The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-16
A Confidence Man.


young, gentlemanly looking man entered
our sanctum, dressed in amateur sailor
costume, with bronzed face, which had
evidently seen considerable exposure to
wind and sun on the water. The stranger
was erect in carriage of light wiry form
and thin TANKS; evidently an active fellow
in clambering over and handling shrouds
and tackle belonging to IL vessel. Our
morning visitor was an entire stranger to
us, never having met him before. He
soon removed this barrier, however, by
introducing himself as "Fnlton, of the
d,nerican'' After this introduction we saw
the family likeness, having had previously
some acquaintance with the father. He
said he had come to Elkton on yacht,
which, unexpectedly to him, was to remain
in Elk river for some time, and he was
compelled to go back to Baltimore on tie
cars; but having left home hastily, he
unfortunately found himself in a strange
place without money. He had no acquaint-
ances in town either, except the Hon.
Alexander Evans, who, unlucAily, was
away from home at that time. The situa-
ton thus explained, would we confer favor
and exceedingly oblige him by lending him
$40 to pay hotel bill and bear expenses of
himself and brother-the latter was not
present-home. Certainly we would ac-
commodate stranger in distress, and
son of the United States Surveyor of the
city of Baltimore; member Of the great
American family and one of the editorial
staff of the leading Republican paper in
the State. 1t would be a tall feather in
our cap to be able to assist one of the
young princes of the leading administra-
ton family in the State, who had stumbled
upon us in an hour OF distress The noble
act might be the means of gaining 4 friend
at the high court at Washington if we
should ever be so unfortunate as to go office
hunting. So with the greatest alacrity we
planked that Y. The young sailor reach
ed for pen and proposed to. leave his
autograph to an obligation acknowledging
the receipt Of the money, which he would
return the next day by money order. But
40; we didn't want any writing on the sub
,ject. Certainly not. His word was all
sufficient, as good us his bond, we doubt
not. Many days, however, passed, and no
word came from the distinguished stranger,
in acknowledgment of the obligation. In
the meantime we discovered. by making
some inquiries, that part Of bis story was
q lie, and began to think that We might
have been sold.
We finally chopped line to the
young gentleman who seemed to have
entirely forgotten all about his obligation.
but received not so much as word or line
i'll answer. To use Hotspur's expression,
this "made me mad and in a second note
we promised to publish him, which
was more successful i'll bringing all apollo
getic letter, protesting to explain the over
sight, and promising to pay up on the fol-
lowing Saturday. Like his first story this
proved false, and we publish this as a warn
ing to brother editors to give wide berth
to Mr.. Ellington T. Fulton, Hof the Amer
ican," if you should meet him ftsaq home
and in distress. The amount involved IS
not large but, on the whole we don't
think we were ever eegGizant of u mean
er trick. When the position the fam
lily occupy, assuming to represent the
Republican party of the State, pub
fishers of tie leading Republican daily
of the second or third commercial city of
tho country, and having the ear and conf
dence of the Administration. And ia the
face o, this-for one of the princes to
raid through the State and borrow of
poor devil OF a country editor, under the
guise Of distress, is piece of intensifie,.,
meanness for which Q parallel would be diff
ffcult to find.
Ii this notice isn't worth Len dollars TO
the young confidence sprig of the net
Administration family Of Baltimore. we
will repeat the dose.