The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-09-14
AFansus svi.dle, ir Ce.r,.

M'Alpine, the famous confidence man whose
operations have given occasional themes in
the Northern papers for years past, has lust
been arrested at New York for swindlfne a
young lady out Of her baggage and watch. by
the old dodge Of advertising for lady teachers.
The Evening Post describes the scene at his
examination:
The girls evidence having been taken this
morning, the defence stated that they had bee n
unable to procure the witnesses they wanted,
and asked for postponement. The Court said
he had given the prisoner as much time as the
law required, and should Immediately send
the case to the grand jury.
M'Alpine was then asked the usual aues
tions, when he made speech, accusing the
Court Of injustice in hurrysng the case at such
a rate.
The Court replied that he had given as much
time as was required for preliminary exami.
nation and he should do no more. .The onlv
way" said he, ''to put down this kind az
thieyery is to deal quickly with such yaga-
bonds as suppose you to be. You have been
to State prison, haye you noti'
MAipine-Yes, sir.
The Court-It sounds well for such yaga.
bonds as you, who go prowling around an
swering advertisements to entrap females to
rob them, and send them perhaps To IL prosti-
tutes grave, to talk of suffering Injustice bv
the haste of law. Where is justice for the
victim, If such scoundreis as you are allowed
To put off your trial! will show Won oo
more leniency than the law requires and so
tar rs am concerned you shall be brought To
speedy jus tice, and sent back TO the Penitenti-
AIRY, where you belong.
McAlpine-fou won't do any thing of the
kind; smarter men than you have tried that
and Jailed.
McAiphine's answers to the questions, as to
birthplace, &c., were as follows:
Q.-How old are you! A-Twenty.four,-
lLaughter, the prisoner evidently being
forty.1
Q.-Where Were you born! A-On tife
peak of the Teneriffe.
Q.-What is your business A.-Sculptor.
Ihe Court held the prisoner TO bail in The
sum of 81 goo, and as no one appeared to be-
come bOndsman, he was committed in default
This M ALPINE deserted his family three or
four years since. and was arrested for aban-
donment on complaint OF his wife, Suisse
quently he was arrested for fraud upon a gun
manufacturer in Brooklyn. lie represented
10 him that he was the agent OF the BRUSH
government, and was sent here to contract for
rifles to the amount OF about quarter OF a
million OF dollars. lie exhibited forged docu-
ments. bearing the signature OF Lord Palmers-
ton and other members OF the Cabinet, TO sus-
tain his pretensions. He represented that he
had been an officer i'll the Crimean war; and
SO lar worked himself into the good graces OF
the gunsmith as to borrow 500 in cash. and
procure quantity of fire arms on credit.
Subsequent TO this exploit, one of the wit
nesses In case he was prosecuting against the
Vanderbilt Company for baggage alleged to
have been lost on the way from California.
asserted and testified under oath that the whole
case was conspiracy, planned by M'Alpine
to defraud the company of S3UtD; that no
baggage had been lost, but that the whole was
deliberate fraud, and that M'Alpine by
threats and promises, had induced her to
swear to certain statements which he wrote
out Tor her to commit to memory.
M'Alpine is = large man, and dresses after
the manner of the fancy gentry. He speaks
with decided Scotch accent, and appears to
be man OF unlimited audacity. In court this
morning he handed over a watch and chain to
The Court, and admitted that the watch be-
longed TO the girl The girl said the gold chain
was not hers, whereupon n'Alpine claimed
it. here did you get it !'' asked the Court.
NJ Alpine hereupon Went or like rocket
He rose 10 his feet III great indignation, and
said the legal inference was that he bought it,
He was not green in such matters.
No. said the girls counsel, syou are an
adept
M'Alpine's counsel was quite unable to
keep his DEFENDANTS mouth closed. and the
Court said he had made the severe remarks he
did, because the prisoner chose SO speak impu-
dently, when he should have kept stIl.