The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1866-02-14
Tke career of a Jeremy DiddIer.

From the Missouri Denocra1 STo
Over a year ago this paper denounced a
certain General Coolbaugh as swindler,
and warned the public to beware of him
He had come to this city and represented
himself as Major General in the Mexican
Liberal army, with authority to confer CON-
missions upon any number of Americans who
would 20 to Mexico and fight for Juarez. he
succeeded in guiling about three hundred OF
our young men, by promising to make them
cofonels, majors captains, dc, and II was
alleged that he obtained several thousand
dollars from some of our business men, by
representing that he had very large sum in
gold at New Orleans, or some other point
CoolbaHgh enlisted no privates in his army
all he wanted was officers who were COM
petent to command men. He carried the
Joke so far that he induced celebrated ar
tillery officer to go with him to the Arsenal
to look at some guns, which he SAID he was
about to buy from the Government.
After having his picture taken, in full
Mexican regimentals, Coolbaugh left the city
rather suddenly and the next we heard of
him was by a messenger from Memphis, who
stated that the General was coming up
shortly to chastise us for exposing him.
One of the Memphis papers denied our state
ment, and indorsed Coolbaugh as being what
he represented himself to be, and spoke OF
/ him as a slandered individual, a gallant
officer, and all that sort of nonsense.
We then lost sight of the griRgo until
few days ago, when we learned that he was
in the city and that the detectives were on
/ his track seeking to arrest him for certain
/ transactions in New York Although there
/ was n handsome reward offered for the APP
/ prehension of the adventnrer, our hawk
/ eyed detectives failed to get sight of him,
and we believe had given up the pursuit.
/ At eight o'clock yesterday morning, as Of
! fcer Dalton of the Third District, was pass,
Q 4 L 1, A lI,,,N -.
/ he came upon the veritable Coolbaugh, walk
! ing leisurely along in company with the wo-
man whom he represents to be his wife, and
} who has assisted him in spending large sums
! of money The General was dressed in plain
| citizens clothes, and had lost the dashlng
spTead-eagle appearance OF former times.
( His funds had no doubt become exhausted,
but in what manner he invested his cash is
! mystery, rs it is said he never pays for any
thing.
/ Officer Dalton, who understands his bust
ness lost no time in conveying his prisoner
to the lookup, and gave him no chance to
! escape The crest-fallen fillibuster had moth
/ ing To say for himself, but submitted TO his
/ fate with that air of apparent indifference
which is characteristic alike of a hero and
a thief He appreciated his position, and
! knew that his career was at an end. We
/ have not ascertained whether he will be held
for offenses committed here, or sent to New
/ York for trial.
While in the city, the General stopped at
the house of a relation, Mrs. Spraggins,
on Ninth street, between O'Fallon and Cass
avenue. He spent most of his time, how
ever, in the vicinity of Fergusons station,
/ on the North Missouri railroad.
/ Several days ago he tried to negotiate a
! draft for 81 300 on the Union Bank of Chi
/ cagO, at Gaylord q Leavenworth's these
/ bankers telegraphed to the President of the
| Uniod Bank, inquiring about the drawer of
! the draft, and received an answer from w.
/ H. Coolbaugh, the President, that it was one
of his brothers tricks to get money.
! This accomplished adventurer, it is said,
/ has victimized many of the shrewdest men
/ of the Eastern cities, and New York has a
! balance against him of fifty or sixty thou
sand dollars. What disposition he made of
/ all this money is mystery, as he appears
/ to have but little of it left