The New York herald., 1876-08-01
AN AUDACIOUs IMPOSTOR.

HOW HE OPERATED ON THE coNFIDRNcx OF
PIoUs PEoPLx-THK 7. n. c. A. AMONG THE
VICTIMS.
Last Thursday morning Prior A. Simon, q Chris.
tian worker in Rev. Dr. Tyng's Gospel Tent In West
Thirty fourth street. left his home contrary 10 the ad
vice OF his friends, 10 meet on South street,
whom he had been helping with money for some time
past. and who proessed 10 be q seeker after religion.
Mr. Simon not returning to his home that evening his
friends felt considerable anxiety about him. know
ing his whereabouts This morning Mr. Simon re-
turned safe and sound, just In Time to find the he
had been helping In the hands Of tho police on
charge Of forgery and obtaining money by false pre-
tences Tho following facts In relation his arrest
will prove interestng:-It appears that on the
18th inst the prisoner, who gave his
George J. Simpson, but who also Is known
by tho aliases of raymond" and .James,"
called ON Mr.. b. s. Gilbert tho librarian and acting
secretary of the Young Mems Christian Association,
ut No. Ill Broadway. and stating that he was
and desired reform, asked for letter Mr.
septimus Williams, the assistant treasurer of the
sociation. As he also stated that no was promised
situation the Fall River line OF steamboats, at a
SALARY OF $50 per month and board but had no funds
to procure the outfit for the position, Mr.
Gilbert, relying his statement that he had bcen
vertcd in the Gospel Tent, gave HIM letter TO tho
with Simpson to the oiice of the steamboat company.
to II his story were true and then to furnish HIM
with the necessary amount Simpson soon
afterward opened the envelope ana wrote an
other epistle from 1t, striking out and
inserting such sentences best suited his purpose
also stating that he had brother who was his only
relation IN the world engineer on board United
States steamer at Washington, whom he desired TO
visit before taking the above position signing the let
ter y. 5. Gilbert On presenting the forged letter to
Mr.. Williams that gentleman Immediately procured
for him ticket to Washington, ana sent him TO Mr.
Radord L. Gilbert from whom he procured complete
suit OF clothing, incrdng shirts collars, cuffs draw
crs. &c He aftcrward sold the railroad ticket Mr.
Williams subsequently saw the prisoner in this city,
and suspectng that all was not right, informed the
police. Detective Irving of the Twenty sixth pre-.
cinct, detailed to look after the impostor
and this morning found him loungng around
the docks along the North River and Immediately ar
rested him. On searching his prisoner the officer
found about forty letters his person, purporug to
from numerous well known and respectable cti-
zens of the city, and several from Rev. Robert s.
Whiting, the chaplain OF Moyamens,ng Prison. in
Philadelphia, recommending him a proper subject
for tho assistance of the charitable He taken bo
fore Justice Wandcll in the Tombs Police Court yes
terday afternoon, wherc he admitted having sold the
ticket for Washington, and also that he had served
term OF months in Moyamensirg Prison for recciv
ing stolen goods. He Gays no IL twcnty-six years Of
age and belongs 10 Philadelphia He claims that he has
made only 500 out Of the business altogether and
presses little anxiety to how he will be dealt with
He held for trial in default OF heavy bail