Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-09-30
Bold Swindling Operation,
a Rspssssntdave et Ael Ns.o Yorz Herald
:. Goes for" Iyncd5urg Baakiay House
TO the Tune Of 81 .22Ul

Z,
to the Tune of 81 ,22U,
Considerable excitement was created yes.
sterdays morning over the encouragement that a
Z bold and successful forgery had been perpe>.
strated upon the WELL known banking firm of
Miller Franklin. Upon inquiry We ascer,
tanned the facts to have been about as follows:
Some days ago Messrs. Miller & Franklin re-
seeised letter purportine to have been writ.
ter. by Col. John w. Cameron, proprietor of
Jordan's Rock bridge Alum Springs. endors-
ing draft drawn by Mr.. j. B. :Ficklin. of
Albemarle, for about 81 $50, payable to Mr..
sCameron's order, at the banking house Of
McKim & Co.. Baltimore. The letter stated
that there was money at McKim's to the
credit of Ficklin, and requested that the
amount, less $3.50, (Which was to be placed
to some ones credit in Baltimore.) be COLI
lected and placed to Cameron's credit at Mil
Ter 4 Franklin's. The draft was forwarded
to Baltimore, was duly honored. and the
amount, S1.220. placed to Cameron's credit
here, Mr.; Miller by Fridays mail informing
Mr.. @. of the fact.
On Saturday morning genteelly dressed
young man, giving the name of G. A. Stanton,
and representing himself to be travelling
correspondent of the New York Herald, ar
rived in the city and took quarters at the
Washington House. About ten O'Clock he
called at the store of Williams, Urquhart &
Jennings. and asked for Mr. James Franklin.
Sr. He soon found that gentleman. who it
seems had met Stanton at the Jordan Alum.
only week or two ago, and where he was
figuring as the Rernl4's representative, Az
ter conversing with Mr.. +. a few moments,
Stanton pulled from his pocket check on
Miller Franklin for $500, drawn BY Col.
onel Cameron. and made payable to G. A.
Stanton, which he desired cashed. Fir. f,
accompanied him to the banking house, in
troduced him to Mr.. John NJ. Miller as @. A.
Stanton, and that gentleman Immediately
cashed the check.
Stanton fingered about the banking. house
the greater portion of the day. discussing
Cesarism in all its aspects, delivering his views
on polical matters with great fuency, but
never once referring to financial matters. As
the shades of evening approached, the Herald
man went to the Washington House. paid his
bill. and took the omnibus for the Tennessee
sdepot. where be bought ticket, and entered
coach of the departing train.
In less than twenty minutes from this time,
the Orange mail was opened, and with it came
letter from MIR. Cameron to NJ. & F., inform-
ing them that he knew nothing Of the
draft to which they had called his attention |!
Our astute bankers then began to "smel
MICE" and at once telegraphed ahead of the
Westward bound train. In short time. Con.
ductor Sumpter teleeraphed that there was no
such man as described on this train. Detec.
tives were despatched in all directions, but no
clue could be obtained as to the flight Of the
swindler. AT Charlottesville it was ascartained
that he had put up at hotel there on Friday,
where he had contracted.a bill for ST, which
he promised to pay on his return from LyncR>
burg, at the same time showing the check for
ST, 220. He also left there a couple of valises
containing some very good clothing.
Mr.. Franklin Informs us that Stanton was
quite beau at the springs, being great IA
vorite with the ladies' He doubtless went
there with the intention of .'doine" some-
body, in which it appears he was quite sue
cessful Ascer'aining that Mr.. Fickln was
deposition in Baltimore, aud that Mr. franklin
was partner, in banking firm here. he went
to work to make the acquaintance profitable
thing. holder or more successful forgery
has not been committed in this country in a
long while. but is is to be hoped the CAV
young lark msy soon be in tho hands of the
law. Stanton is represented to be about
twenty five years of age, ford complexion,
cleanly shaven, weighs about one hundred
and sixtv pounds. and wears gold spectacles.
[Lynchdura Republican IF Sept %.
FEARFUL AccIDENr.-The following ae>
count of accident which occurred on the
23d instant, is communicated to the Warren
Sentinel:
A fearful accident occurred to day, at about
noon, on the farm of MIR. NJ. b. Buck, near
Front Royal. which resulted in the instanta-
neous death of very br ght aud interesting
boy. of about l6 years of age. James Legg
(the son of Lawson Legg who has been in the
employ Of MIR. Buck for some ycars). was rid,
ing through a corn field or a spirited but ord-
narily gentle mule. followed quite closely by the
overseer, and two other men, relatives of the
deceased. Legg was sitting side ways on the
mule probably using the trace as a stirrup !;
stalk of corn leaned across the road and
touched the mule as he passed over it, caus-
ing 1t to swerve so to throw Legg off ; as
he fell his TO- t caught in the trace and be.
came confined. The mule ran violently down
steep and rugged hill with the poor boy
hanging in the trace by his foot. in the way
stood strong gate, which was struck SO vio-
lent'y as to break out just space sufficient for
the passage of the mule. After running
about 200 yards the foot became. diseugased.
leaving his mapgled body in the road. Those
with him were entirely unable to help him. On
reaching him, he was just expiring. The
body was greatly mutilased. but strange to
say no bones were broken. 1t is probable he
was killed by conclusion, aud that he was
scarcely conscious of pain.
THE GRANGERs' OBJEcTs.-The Pacific
Rural Press thus sums up the objects of the
new Order:
1. The eppoblement of labor aud the pro-
ducing classes.
2. Bringing more closely together the pro-
ducer and consumer
3. Mutual instruction. The tightening of
labor BY diffusing a better knowledge of its
aims.
T. Social culture.