The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1868-11-04
MISPLACED CONFIDENCE
A Bogus Louisviliinn in Chicago
How the Boys were Taken I'm.


, From the Chicago Times, Oct. s6
A series of confidence operations, car
ried on upon more extensive scale
than usually characterizes the dolngs OF
that class of professional thieves known
as the opponents of the game, happily
frustrated before their evidently intend
ed communication was reached, recently
perpetrated in this city, have come to
light, notwithstanding The evident de-
sire of the many victims TO keep the
matter quiet. Some four weeks since
stranger, whose real name has not yet
been learned, made his advent in Chica-
90, and, in a very short time, succeeded
in quite thoroughly ingratiating him
self with somewhat extended acqualnt-
ance, including the better class OF the
snoring fraternity and other young
men of somewhat fast" prOclivities. Or
a fine personal appearance, good ad-
dress, with portly Ihough well-prepor-
toned form, considerably above the al
dermanic standard, turning the beam ut
$50 pounds avordupOis, this comblna-
ton of attractions, backed up by the as
sumption that he was the son of Attorney
General James Speed, of Louisville, KY,
proved entirely irresistible.
He first made himself known TO the
proprietor of a well known billiard
room, on Dearborn street, stating that
he was the son of the ex- Attorney Gen
eral, and that he had brought to this
CITY two valuable blooded horses from
Kentucky, for the purpose of entering
them for the fall races, and that the an
finals were stabbed in the vicinity of the
Il, n-t COR
daily received by the billiardist, who
lost no time in making him acquainted
with his numerous coterie of friends
With such an indorser his success was
assured, and, by common consent, he
was voted a prince of good fellows, ana
many were the bumpers in which he
Joined them, of the rarest and most cost.
" vintages, invariably, however, at
their expense. Those who were "Hush" ~
opened many bottle of sparkling wine
for his dsleetation, and those whose
means would not warrant more eX-
travagant outlay, could at least
show their good wi i by the protfer OF
glass of common whisky, which it was
found he could absorb as readily as the
lighter beverages. This was kept mp for
some time, n beautiful illustration of the
toadyism which is so peculiarly an
American habit.
To show how far the credulity of his
dunes extended, it is only necessary to
mention a single instance: One of his
new-made friends, gay and festive
youth, and withal genuine admirer of
horse-tlesh, having heard so much of
the speed of the importations from Ken
lucky, desired to be shown the animals
The request was rs atfably complied
with, and, at the appointed time, q
long-limbed, raw boned equine, attach
ed to skeleton buggy drove mp, and
the twain took an extended drive up
and down the avenues. The fine points
and speed of the animal were freely COM
mented upon, and the certainty of his
winning at the races was freely COnCcd-
ed. Some days later, the eyes of the
Chicagoan were cruelty opened to the
deceit that had been practlced upon him
by the presentation of a bill from the
proprietor of well known livery stable
for the use of the identical horse he had
supposed came from Kentuck, and which
the Operator had engaged at his ex-
pense. How many similar tricks were
played upon the admirers of this genius
will probably never be known, sort of
freemasonry among his numerous vic
tins inducing strict silence upon these
points. This much has TRANSFERRED, how
ever, that in almost numberleSs in
stances he successfully negotiated small
loans, ranging from s. TO SO, none of
them being willing to insult the de-
scendant ofso noble house by a refusal,
What were the original intentions of
this imPoster are now only matter of
conjecture, but il is generally believed
that he was playing for large stakes, as
ne was no ordinary man. Whatever
they were, some untOward event neces-
STATED his departure from the city, and
one hne morning, a few DAYS prior to
the opening of the billiard tournament
at Cincinnati, his many admirers. who
carry lasting rememhrances of his mort.
ly figure in the shape of small moncyed
obligations, woke up To find that tLair
quondam friend was among the MISSING
At Cincinnati, the Chicago delrUoti6E
again heard of him, though he had talk
en- good care to leave that city before
their arrival. He had gone thither, rs
before stated, few days in advance of
the tournament, and had annouSced
himself as a sort of Grant courier of the
Chicago blliardists; aud, on the
strength of such representations, and
his assumed intimacy with the Chicago
"bOys," he had effected several loans,
Phil. Tieman being among the number
to make y permanent investment with
him. Which way his steps have since
tended no one knows, but, should he
ever return to Chicago, he may be sure
OF even warmer reception than was eX-
tended to him before