New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-06
A Professional Beat.

Barron. alias E. A. Wood, the noted
forger, who now lies in durance at the
county jail, is evidently tirst-class opera
tor. or at least has all the qualities OF a
first-class operator. Being sixty-hve years
of age he can lay some Claim to venera-
BILE appearance, and carries with him an air
of gentility which is likely to put any one
of his guard He came to this city about
three weeks ago on the James Howard,
from New Orleans, where he had been stop
ping Tor some time at the st. Charles Hotel,
in that city. From the inception OF the
trip the passengers came to regard HIM as
a distinguished Englishman OF eminent So
cial position and unbOunded wealth. In
deed, it was thought and said by many that
he was of the peerage, and that noble blood
coursed his veins. He had a gentlemanly.
exclusive air about him that seemed to sup
port this favorable opinion.
His manners were unexceptional, except
q manifest disposition to recur to his great
wealth and position: even this was done
with such an appearance OF bending Dig
nifty as to create good opinion and estab-
lish belief, At least such would have been
the effect, except upon shrewd observer.
He affected aristocratic airs to perfection,
and never failed to express his contempt
for the plebeianism which seemed to prevail
in America. His manners were tinctured
y
style. and he was extremely English in
everything he did. In the most genteel
way he represented that he kept fine
house in London, and also kept his country
establishment, which had been the seat OF
his ancestors for four generations.
He had 100000 in the Bank of England;
he had the most magnificent pack of hounds
in Great Britain, and son at Oxford. What
more could man need to complete his arts.
tocracy!
One passenger, gentleman Of known
means, he invited into his staterOom and
had the graciousness to exhibit the maps of
his LONDON property, his certificates of
deposit. and evidences Of large ownership
OF Illinois Central bonds purchased in the
London market.
In his right leg he Is lame. which he says
was caused by fall received in a fox
chase; the truth of it is he has wooden
leg below the knee, fact which de keeps
hid for some purpose.
The literary attainments of the "Baron"
are by no means insignificant. He claims
to have been an intimate friend of the
American poet Hawthorne. and to have
entertained him often at his country seat.
His knowledge of the poets is comprehen-
sive and his fund Of anecdOte inexhaustible.
On the arrival of the Howard at st. Louis
the clerk presented the bill for his passage,
which highly incensed the naughty Eng
lishman, who reported to Captain Pegram
that the clerk had Insulted him. The clerk,
however, persisted it was purely business
transaction, and the Baron" had to ac-
knowledge that he had no cash, but exhib-
tied some English commercial paper, which
he said he could essily get cashed in st.
Louis.
1t was understood that he was not to re.
move his baggage until the passage was
paid, but this he did without the knowledge
of the boat officers, removing it and himself
to the Southern. At the Southern he vege
tated some eight or ten days, and was again
insulted when he was requested to ''step up
to the captains office and settle" Hotel
people are hard folks to deal with, however,
and the blOoded aristocrat had to shuttle
out. The circumstances leading to his de-
lection and arrest are quite peculiar, and
the clutches of Justice will hardly relax the
firm hold which they now have on him,
until be receives the penalty of his misdo-
ings. The Baron is undoubtedly trump
card in any fine game OF rascality.-St.
Louis Globe.