The New York herald., 1870-01-27
A RURAL LORD AINSLEY.
A Theological Student in tho Role Of Alfred
Jingle-Hs Hopes His "Pious Example
and Christian Influence Will bs
Taken as Compensation for
His Board"-$50, 900
Worth Of Debts.

swindle, decidedly gigantic In Its proportions,
and for cool audacity unsurpassed and seldom II
ever equailed mas just been brought to light ar
Kingston, N. r., where william Travis. an adventu.
rer, duped and swindled number Of citizens out Of
at least $5O,000 Claiming to be the heir to large
estates in New YORK city and Philadelphia. ne sue
ceeded in inducing mis- friends to advance him the
above named amount until he should become OF
lawful age to take possession OF the estates promis
ing to handsomely remunerate them for their kind
ness He then, under the pretence OF taking short
trip Of pleasure left his victims.
HEALTHY THEOLOGICAL STUDENT.
1t seems ABOUT two years ago, Travis was young
theological student and one day visited Kingston
0stenslby to recruit his health. After spending
few weeks, breathing the pure air OF the Catskills
roaming among the pleasant hills ana valleys
which surround the romantic village or Kings.
ton, and finding ms health much improved, he
concluded to sojourn there for time. He
was introduced into society and chaperoned
by well known divine from Monisanla who spoke
IN very euoglslic terms OF the student, portrayng
In glowing coors his piety and his many Christian
virtues and dwelt long upon his enormous wealth.
informing them lie had lately fallen sole her to the
estate Of Mrs. DE Wan OF New YORK city,
valued at s250000. A young man OF such reouted
wealth, ana witna SO agreeable ana fascinating in
manners, was as may readily be supposed, at once
received with open arms by the clue or the town,
and many an anxious intriguing mamma with
daughters TO wed went into ecsLasies over the
'.oeausful. charming, dem folne" young student.
Parties were given, plcnics arranged drives pro-
posed and all seemed to vie with each other TO 40
houor The noble scion of the house Of Travis. He
drove the most natty turnouts sported the largest
and most brilliant Of s0i.ares, wore scarf the
ercenest OF the green, smoked none but Partagas
nrSr. drank only Piper HeIdsieck and Asmenniser,
and Ike the rich man OF Old, clothed In purple
and 1ne linen and Jared sumptuously every day.
One would suppose that TINS mode OF livinS would
have aroused suspicion being rather ioldu tor
a meek and lOWly follower Of Cnrist; but then we
1--we in wonderful tines Sufficient IL Is TO say thar
he became o great ilvOrte among the SISTERS of The
church or which he was u member, and all were
loud In their praise except, perhaps, few spnSters
OF rather doubtful age who could see no good In
the prOiuse attentions ne bestowed on few married
sisters OIL the nuck.
In fact, the many delightful moonlight drives on
the Vauxhall road led TO more or less lalk, but all
tnat was soon huShed, as lie became even more aud
more devout and entertained the sunday school each
Sabbath attern0n with interesting stories, and at
prayer meetings was loud and iervent IN his exhor-
tatlOns aud prayers and lent his meodious voice 10
the singing oil hymns and chanting OF anthems.
How he raised money to support TINS style Of
living Is somewhat strange, and SHOWS how
easily peoples eyes are blinded Dy out
Ward snow ana mnespun ap, reprcseaOas avsnOas
and he very called upon his friends Ior loans
showing document purportlng 10 be the last VIII
him. William Travis houses lots, bonus, mortgages
&C., TO the amount OF S25J0OO, J0nn i. Holman
the will; also decree from tue Surrogate pronounc-
ing the VIII valid and declaring Travis W De the
legitimate hear.
The papers had all the appearance or being gen.
une, and now the persuasive powers OF the young
stuaent were brought IN play Beng perlecl
Cnesterneld IN manners ne would tel q touching
and pathetic story ,LoW he mad struggled III poverty
when mere child ut last securing a position in
Nx..l lstuu p hnV hn IN
having occasion To carry bundle to the residence
OF Mrs De van the KIND lady came 10 the door and
short time after sne adopted him: aow he had tried
10 be dutilui son, and naa the pleasant
recollection OF being comfort to her IN
ana died, aud ielt him nearly neartbroken,
lat tho sole heir 10 her immense property. As ne
was not quite or age he wished to secure loan un-
til sucn time az he should into possession OF
the estate. HIS pleasing manners, sympathetic mar
rative documentary evidence ana 1he strong re-
commentator from the 0lvine from MOrrlsanla
presented quite plausible story; and he was en-
abed to borrow from MIR. vandermark, At dlnerent
times, money to the amount Oi $4,000
THE HARVEST GATHERED.
He leaves bill at livery stable Tor $500, owes the
proprietor 81, lOo' borrowed money; jewelry bill
Tor 5000; board bill OF 81, 300 ana many smaller
bills ranging from fifty dollars 10 $780, sttewed pro-
lnlscuousIy over the town. Mr.. yandermark, having
his suspicious aroused that all was not right started
Ior Philadelphia TO investigate some Of Travis pre-.
tended property Travis called at Vandermarks
house The same day That Mr.. vandermark took his
one where he had gone. Surmising what Wander
marks business there was he thought II about
time to start Tor pastures new" ana, hastily
packing hls yase BID his friends g0odDy,
telling them he would De back in few days. a few
days passed and ""lllieo returned not, but Wander
marx dld and, with u long lace told how they had
all been dupcd.
Travis, while In New York, wrote a note to his
landlord In Kingston thanking him for his kindness
while at his house, and hoped his pi0us example and
Christian influence While with him would be taken
as compensation for his board.
travis Is about twenty-five years Of age rather
below the medium size light complexion and has
light growth OF side whlskers He was charity
boy and was taken several years ago by an Episco-
pal minister at fLshkill. lie afterwards lived with
Mr.. Livingston. near Rond0ut N. T., and afler
wards TO New YORK city and received his education
in some place In New Jersey.
Detectives came III search Of him. but 1t Is doubt
fui whether he Will be found, as ne mas about TWO
weeks the start.
Put not your trust Ill theological students with
light complexlonS and paucity OF side wnlsker3.
GENERAL GE3RGE II. THOMAS.