The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-06-26

: numerous atfi iCtiOns that our race Is nun
TO- Thi, expression is occasioned by
tbc revelations which have come to
light in regard to one sewing ma
chine agent, who has been operating
in our CITY since last March. The IN
formation received from the most
reliable sources concerning him, Is
something almost incredible, and II
only the half of it were true,
stamps HIM as one of the sharpest and
most unscrupulous rascals outside of the
different State institutions where such
individuals properly belong.
This trumps name by the way a nice
one, is Willis NOEL Hawkngs, and the
facts which We are about to chronicle
concerning him will be verified by the
many victims to his smooth tongue and
unprincipled course generally.
Ii is not known exactly where he was
last, but on his arrival here he made APP
plicaJion for u position on the staif OF the
Singer Sewing Machine agents connect
| ed with the Office at this point. Not
succeeding, he moved on the Howe office
and through the Skiiliul representations
. of his own ability TO transact all the busl
ness of a dozen common agents com
bjncd and the number of machines he
could dispose of per day, along with
many another we'll told tale
about his extensive and Won
drrful experience and exploits in
IN, line; he succeeded in migrating
himself 50 well into the good gracco of
the manager of the Howe Machine Com
pany. that he was at once installed
~ city manager with all the dignity, in
fucncc and power connected with that
responsible position. Hawkins knowI-
edge of human nature, and the best
means Of thoroughly deceiving those
whom he desire, 10 destroy, would do
Justice tothc shrewdest member of the
Bur in the country. He didn't begin
a, soon us he had the opportunlty,to carry
out hi, customary programme. no,
not he! NOEL knew better. He com
mcncrd at once, and with n will, the
duties which his office required and his
]
interests of the Howe, were something
wonderful. He would pull of his coat
roll up his sleeves and tug and handle
! the many machines which were CONSTANT
IL being received and shipped, harder
and longer than any employee about the
Office. besides driving all over
the city and neighborEood
watching the movements of the
sub agents; seeing machine WAS lett
here. another there, and experimenting
generally and thoroughly the various
.ubor- Of city manager through all Of
ITS ramifca.ions. Certainly this was
the course that took well and inspired
UNUSUAL confidence. The exemplary cor
duct of Noel was q standing incentive
to extra efforts on the part Of every other
manabout the establishment. He il WAS
VINO Wa, making trade lively and increas-
ng the sales daily, and thus very natur-
ally and completely, shut the eye of the
general manager "a To MS real character
and designs.
Our hero wash I long in getting things
to suit him. At first plain One.hOrsc
tenn was enough for business. In a
month he had the prcttiest matched span of
,orrcl ponies and the nobbiest and highest
little wagon, made expressly to order, IN
the city; and any time through the day
YOU could see our gay city manager tear
ing through the streets on business.
This is sufficient to dcvelope the kind
of a customer the Home Machine Com
psrv had to deal with We will now
note some of hi. transaction, which
were brought to light, when, alas, it was
too late but the relating OF which may
prevent the unwary from being taken
in hereafter.
Hawkins, of course, was living beyond
his income. He was the most liberal
| fellow in the world, and there was no
end to his drinking and treat
ing. lie represented himself as
q very important part Of
the Howe Company, one OF thu firm
in fact. So his credit was first class
among the uninitiated. IL one place he
run NJ Il bin Of $50 90 for drinks. In
another, 81 90. For cigars in another
place. tie modest little SUN of S35 90 was
standing against HIM. He fitted up his
room elegantly from the Furniture House
of Mc,,r,. Moorchcad * Co., without
Eguidating and then on the eve Of de-
parturc from the city resold the furniture
10 an innocent party at sacrifice, while
his wife was STIMULATING with the land
lady of the house to leave il IN her charge
rs security for the very large board bill
which her husband had contracted. He
ordered suit from VIM. Schockcy, tho
merchant tailor. with instructions that
the bill should accompany the delivery
OF the clothes, and upon presentation, the
: firm thc Howe company would honor
it. \, no one could doubt hi, sincerity,
he was such an earnest talkcr; and when
there was the least doubt he would back
M MS assertions with roll Of bills that
at once carried conviction. At night,
when the DAYS labors were ended, he
would have all the employees OF the vari-
Gus city offices around him, deeply inter.
eslcd in having him tell the marvellous
stories which he gliblv rolled of from his
tongue Mt iufpltlm. The sewing ma
, chine boys thought he could re-
late the most stupendous yarns
they had ever heard and finally
voted him the widest talker in the
country, anu AlNltACA ~ luNt NLit ray Ou
the bush Yet he was popular among
them, notwithstanding his great ability
to yarn. Nearly every night some of the
most favored would be his guests to n
choice lunch, wine supper, or some
other equally desirable spread.
Its Il long lane that has no turn, and
sothe gay Hawkins discovered. Sus-
picion was rife about him, and his queer
conduct WAS being noiscd in all direc-
tions. Bills were coming to the office
for collection in large numbers and all
sorts Of questions asked and surprise man
Tested by his creditors, when it was dis
covered that the Company was not re-
sponsrblc for MS accounts. So on last
Monday week orders were issu-
ed to dismiss the city manager. But
IA bird 90