The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-08-24
The Shrewdest Swindle Of the
Year,

There was released from the Erie county
ljail, yesterday morning. young man
named Robert J.. Guise. the story ofwhOse
performances is one of the most remarkable
that we have ever had to relate. Guise
who Is now about twenty-four years of
age, lives at Clarence Hollow, In this coun-
ty, where his father was an honest black
smith.
| In the same town there lives wealthy
old farmer named Randolph thinner who
is about seventy years of age, impaired in
intellect by his years, credulous in DISPOSE
ton, and just prepared by circumstances
To become the victim of rascality arts. The
old man settled upon farm of 800 acres at
Clarence. years ago. and gradually accum-
ulated wealth to the amount of not less
than $70,0000. About three years ago Zim-
mer's wife died, leaving him alone with
only an adopted daughter of fourteen or
fifteen years TO care for him.
This was young Guise's opportunity, aud
upon these circumstances his scheme was
laid. BY adrOit methods he wormed him
| self into the old mans confidence. and also
brought to bear upon him the scducing
arts of two sisters. The eldest of these
aud the one principally engaged in the con
spiracy against Iimmcrs is II young wO-
man named Mrs. Nancy NJ. Smith. who
had been divorced from her husband, and
who has since, about two weeks AGO, run
away with II certain Mai. Eldrid"c" to
parts unknown. Mrs. Nancy is u lazy of
some twenty-sevcu or tWcnty-eight years,
quite ordinary ia personal appearance, it
is said but she is nevertheless supposed to
have exercised complete fascination over
the old man thinner. The younger sister.
Miss Nora Guisc. is about twenty-five years
of age and fair.
This trio of lcechcs fastened themselves
| upon the unfortunate septHgcnafian, and
began, three years ago, systematic Van-
prism which has exhausted pretty nearly
the whole of his large property. Having
acquired complete asCCndcncy over him
under one pretcXt and another Guisc rot
mortgages aud other securities transferred
to him, while his sister Nancy actually ac-
quired titlc-dced to Xmmcl's farm of 300
acres As fast rs the young scuuadrei got
the property into his hands he cAponucd
it in the most eNtrnvagantly riotous ln ing.
At one time he is said to have had no lr,,
than eighteen horses. of valuable stock
with carriages and.cquippages TO match. two
Icolored servants. a house magnitceutly
lilled with the richest rosewood furniture
n wardrobe to which every month added
suits of the very latest and loudest fashion.
and all other luXuries of living TO CORES
pond.
While Guisc pretended To thinner that
the property which he obtained from him
was either invested IN some way or de-
| posted in Buffalo, he accounted for his
style of living by stories of wonderful
rich man who had made him (Guise) his
agcntin certain immense transactions, and
whose liberality of compensation was
something prodgions. thinner most de-
yOutly believed in this mythical man of
gold, especially after Guise had exhibited
| % him, as he did once, what seemed to be a
$4,000 bank bill which had been given TO
the said Guise by his extraordinary patron.
one-half TO be paid to thinner on Guises
debt to him, and the other half to be Jointly
expended by Guise and thinner I'm a huge.
tremendous spree. Guisc even went SO lar
in the development of this audacious fable
as to pretend mt length. that he had mar
riCd his rich friends daughter and actually
brought home some prostitutes from the
city. whom he introduced rs his wife aml
some of her friends.
thinner swallowed tie whole huge fiction.
and for three years the expensive comedy
has been playing. 1t seems that the neigh
bors have not had their eyes closed 10 what
was going ON, and yet owing to the usual
difficulty Ofaction IN what is nobody's bus
mess in particular, they suffered the old
man to be plundcred until nothing but n
wleek of his fortune remained, At last,
MIR. l.. G. Wiltsie, supervisor from C!ar-
ence, and Mr.. George Van Tine. deputy
sheriff. took the matter In hand, and caused
the arrest of Gulse on saturday last. lie
was brought before Judge Lockwood. of
the county court, and held to bail ia the
sum of $4,000. Unable 10 give the re-
quired bail, he was committed to iail,
where he languished until Yesterday
morning. when he in some way obtained
release upon disgorging the whole rem
nant of Zimmer's property IN his possess
sion. II is thought that the rescued frag-
monis viii realize some Sl5O0O or S2OGG0.
Not less than $4,000 have been plundered
a nd squaudc.cd.
The extraordinary young sharper by
whom this brilliant gamc OF artistic rascal
ity lias been played, is little fellow about
four feet and p hall In height. vita sandy
hair and mousiachc, aud principally dis
tinguishcd by the sinister Lecnncss of his
eyes.