The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-07-18
Another Clerical RHgua.

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The particulars Of an important arrest
effected by the police of this city, which
we are now at liberty to make public, will
prove very interesting matter to readers
both here and elsewhere. On the I'd in
slant the Rev. Alexander II. Weir, alias
Sanford, alias II. H. Bruce, &c, &c, was
arrested at the hotel where he was So
journing by Detectives Battles and Dick
erson, in accordance with an order Of
Superintendent Byrne. The SuFeriu-
tendent had been notified OF forgery
committed near Toronto, aud from other
sources had derived information which
made the Rev. Weir an object Of suspi-
cion. The complainants failed to arrive
from Canada, but papers, blank checks,
drafts, and the like, found on the person
of the prisoner, assured Colonel Byrna
that the ministerial individual was up to
dishonest practices, and he quietly detain-
ed him in custody TO see what could be
found out in regard to his operations else
where. a person answering Wer's de-
scription had in the mouth of April last
defrauded the Third National Bank of St.
Louis of 81 600 by means of forged draft.
After lengthy correspondence with the
authorities of that city the Superntend-
ent established the fact that his prisoner
was the man wanted there, and Weir was
forwarded to St Louis in the charge of
Detective Dickerson, Thursday night The
Rev. Alexander Weir is remarkable
person. 4 graduate of the theological
college of Princeton n. j., he is reg
ularly licensed Presbyterian minister, and
at one time he was pastor of church in
Philadelphia. He is said to have con.
tracted marriage which caused a num-
Der of his most valuable friends to abaud-
on him. He then iell into bad ways, and
finally committed a forgery for which he
was consigned to a Philadelphia prison
for term of one year. When the time
of his penal servitude expired, it appears
that Weir made his way to St. Louis.
where he engaged as local reporter for
the Eoenng Journal ot' Commerce His
hue attainmcDtS made him valuable ac-
QUESTION to the editorial staff, aud outside
his talcnts and brilliant powers as con-
versailonalIst, secured him many IN
fuentlal friends without any apparent ef-
tort or adroitness on his part. One day
last April he presented draft on New
York for Sl2 ,260 at the bank above men,
toned to be cashed. The President OF
the bank was one CT his admirers, and his
frank, honest way ef explaining the mat
ter left no shadow Of doubt with that Of
hcer that the draft was genuine. The
money was paid and directly Mr.. Wer
disappeared Three weeks previous to
his arrest, Weir made his appearance IN
this city, in his character OF a minister oil
the gospal. His object was doubtless TO
associate himself with persons of means
for the purpose of swindling some one of
them, but as man Of genius he relied up
ou his own powers of attraction to effect
that object. Unobtrusive and modest IN
his manner, he was soon found out as
gentleman of extraordinary gifts and tno
culture. He is proficient in nearly all
the languages, ancient and modern,
thoroughly understands the practice OF
medicine, and is rarely agreeable and
intelligent eonversationist Society selz-
ed upon him, and for brief time he
radiated in the best circles, under namo
which we withhold that many highly re-
spectacle citizens may not be subject To
the necessity of making unpleasant ex-
plantations. His arrest occaSiOned the
greatest surprise to those who had held
him in such lofty admiration. The rever-
end swindler is FIVE feet and eleven ln-
ches in height, and has light brown halr
and mustache. His physique is unusual
ly fine, his air becomiugly sauctimOnious,
and his personnel scrupulously proper
aud neat.
SS~ In conversation with the Pastor OF
the Presbyterian Church of this Borough
we learn that Weir is is not and never was
a minister of the Presbyterian Church and
that he is not graduate of Princeton Thee