Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-04-19

I
That "truth is stranger than fiction
is often times strikingly oxemplifcd in
life, but frequently the accuracy of the
saying is brought out with startling
distnctness in the records of criminals
as they are 'worked up" by that slcuth-
hound of the law, the detective The
recent daring attemp. to rob the Bank
of Chambersburg by gagging the cash
ier and his household and cutting the
vaults, has brought to the surface, in
the capture of the principal burglar, a
man who presents a history capable Of
being wrought into Paul Clifford or
a Claude Duval, and needs only q
chronicler. The fact that one of the
chapters of his life was written in this
city makes him especially attractive at
this time to those who read the records
OF crime with interest.
woRD-poRTRAIr OF THE MAN.
! When very young man--say Is OF
20-Lewis G. Clermont lived in Chicago
as a car conductor. 1t may bo i'm
agined what he looked like then by
his present description A man about
36 years old, a little over the medium
height and weight, well thewed and
shapely in physique, with a face al
most classical in outline, striking for lis
full, dark-blue eye, warm complexion,
heavy dark brown mustache and good
teeth, and in dress n "nob," genteel in
black, with spotless linen, diamond
studded. In conversation he speaks
slowly and cody, with ready use OF
words, and in manner suavc and per
suasivc, giving the impression of one
able to talk the birds off the bushes il
it should so please him. The "cond
dence game" as it is known to the
police, might have becn-and, indeed
was--his natural element.
AN OLD 'US AT THE BUSINESS.
Such a man, in his last teen, came
under the notice Of Walter Patterson
q man who stands at the top of bis
profcssion--in other words, the most
successful and notorious forgcr in thiI
country. His invariablc plan of opera
ton is in itself a study for an artist
The word dis is used because Mr.
Patterson has never been caught, ant
he is at this moment spreading his neI
as fowler in some city as he did il
this one some three years ago, wher
he swindled the National Security
Bank on Girard avenue out of $4,000
then operating under the namc o
Charles II. Gale. Clermont becam,
his "kid"--a namc given 20 the young
man who operates nndcr the instrnc
tions of an old one--in the frequent
repetition in all the leading cities o
this country Of the following scheme.
Patterson, a rather distinguished-look
\ ing stranger, with o travelled air, ar
rives in city, and calls at some new
banking institution and at once OPEN
an account with say ten thousand dol
lars. He rents an Office, and appar
emily enters into somc business ap
propriatc to the place. After his frs
visit to the bank he mover calls again
but uses his "young man to take bi
checks and deposits to and from th,
bank for few months, keeping hi
account about even. Then, when tim,
is ripe and his reputable business char
actor established, he draws down BIZ
balance pretty low, deposits u heavy
draft on New York, but. before il Il
collected, draws against the draft iol
as much as is safe, say seven or cigh
thousand dollars, and "skipsr befor
the draft is returned to the bank
marked in red ink across the face
forged" A new city, new alias,
new disguise, but the same operation
soon replenishes his Golfers depleted b,
the great enemies of the forger, burg
lar, counterfeiter and any criminal {,
whom money comes casily-.tbe gam
ing-tablc. In such q school as thi
young Clermont made the tour of cite
like Baltimore, Richmond, Louisville
Memphis, New Orleans and even Chi
cago, and in each he left his distinctly
marked trial to the tune of perhaps
100000. a'-'' 70.
LOVE AFFAIR WITH A PHILADELPHIA
In 1872 Clcrmont, now arrived +
mans estate, experienced by contac
with the world and bashing in all hi
manly beauty, registered at the Yves
End Hotel, Long Branch, as the son
q rich merchant in Cuba At the sam
hotel the tall, handsome, ripcned forr
and rather refined face of woman
well known in certain shady circles I
West Philadelphia were noticeable
Her camels hair shawls, rich silk
|, hashy diamonds and coach and pai
attracted the attention OF our her,
and his fascinating appearance on III
tapis was the signal for dcspcmt
case Of love at first sight--rudely tran
muted in the alembic Of detective sian
into "both thought they had goo
snap; a case of diamond catch dii
mond.' A hasty marriage while :
Long Branch and a fitting to We,
Philadelphia mansion for the hone,
moon followed. Clcrmont in his a
sumed character of Cuban hidn
from the United States Governmon
kept close To the house, armed cap a pi
never writing note without his jcwc
hiltcd pistol ready at his hand; neve
sleepinR without tho cold steel In A,