The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-06-03
Remarkable swindiing Dodge.


An Englishmau, aged about fifty-five
wears, named VIM. r. Emerson, was ar
rested in Boston, few days ago, on
charge of swindling various persons
throughout the country. His plan was
to obtain the name of some prominent
citizen or officer, and address him let
ter, purporting to have been written
by "a young lady, who had departed
from the right way and was anxious to
reform. He assumed as many names as
suited his fancy, such as Fanny Cald.
we'll" EVA Ellis" "Kate Farran,"
etc. The names of parties addressed
vefe generally selected from the news
papers of the day, political al
manacs, city directories, etc. Congress
men and Government officers at Wash.
ington, as well as prominent gentlemen
from Maine to Louisiana, were address
ed and solicited for aid. The principal
letters found upon Emerson had been
written by parties residing in New
York, New England, Pennsylvania,
Washington City, Kentucky, Virginia,
North Carolina, Tennessee and LOuisi-
ana. In this State, he had victimizGd
citizens of Philadelphia, Williamsport,
West Chester, Greensburg and Mifflins-
burg. He had in his possession about
fifty letters, and seme of the writers had
sent money to the "poor grip ranging
| in sums from one dollar up to one hun
dred dollars. b. c. Mann, of New Or
leans, sent the latter sum to his "dar-
ling Kate" All Of the correspondents
were not 80 generous, however-sOme OF
them sending nothing, and saying she
was a humbug. Gentlemen with families
volunteered to do all in their power to
assist her in carrying out her good in
tentions to reform, and gave her direc-
tions to put up at this or that hotel on
her arrival in the city, and notify them
where an interview could be had. In
writing these letters, the distressed
girl" generally represented that she
wanted enough money to take her to
the city where the party whom she ad-
dressed was living. A Congressman
from Maryland received note from
this siren, representing to him that her
father had died in Paris, leaving her
unprotected in that gay, licentioHs
capital" that she returned to the States
and had since been living on the pro.
ceeds derived from the sale of her jew
els and other valuables. She claimed
that she had been introduced to the
Congressman, some years ago, and she
remembered him calling her "beauti-
full girl" The following is the con-
Guiding portion of the letter:
Write to me, and oh say / may come
to you. Ispeak French, Italian, Ger.
man, and play on the piano and harp.
Surely, with little generous assist.
ance and hopeful confidence, might
be enabled to help myself so as not to
be burden to my Kind friend. Write
to me, do, and send me small sum in
closed, for / am in immediate want, and
oh, will be very grateful. Then after
ward if you desire | will hasten to you
on tue wings of gratitude and affection.
Write to me, Il pray, for am in abject
want. Oh, in mercy be my friend, and
l will bless you. The poor orphan
friendless girl will be very, very CRATE
ful. In kindness remember me as |
was, in pity as am. shall anxiously
and hopefully await your leply. Need
l add more? Write to me, oh do.
Some of the letters contained much
good advice, but no money. One old
gentleman told her that he had long
ago ceased to contribute anything to
"young ladies who Travelled on their
muscle" A gushing" youth in West
Chester, Pennsylvania, had quite an ex.
tensive correspondence with her, and
had sent ten, twenty and thirty dollars
to her ut different times. The follow
ing is an extract from one of his epis-
ties:
My DEAREST ANGEL: Your dear,
sweet letter of the 10Th | received this
A. NJ, aud hasten to reply. Oh! how
was disappointed, for / anticipated the
pleasure of meeting you in person yes
terday. | went to town and inquired
for you, but you had not arrived.
look forward to our meeting joyously.
| am so glad vas the means of helping
you, dearest, and that | have relieved
you of the embarrassment alluded to.
Oh it must he awful to be among those
who are not cOngenial to ones self, and
| think you do have kind, loving
heart, and you seem to have no one to
love you or to care for. May hope j
may supply that void in your bosom,
and be your idol. Oh! / feel that
could fly to you were it possible: my
whole being goes toward you in sym
pathy and love. Oh might say much
more, but will defer it until we meet,
my little darling, for seem to feel that
you reciprocate my sentiments.
This youth will doubtless feel cha
grined on learning that his greenbacks
have been pocketed by a burly old
English rascal, with jolly red face,
bull-neck, and capacious stomach, which
give ample evidence that he has lived
well on his gains. There is no law in
Massachusetts under which he can be
punished fer his frauds, and he will
hara In ha disc arnel