National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-17
THE RICHMOND F0RGER.
LIHINGSTONE'S LITTLE GAME IN
THE VILLAGE OF BLADENSBURG.

WHAT HR INTENDED TO DO FOR TIL
PEOPLE, AND WHAT HE DID - All
CASTLES THAT FADED AwAY-A LARGl
PURCHASE WHICH WAS NOT CoNsUM
MATED-HOW Mr.. GUY WAS s'GUYED.,
There was published h the columns of TIL
NATIONAL REPUBLICAN, few days ago, al
account of the arrest in Richmond, Va, b.
Detectives Knox and Wren, of q man namet
J. K Livingston, alias Van Ness on the charge
Of attempting to negotiate forged bonds to tn,
amount Of several thousand dollars. He hat
been in that city for several days, and repre-
scented himself as the agent of Cornelius Van
derbilt, of New York, and stated that he hai
been sent there to make extensive purchases
He exhibited papers purpoTtiDg to be signed b.
Vanderbilt, authorizing purchases, and elst
| showed numerous drafts, amounting to several
hundred thousand dollars, all signed by Van
derbilt. He had succeeded in imposing so far
on some of the citizens as TO negotiate sales
one being for large Touring mill. Suspicion
was aroused as to the honesty of his intentions
| and telegram was sent to New York by the
president of leading moneyed institution, and
an answer was received that Commodore Van
derbiIt knew nothing of the party. Van Ness
was arrested at his hotel by Detectives Knox
and Wren, on q warrant charging him with
forgery and having forged paper in his pos
| session. When arrested he had $4,000 in
forged paper. From other papers found on
him 1t was ascertained that his true name was
Livingston. He is gentlemanly in appearance,
about sixty-seven years of age, five feet nine or
ten inches high, weighs about two hundred
| pounds, has gray hair and side whiskers, and
is Of light complexion.
The case is still undergoing investigation in
Richmond, and in the meantime the detectives
are at work gathering additional evidence to
| complete the chain which will convict the ac-
cused of the crime charged. In furtherance of
| this purpose Detective Coomes, of this city,
yesterday thought that he had discovered q
most important link, and one that would
fathom out valuable unproduced testimony.
The family of the accused had been boarding
with him previous to this affair at the Washing
ton house, Bladensburg, Maryland, and yester-
day his wife, accompanied by her two daugh-
tiers and little son, came to this city to procure
tickets for Richmond, for the purpose Of visit
ing the husband and father, held in custody in
that city. Detective Coomes learned of their
presence here, and, finding them, escorted the
party to police headquarters, where they were
detained while he visited Bladensburg, to see
if there was any truth attached to the rumor
that they had left valuable papers and impor-
tant evidence in that place.
On arriving at that ancient town he found
that Mr.. Richardson, proprietor of the hotel,
had possession of the baggage, which was held
for board, and intended to hold on to it until
his claim was satisfied. He made no objection
to the detective making search, which was
done, but nothing of a eliminating nature dis
covered. In entering into conversation on the
causes of his visit he was told some Of the
transactions Of Livingstone while in the vii
lage, and how near he came TO quilting several
of the residents Of that section Of the country.
From his conversation he was adjudged to be a
man of extensive wealth, most liberal ideas,
and intended to make Bladensburg place of
beauty-attractive to visitors and creditable to
the community The waters of the Spa spring,
from which Washingtonians have frequently
partaken refreshing draughts, was worthy of
better care, and properly preserved would an
nualIy draw its crowds Of patrons, as did Sara
toga, Berkeley, White Sulphur, or even the Hot
Springs of Arkansas.
Its water needed only to be analysed, the
merits fully brought out and several certificates
ofits curative powers obtained from medical
men. These, properly collected and placed in
pamphlet and given an extended circulation,
together with other liberal advertising, would
place the merits Of the spring water before the
public, and draw to il visitors and invalids from
all directions. OF course they would be per-
sons of considerable means, and spending their
money generously would open a fine field for
the residents Of that section to acquire great
and rapid wealth. To meet this great influx
Of people and provide for their comfort, Living
stone intended to erect o mammoth hotel near
the spring, and more remote therefrom several
handsome villas Of Italian architecture in de-
sign. These were for families who preferred
to isolate themselves rather than accept the
general hotel life. 1t was expected that con-
siderable money would be required to carry
out this extensive undertaking, but the origina-
~. -, Il III ~
means, and only needed the cooperation of the
townspeople TO laud the enterprise by good
words in its behalf. A cheap consideration,
and one even the poorest resident was willing
to contribute. But the spirit of this great phi
lanthropist did not terminate here.
1t extended to Hyattsville, the railroad sta
ton across the Eastern Branch, and which has
grown TO a prosperous village. Something
must be done to encourage and spur on these
industrious people. He would give them q
helping hand. Mr.. Guy, who owns the store
there, also enjoys the right Of possessing the
TO considerable property in that To-
cality. Mr.. Livingstone approached this gen.
tiemsn, and proposed TO purchase his interest
in the store, and also his broad acres, for
which he offered S27, 500. The proposition was
accepted, and in producing q draft for the
amount be handed one 10 Mr.. Guy for $50 900. |
His attention was called TO the mistake, which |
y
for the amount above named then exhibited. |
He then stated that it would be impossible to /
have the draft cashed there, and as he was |
to 90 to Richmond he would take (
it with him and obtain the money there. He |
exceedingly that he was compelled |
to make such q statement to Mr.. Guy, but he |
was little short Of funds to defray his tray
cling expenses, and if Mr.. Guy would loan |
him S25 he should. consider It a special favor,
and return il whenever within in his power.
As he was going to buy all of Mr.. Guys |
houses and lands it would appear exceedingly |
small not to comply with such a request, es-
pecially as the gentleman went 10 Richmond
to obtain the money with which TO complete
the business transaction between them. Ae-
cordingly the S25 were handed over to him, he
started for the fCity of Seven Hills" and that
was the last Mr.. Guy saw of him or the money.
At that time the Hyattsville merchant did not
dream Of any rascality being perpetrsted upon
him, and knowing that he had completely sold
out in the town, or would be when Livingstone
ne thought it behooved him to look
out for some other business. So he came to
Washington, and after inspecting several places
and having q number Of offers to sell made
him he finally concluded TO purchase the bust
ness Of his brother-in-law, the transaction TO
be completed when Livingstone returned from
and paid the S27, 500.
He waited, but his nan did not come, and
he finally heard Of him being in prison and his
rascally transaction in that city. His eyes be-
gan to open, and he saw the immense hotel,
the curative powers Of the Spa spring, the
italian villas, and sale of his house and acres
was all q myth, and that instead Of buying out
his brother-in-law's business he would, for the
present, be compelled to remain in HyattsVille
and attend to his own. Detective Coomes, on
returning to this city, released the family from
custody, ard they proceeded on their way TO
to meet Livingstone in his trouble.
STREET CAR SCENE.
On Wednesday, about 4:SO O'Clock, the con-
iuctor Of car No. s, of the Avenue line of the
W. & G. Railroad Company, gave the passen-
gers of his car a specimen Of his galIantry that
would carry him very short distance as a re-
for place. At the corner of
avenue and Second street SOUTH
east, a lady, accompanied by two children got