The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-11-23
Arrest of Great Swindler and Bigamist.


A bold, successful and accomplished
rascal was apprehended in Washington,
on the night of the 9TH inst. by the de-
tectives. For two years he has been
fourishing around the country in the
various guises Of Southern refugee, sue
cessful banker, wealthy politician, and
gentleman of leisure and means, during
which tiuIe be has lived in Springfield,
Ohio, New York City, st. Paul Mimi,
Chicago and Washington aud during
that time, at Springfield aud in New
York, succeeded in marrying two accom-
plished and highly respectable ladies,
both of whom he robbed of their jewelry
and then deserted
He passed at Springfield, in 1864, un-
der the name Of Benjamin w Allen,
Southern refugee, where he did quite a
successful banking business married, and
i'll less than month thereafter decamped
with twelve or fifteen thousand dollars
belonging to other parties
He next turned up in New York un-
der the name of Hon John w. Harris,
of Mississippi lawyer aud Union politi-
elan. expelled from the State because of
It's secession, with his means in United
States bonds and his time at his OVID COM
mand. He will be recoIleeted by the
boarders at the St. James Hotel. where
be stayed. and by his polish of manner,
cultivation and correct department, as
well as his Endorsement by parties of good
standing IN various parts OF the country,
ne succeeded in making the acquaiu-
tance of a highly respectable and accom-
plished young lady, residing in East
Thirteenth street, whom he married in
May last. He caused the announcement,
with highly colored puff Of himself, to
be inserted in the Herald, at dollar
line
lie said he was going to Europe, but
instead. went to St. Paul. where he was
recognized as Allen, the Astounding bank
er. He paid part Of the claims against
him, but finding the pressure too hot, rob-
bed his wife of her jewelry, while she
lay sick in bed, and fleeing again, turned
up in Washington city SIX weeks ago un-
der the name Daniel Miller
His department in Washington was
model Of cofrectness-so much so that he
won the confidence Of every one at his
boarding house in the west end of Penn
sylvanla avenue, particularly the ladies.
On the 7th inst, he obtained letters of
Identification from a fellow bOarder to
some of the Washington bankers, and un-
der pretence Of buying seven-thirties,
swIndled them out Of between two and
three thousand dollars by worthless certi-
fed checks on a Baltimore Bank. The
fact Of the swindle was speedily ascertain
ed, and Daniel Miller was arrested at the
depot just as he was about to take the
train. Enough money was recovered to
indemnify the bankers for their losses
He also had in his possession about ono
thousand dollars worth of Gue jewelry,
believed to belong to the lady whom he
married in New York. He will proba-
bly, be held for trial on the charge of for
gerry, and perhaps that of bigamy, if the
wronged ladies appear against him, which
is doubtful, as one Of them has already
procured divorce We refrain from
mentioning their names, in view of the
injury they have already sustained.
The prisoner is tall, COOK looking,
keen-e eyed, prompt acting, business like
man. OF fluent address, and, with his in
telligence and cultivation, was just the
man to deceive unsuspecting people. lie
takes his arrest cooly, has engaged able
counsel, and will make bold push to get
loose again.