Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-02-21
~A wHsEI1ue suARpIR AaRoAp.-

bS-A WHBBLIHe SHARPER ABROAD
Half the people of this city do not know the
extent of the talent which some of oul
young men possess. The Philadelphia
FTe'' of late date, gives an account Of
the efforts OF sharper from Wheeling to
sWindle some of the business men of the
Quaker city. The Prs.s says:
ga young man, handsomely dressed and
sporting cane and moustache, arrived
here, representing himself as the agent of
business firm at Wheeling, Virginia.
The pretended agent wanted to purchase a
large amount of goods for the firm, and at.
ter selecting his intended victims, he
bought goods from them TO the amount Of
several Thousand dollars. He bought to-
oacco' syruPs, bntter, dry goods, &C., sp-
parently not paying any attention to the
fact that great business men nova. days
do not keep every conceivable commodity
IN single warehouse. This fact alone
would have led to his detection, but un.
fortunately the different firms did not in
quire much about the character of their
worthy customer, and the game was not
discovered. Having bought the goods,
which it would be useless to add he did
not pay for, he made arrangements to have
them shipped to Wheeling, and left this
city.
Immediately after the sharper had taken
his departure one of our Wholesale groCers
shipped q large quantity of molssses to the
firm. Another firm, from whom the pre-.
tended agent had bought butter and other
articles to large amount, were not so
quick in fulfilling their contract, but on
receiving telegram from their late custo-
mer, requesting them TO send the goods to
their place of destination as delay would
be ruinous, they, being in good faith, i'm.
meuIHJri1- vUmpIisn with -ruquoot., IHiso-
tobacconist, on the other hand, whether it
was that he smelt rat or was unwilling
to rick his goods before receiving anything
for them, gave the agent to understand
that he would not supply the firm or any
other man With tobacco unless he got the
hard cash in return. The agent did not
persist in his demands, and manifested a
desire to wait. Other parties, who in like
manner were imposed upon, either had the
goods shipped or were busily engaged
making the necessary preparations for do
ing 30.
Fortunately, however, some one got
clue to the real state of affairs, and the
goods which were first sent to Wheeling,
were stopped at Bridgewater, and soon al.
ter returned to the rightful owners. The
butter and other articles did not arrive at
their place Of destination but were sent
back as soon as It was discovered how met
ters stood, and arrangements were made to
have the agent arrested, but ON searching
for that worthy he was nowhere to be
found. While inquiriug for his name We
became possessed of sufficient oircum-
stantial evidence to convince US that the
young man was by no means particular as
regards consistency in this respect; 90 that
If any of our citizens shall ever know him
they will not be indebted to his name for
it."
We think that Bridgewater should read
Bridgeport. We had not previously heard
of the circumstances above narrated, but
the story sounds as if it might be true-Or
at least founded on fact. l...5,,,. f. n