Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-14

along IA AhG AaDAANs oFtWmDH AANAA ~
a Large estate, nsEOtistes Loans,
makcs OstIy Presents, controls "a Lead
Rstur. Establishes - BOOt-biacktnS
shop, and Distributes Bibles.
The adventures of J. G.. Patterson,
for time one of the most successful of
the New York CheUdlierS d'HadJlStTie, and
one whose life has been strangely
chequered, give some idea of the amount
OF willingness and vigilance which must
necessarily be put in exercise by those
who seek to amass a fortune by adroit
dishonesty, Of a character that exposes
them, if detected, to the severest SEN
fences of the law.
Patterson, who is now % years OF
age, commenced life in the employ of
MessTs- Lawrence S Co., carpet dealers,
New York. His modest demeanOr and
innocent look attracted attention, which
was still further improved by his seem
ing incessant attention to business.
But az this very time he was q gambler,
investing his every s"are dollar III faro.
He soon opened a commission house of
his own IN Ann street, and by cOnsum-
mate address kept mp the appearance OF
doing a very extensive business by
means of letters and representations he
was enabled TO borrow money largely OF
his friends. Weary of waiting for their
pay, they at last ordered an investiga-
ton of his accounts, which showed that
his books were fictitious, his letters for
geries, his capital only $3.50, his debts
$4,000. and the whole business
a fraud from the very beginning.
Meantime, by false representations
of n good pecuniary status, Patterson
had cOntrived to obtain for his wife the
daughter of prominent citizen of Au-
burn. The lady soon had reason to re-
pent her choice, for, through some
fresh confidence operations, her hus-
band became an inmate of MOyamen-
sing prison, Philadelphia. His able,
though hypOcritical letters of repent
ance, gained him a speedy pardon.
Returning to New York, utterly desti-
tute of funds, he cOntrived to raise the
wind by perpetratiDg an audacious
swlndle upon his late jailOr. He in
vited him TO New York and entertained
him IN the most princely manner at his
hotel for several days. providing the
most costly Havanas, the choicest Gil
quot and the most superb dinners, and
accounting for the magnificent style of
his own living by stating that he had
recently been left sole heir to a large
estate.
After the iailOr arrived home he re-
celved letter requesting a loan of
81, 500 which he did not refuse to grant.
\ portion Of this Patterson used to Iio-
uidate his hotel bills, and the balance
he put In his pockets for keeps" He
next assumed the character of a person
who controlled a lead mine worth mil
lions. He bought small tract of
worthless land, hired a bogus assayist
te certify to an analysis OF the ore, and
sold the stock very freely; allowed the
concern TO collapse, and DOcketed all
the money paid IN by the subscribers,
amounting to some $780, 900. He now
took up his abode at the Spangler
House, near Union Square, paying
SI2,OOO per annum for a suite of rooms.
and devoted himself to social intrigue
and genteei dissipation. But he did
not forget his financial speculatiOns.
be victmized all his personal friends.
making them costly presents. and bor-
rowing from them under pretepce aF
having great riches, a great deal more
money than the presents were worth.
" l.
backing shop under the City bank. in
Wall street. fitted 1t up elegantly with
plack walnut furniture, and EMPLOYED
number OF boot artists, hut finally
abandoned the undertaking. At anot6-
er time he went to Chicago, and dis
tributed over 25O0 bibles to the schools.
concluding ms operations by swindIipe
the trustees. at Washington he made
himself socially successful, living like
a lord, and literally entertaininp,
princes. But by this time his MANY
victims IN New York had become inn
placably incensed against him. and he
was Obliged TO make hasty exit. with
only such property as he could carry
IN very small carpet-bag. He turned
up, at length, IN the south, In q state
OF abJect poverty, and, being too moor
10 purchase railroad ticket on his vav
NORTH he cOntrived TO secure his mas
sage by means of an artful imposition
upon the conductors.
His last fiasco occurred in New En-,
land, where he cOntrived TO win tbe af-
tectlons OF widow lady with LARGE ex.
pecfations. Ere he reached the 7adv's
mouse, however, he was arrested on
one OF the nifty charges against him
and thrown into jail, FROM which he
was liberated by a gentleman from
hartford, who gave bail for him in tbe
sum 81 OF $4,000, which has been forfeited
- Ea1S never since been able to redeem
MS fallen fortunes; and after a career
eYlnclDg sufficient talent tn have roa5a
him IN a good cause rich, he has Ie;snre