III error and expressing her views he was led in
to train of deep meditation, and finally came to the
conclusion that perhaps he was destined to become
millionaire without much hard work. The French lady
and the wife of the reverend gentleman now became in
innate; they associated together daily, enjoyed each
others hospitality, paid frequent visits to members of
the congregations and in fact, lived high This contn-
ucd for period of several months. During this time
the deeds Of the property in Texas all of which seemed
to be well authenticated closely scanned and so
well was everything conducted the part of the French
lady, that the many friends of the reverend and his wife
congratulated them on their good fortune. AT time,
on the arrival OF steamer from Europe the French lady
received letter in which it stated that in cOnse-
quencc OF another death having occurred in the family at
Parls some time must necessarily elapse before remit
tance could be sent perhaps not for several months
AT this announcement she seemed to griGve considerably
because 1t put her TO such nonpus that she could not
return the hospitality in style equal to that which had
been so kindly extended to her. She talked huently
about the affairs of the nation giving glowing accounts
OF her travels through Europe and the United States
spoke whenever occasion required of the ameorating
influences Of the Gospel gave her opinion on the all
absorbing question of slavery, and by dnt of the most
daring crontery succeeded in all her applications for
small sums OF money, ranging from $50 to 5000 She,
lii company with several of her admirers would pay
visits to of the rscass stores in Chestnut street.
Beng rich French lady, in company with rich ladies
Of our city, whose wcknown faces had often been re-
tteced III the mirrors that embelsh the stores, the
worthy attendants endeavored to oudo each other in
politeness.
All this time the " fair creature" was weaving as
pretty piece of net work around her unsuspectng ad
mrers could well be thought Of Arrangements were
finally made for the French lady and servant the Rev
erend and his wife, to 90 to Texas in order to settle up
the estates then to return to Philadelphia to purchase
large and splendid mansion Broad street above Brown.
short time previous to this considerable quantity of
silver plate silks and sans obtained by the French
lady, for which the Reverend became responsible
While making all these arrangements the minister al
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 to proceed to Texas the
latter was nowhere to be found.
Here was indeed, a dilemma not expected. All the
hope that had been built up; the visions of gold that
had gstcned before them the castles that had been erec
ted the vast estates that the Reverend had fallen
heir to- the many nerchanges of hospitality and other
"reminiscences and pleasing reflections arising herefrom,
adcd away like a"crmsOn cloud in the sunset bOrne.-
Railroad trains sought and the reverend gentleman
succeeded in tracing her to a Western road,
and attempting to seize her and pull her out The pas
sengcrs nteposed and finally he was thrust out of the
car, and she went her way rejoicing
The VauX detectives were brought into reduistion
but they of use-the telegraph sent forth it's
messages, but all to avail. Such sudden transi-
ton from wealth to comparative poverty-such aplung-
ing into the depths of deSpair-were almost too much
W pei' me dctS edhed ouU-lne congregation got TO
hear 1.-THE Vcsry of the church examined into the
suCctthe pastor or rector felt like the subscriber
did when he Unexpectedly met grizzly" in Cafor-
MIA certain goneness about the stomacl'.and such
CONSERVATION, such gossping convulsed upper
tendon, never took place before, and perhaps will
again. Who the accomplished French lady is, where
she came from, whittier she has gone, knows.
She figured in this city for several months and it was
only few days since the fact leaked out The minister
who was so egregousy duped paid the several amounts
for which he had become security and it is presumed
that he will agree that he paid dear for his WHISTLE
=. 4" Hold fast to that which is good.''
Later Texas.
The Gonzales Fnmuirer of tho 0Qtb ,,t