Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-11
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN PHILADELPHIA
EXTRAORDINARY DEYELOPMENTS-THE
CONFIDENCE GAME ON 4 GRAND SCALE.

CONFIDENCE GAME ON 4 GRAND SCALE
The main points or facts of one Of the most supen'
dous and successful swinding operations were
brought 10 light few days since. To swindle tue
unsuphistcated of the world may indeed be an easy
matter with sharpers, but to deceive learned ih'
fel!igen,, distinguished and devout minister nt me
Gospel in the enlightened city Of Philadelphia ny
cliteriug baubes Of supposed wealth. cannot be very
readily comprehended in these days Of penny papers
But such ID the casa, "a the sequel will show.
Several months since, gay, pleasant and accom-
pshed French lady arrived in ihis city, aud engaged
apartments al the Grsrd House. She was in search
OF di,taut relative who, by due process Of law was
entitled TO portion Of large estates which che held III
Texas. She was exceedingly rich, and expected an
additional fortune in consequence of the recent DE-
cease of an uncle, who had quietly passed into the
shades of death, at good old aye, in the city OF
Paris.
The lady had with her a servant whose name, with
that Of her own, registered On the books OF the
Girard On looking over the newspapers one Ger
tain Saturday she observed an advertisement iha'
The Rev would preach on the following day
lie is a we'll known minister, and il at the head os
one of the most fashionable and intelligent congrr
CATIONS in the city Of Brotherly Love. His name
very familiar to her, and che 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
hs graduated, aud, in fact, when aud by whom he
was married.
In few day she called upon him and made known
her business. At FIRST he was incredulous and firm
w banished all idea about his being entitled 10 auy in
hertance whatever from that source. The wife of
the reverend gentleman, however, concluded that
her husband was i'll error aud, on expressing her
view he was led into train of deep meditation and
finally came 10 the conclusion that perhaps be
destined to become millionaire without much hard
work. The French lady and the wife of the rever.
end gentleman now became intimate; they asso.
cia,ed together daily, enjoyed each others hospita.
ty, paid frequent visits to members OF the congrega
ton and 10 fact, lived high. This continued for
period of several months. During this time the
deeds of the property in Texas, all of which seem.
ed to be we'll authenticated were closely scanned,
and so we'll was everything conducted on the
part of the French lady, that the many friends of the
reverend gentlemen and his wife congratulated them
ON their good fortune. At one time, OH the arrival
of steamer from Europe, the French lady received
letter. in which was stated that IN consequences of
another death having occurred in the family at Paris
SONS time must necessarily elapse before remittance
could be on; perhaps not Tor several mouths AT
this announcement che seemed TO greve consdera.
bly,. because it put her 10 such nopplus that she
could no, return the hospitality In style equal 10
that which had been 50 kindly extended to her She
talked hueny about the affars OF the nation giving
glowing account. of her travels through Europe aud
the United State, spoke whenever occasion required
of tbs ameliOrating Influences OF The Gospel,
gave her opinion on the allabeorblng ques
ton of slavery, and by dint OF the most daring
efroutery succeeded in all her applications for small
sums of money, ranging from $50 TO $500. She, in
company with several OF her admirers, wauld pny
visits TO come OF The fret class stores on Chestnut
street. Being rich French lady, In company with
rich ladies of city, whose well known faces had
often been reflected ir the mirrors that em0esh tho
sorss the worthy attendants endeayored 10 out. do
| each other In poteness.
All th;, time the "tar creature" was weaving as
pretty piece Of net work around her unsuspec'lng
admirers as could well be thought Of Arrangements
1 a sIa aDNh laHu orHu
the Reverend and bis wife, TO 20 to Texas in order
to settle up the estates then to return to Philadelphia
and purchase q large ED splendid mansion on Broad
street. above Brown. A short time previous to thla,
considerable quantity OF silver plate, silks, and sat.
ins were obtained by tho French lady, for which the
Reverend became responsible. Whis making all
these arrangements the Minister almost forgot TO vi..
the sick and to pray with the dying md at last when
the moment arrived that he and hia vile and the
French isdy to proceed TO Texas, the latter WAS
nowhere 10 BE found.
H.re was. indeed dilemma not expected. All the
hopes that had been built Up: tie visions of gold tina,
had gisened before them; the castles that had been
erecled the estates that the Reverend had fallen
ber TO; the many iuterchanges of hospitality cnd
other "reminiscences and pleasing reflections arising
therelrom faded away like "crimcon cloud in the
sunset borne" Railroad trains were sought and thu
Reverend gentleman succeeded in tracing her TO a
car on Western road, and attempted 10 selze hef
! and pull her out. The passengers ,nterposed, and
finally he was thrust out OF the car ana she went her
way rejoicing.
The Tau. detective: we're brought into requstion,
but they were Of E.e-ihe telegraph sent forth '
messages, but all TO 40 avail. Such sudden transi.
ton from wealth to comparative poyerty--saeh
punging into the depths OF despar-were slaost too
much to bsar. The fact. leaked "ut-ths congrega
ton got to hear it. the Vestry Of the Church exam
iued into the subect-the pastor or rector felt IKE
"the subscriber" did when he unexpectedly met b
grizzly" in CaliforDia-"a certain goneness about
, tinn uph q ODg
slipping C. convused apprehension, never took place
before, and rsraaps never will again. Who the ac
compshed French lady 10, where she came from: or
whittier che las gone. no Oles Knows She Inquired III
this city for several months. ana II WIS only le"
DAYS since that the facts leaked out. Ths minister
who was go egregious!y duped paid the severn
amounts for which he had become security, and 1t IL
presumed that he will agree hxt he paid dear for his
whistle. "H~d :ast TO that which is good
The Philadelphia Daily Views of Tuesday has the
following paragraph in reference to the above.
1--WE published, on Saturday last, what we then be.
leyed to be correc; report OF the s"ndie OF cler'
gymau Of this city, by a French woman aud her al
legged servant. Ii pains us 10 learn that the account
contained some inaccuracies, Thich are supposed to
have done injustice TO the Clergyman cud bis esma.
BILE wife. That they have been grossly deceived and
wrcnged, by an unprnciped but most subtle and
adroit woman, skilled in vilany and intrigue, TOO
painfully true But il il due 10 them 10 say that no.
thing connected with the affair, 10 the slightest de-
gree rejects upon them. The most giittering blan-
dishmen were held out 10 induce them TO leave their
congregation and abandon their field of usefulness,
aud the most arfu plans laid, but they conscientious
ly and successfully resisted them. The rumored ex'
puson CT the clergyman from ran ,oa ooH car we
woman 10 SEeation, and servant we learn, have not
gone to parts unEIcyn. but are now with another
portion OF the family in virginia. and we're accompa'
MED there by one Of its members. That the French
women and her alleged servant are bold sna cnda
has occurred, in the remotest degree to Lessen the
clergyman and his wife in the estimation OF their con-
greeetiou. On tie contrary, their conduct during Il
most painful and trying oSdes, has endeared them
both more strongly than ever, 10 Gil copversant with
the facts We make this statement most chearfuly,
in Justice 10 the reverend gentlemen and his wife, who
are esteemed by all who know them
I 4 rt.R ERQM EIiRQpE.