Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-05-03
The King of Confidence.
An Old SwindIer under New Name--J.
Howard Livingst on, who Operated in
New York i'm 1871.

An Old SwindIer under New Name--J.
Howard Livingst on, who Operated i'm
New York i'm 1871.
The New Orleans papers of a recent
date give the following details of the
operations of a confidence man, named
Henry A. Livingston who claims to be
a brother-in-law of Colonel Tom Scott,
of Pennsylvania. This man is evidently
the fellow who operated in New York in
1901, and not only swindled so many
of our citizens, but deceived many lady
acquaintance. He was "looked for "
by Detective Warren, who never cap
tured him, however:
Several prominent railroad men in
New Orleans have just escaped mag
nificent swindle, and are congratulating
themselves so much upon their good
luck that they don't care much about
looking for the swindler. A man, call
ing himself Henry A. Livingston, hail
ing from st. Louis, who had the general
cut of railroad conductor from his
boots to his cap, suddenly appeared
among them. He stated that he was
the brother-in-law of Colonel Thomas
Scott, of the Pennsylvania Company,
and showed various home letters pur-
porting to be from that railroad king.
His wife was, according to his story,
Colonel Scott's only sister. He had
lost three or four children in st. Louis
by fever, but had his wife and two chill
dren left. He had been unfortunate,
and did not wish to call directly upon
brother ",Tom" if he could help it,
Though he showed letters apparently
genuine giving him permission to draw
on the aforesaid Tom" to any amount
not exceeding $4,000. He began by
scorning pecuniary assistance, and want
ing only work in some railroad capacity;
he refused such insignificant offers as
$500 or $500, which were made. In this
way he established unlimited confidence,
and the usually wide-awake railroad
men were thrown completely off their
guard. At length he condescended to
accept few thousand dollars from sew
eral of them, and wanted to get bank
accommodations for $38, 900, as he had
seen residence which he wished to
purchase Immediately before it was
snapped up at a great bargain by some
DON1 ulbC. LILO D1lNduC OlNl hOb
quite satisfy the bank, and the bank
officers told him that he must get reg
ular letter of credit from Colonel Scott,
which they would honor. This he agreed
to do, and the next day showed tele-
gram signed by Scotland in a few
days the letter of credit came. In the
meantime, however, it was ascertained
that he had got telegraph Office blank
and written his own dispatch, and had
had several hundred railroad passes
printed in job Office in New Orleans.
His few friends caught and cornered
him in his room, and got back various
sums Of money they had loaned him,
the fellow being economical after all
Colonel Tom Scott telegraphed them
that Livingston was fraud, and he has
not yet presented his letter of credit to
the bank or bought the contemplated
mansion. There is a woman mixed up
with him some way, who probably rep:
resents his wife and writes a very beau
tiful female hand.
The New Orleans Times says that
Livingston obtained the telegraph blanks
by representing himself as assistant Su-
perintendent of the New Orleans and
Jackson Railroad. Thefellow appeared
at the Jackson depot in New Orleans
with forged authority to act as conduc-
tor, and thus laid the plan for his future
operations. The Times, after detailing
Livingston's career among the blacks
and the financial circles of the Crescent
city, says that it is now understood that
Livingston is professional swindler,
and had two confederates- man and
woman-the female acting the part of
the sick wife. This woman is about
seventeen years of age, and halls from
Missouri, and she is now enceinte, and
has gone to Mobile, while Livingston is
hid back of town among colored people
in fact, he has made his residence among
black people ever since his arrival in
this section of country.
1t may be remarked that Livingston
failed to swindle the New Orleans trades
men, and divesting himself of his con.
1uctor's uniform and badge, is now in
the negro quarters awaiting an oppor.
tunity to escape. We believe that there
is large standing reward for the cap.
ture of this forger and woman slayer
who now turns up, after two years
sleep, in New Orleans.