The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-04-04
tFrom the Scranton Register.I
An lmpOStOr.-Chas. S. Custard, alias
Jefferson, alias Pretaire. &c.

A young man of rather prepossessing
appearance, with black, curly hair, and gen
orally dressed in yellowish- brown clothes,
and an unexceptionally bright /" high
hat" has doubtless been observed of late,
by many of our citizens, passing along
our streets apparently full of business,
and looking too meek to be human This
individual put on great many French
airs, to suit the French name he had as.
sumed, and it seems had walked into the
affections of many unsuspecting persons
in the city; and but for some one appear
ing in Scranton who was acquainted (to
dashing young swindler, and whom he
was unprepared to see, there is not the
slightest doubt that he would have soon
! given all into whose confidence he had
enSrafted himself sufficient reason to re-
gret their trusting to his oily-tongued
representations. AS it is, fearing expos
ure, he has left the city, and we are not
certain after all, that he has left every
one unbitten.
The impostor has checkered history,
and although he is quite young, some of
his exploits would do credit to the oldest
in the confidence profession" We will
go back little over his past, and show
the citizens of Scranton what nice
young man" has been sporting in their
midst, off and on, for some time back.
Although known in Scranton under
the high-sounding name of G.. S. Pretaire,
it is not his proper one. His name is
Charles S. Custard, and in different pla-
ces where he has operated has assumed as
many different aliases. He halls from q
small place named BushkiIl, Pike county,
this State, where he has very respectable
connections. He is dentist and also
matchmaker by profession, and those who
know, say that his workmanship cannot
be excelled, and were it not for his ras-
cally inclipations, his profession would be
source of great profit both to himself
and the public. He is natural mechan-
ic, and no work comes awkwarkly to him.
Notwithstanding the fact that the local
ity where he is from was the scene Of
many of his juvenile efforts in the way of
rascality, the first stir he made in the
world was some years ago, while yet
lad, by absconding from jewelers. shop
in Stroudsburg, where he had been placed
by his parents, with about 5000 worth of
goods. He was captured, but through
the influence of his friends the matter
was settled and smoothed over. His next
exploit of any importance was in Port
Jervis, n. Y, where soon after the above
circumstance, $50 worth of jewelry, &C.,
disappeared from the shop of a Mr.
butcher, and our hero was found to have
it in his possession. This matter was al
so quieted, by his relatives, and he set
free. We have no positive informason
as to his doings from that time up to 1863,
as he went to the west; but we have not
the least doubt that he left his mark in
every place he visited. But in the sum-
mer Of 1865, he came back to his fathers.
Getting into " scrape" in his own neigh
borhood, he fed the law and went to New
York State, fetching up at Monticello, in
Sullivan county. He called on DR..
Brown, a dentist, in that place, and gave
his name as Jefferson, saying that he had
been robbed of all his money by some
sharpers on the railroad, and that he
would like employment. DIR. Brown took
pity on him, and set him at work in his
Office. Soon discovering the superior
character of bis work, the Doctor took
Jefferson as his partner in his business.
Our worthy friend remained in Month
cello some time, making his usual impress
sions and bills, until he had things" in
such shape that he thought it proper to
i" move" when he put" one night, very
mysteriously, leaving tailers, landlords,
his generous partner, and many others, to
regret the confidence they had placed in
him. But here note the consummate and
reckless impudence of this scoundrel. The
Monticello papers, as a matter of course,
published his doings there, and about
week after Jefferson's disappearance, an
unknown man called on Mr.. Quin lain,
then editor of paper there, and asked
the privilege of few moments private
conversation with him, which the gentle
man granted. The stranger was COM
pletely wrapped up in large cloak, and
had heavy black beard, and hair crop
ped close When alone with the editor,
he said he had come in behalf Of his friend
+" Jefferson" to demand re.raction of the
statement made in the paper relating to
him. Mr.. Quinlain, however, recog-
nlzed in the strangers voice that of tho
scoundrel Jefferson" himself, and at
once had him arrested, when it was in
fact found to be our hero in disguise. He
was released on delivering over all the
money he had about him, and making
proper restitution of things belonging to
others. This little circumstance will
show how undaunted he is in his rascally
proceedings.
From Monticello we next hear of Gus
tard- Jefferson operating in New York
evidently thinking that his talents
were of too rare nature to waste on the
desert air of the country. The import
- Ct of L.. -, tb;o city was dacIdedly