The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-08

vaults has brought to the surface, ID the cap
ture of the principal burglar, a man whs
presents history capable of being wrought
into Paul Clifford or Claude Duval, and
needs only chronicler. The fact that one OF
the chapters of his life was written In this
cltv makes him especially attractive at this
time to those who read the records of crime
with interest. 49,
-- WORD PORTRAIT OF TIE MAN.
When very young man-say eighteen or
c. Clermontlived 10 Chicago
IS a car conductor. 1t may be imagined what
he looked like then by bis present descrip-
ton A man about thirty.six years old,
little over the medium height and weight,
well thewed and shapely In physique, with
a face almost classical in outline, striking for
its full dark.blue eye, warm complexion,
heavy dark.brown moustache, and good
teeth. and in dress "nob," genteel in black,
with spotiess linen, diamond.studded. In
conversation he speaks slowly and coolly,
with ready use of words, and in manner
suaye and persuasive, giving the impression
of one able to talk the bird off the bushes If
II should 80 please him. The ".confdence
pame.o as it is known to the police, might
have been-aud, indeed, was-his natural
element. -a.-
AN OLD 'UN AT TIE BUSINESS.
Such man, in bis last teen, came under
the notice of Walter Patterson, man who
stands at the top of his profession-in other
words, the most successful and notorious
forger in this country. His inyariabie. plan
OF operation is in itself study for an artist.
The word "ls" is used because Mr.. Patter-
son has never been caught, and he Is still at
this moment spreading his net as fowler 10
some city, as he did ia this one some three
wears ago, when he swindled the National
Bank on Grard avenue out Of $4,000, then
operating under the name Of Charles 81.
Gale. Clermont became his "kid"-a name
given to the young man who operates under
the instructions of an old one-iu the fire..
auent repetition in all the leading cities of
this country OF the following "scheme":
Patterson, rather distiDguished-loo
stranger, with q travelled air, arrives in
CITY aud calls at some new banking institution,
and at once opens 40 account with say ten
thousand dollars. He rents an Office, and
sppsrently enters into some business appro-
pirate to the place. After his first visit TO
the bank he never calls again, but uses bis
"youny man. to take his checks and de-
posts to and from the bank for few months,
keeping his account about even. Then, when
time 10 ripe and his reputable business CHAR
ac.er established, he draws down hls balance
pretty low, deposits heavy draft on New
York, bat before it is collected draws against
the draft for as much IS is safe, say seven or
eight thousand dollars, and "skips" before
the draft is returned to the bank, marked in
red ink across the face, "forged." A new.
city, new alias, a new disguise, but the
same operation soon replenishes his Golfers
depleted by the great enemies of the forger,
burglar, counterfeiter, and any criminal to
whom money comes easily-the gaming
table. In such school as this young Cler-
mont made the tour Of cities like Baltimore,
Richmond, Louisville, Memphis, New Or.
leans, and even Chicago. and in each he left
his distlnctly.marked trail to the tune Of
perhaps 100000.
LOVE AFFAIR WITH A PHILADELpHIAN.
In 1872 Clermont, now arrived to mans
estate, experienced by contact with the
world and bIushing In all his manly beauty,
registered at the West-End Hotel,s Leug
Branch, as the son of a rich merchant in
Cuba. At the same hotel tall. handsome,
ripened form, and rather refined face Of
woman well known In certain shady circles
in West Philadelphia were noticeable. Her
oamel's-hair shawls, rich silks, hashY dia-
mopds, and coach and pair attracted the at
teution of our hero, and his fascinating app
pearauce on the tapis was the signal for
desperate case Of love at FIRST sight-rudely
transmitted In the alembic of detective slang
into "both thought they had good snsp
q case of diamond cstch diamond" A hasty
marriage while at Long Branch and fitting
to West Philadelphia mansion for the
honeymoon followed. Ciermont, in his as
sumed character OF Cuban hiding. from the
United States Government, kept close to the
house, armed cap a pie, never writing note
without his jewel. billed pistol at his hand;
never sleeping without the cold steel IN Off
ferept shapes under his pillow, aad grand,
gloomy, and peculiar in his treatment OF his
mistress, or wife, as she supposed. .'.f1
OPP FOB sURoPs, But WITHOUT TIE LADY.
After a few weeks OF this sort of life he
concluded to take atrip to Europe, and ma
dame converted all her portable property
into ready cash, packed up her diamonds,
valued at 1926, 900, and the twain prepared TO
leave. Suddenly Clermont remembered that
he hsd forgotten something in the city, and
sent the lady in with note which would tix
il. When she returned it is needless to say
that her bero-her Adonis-had gone on
with The bandbox of diamonds under his
arm. A hot but fruitIess pursuit by the lady.
clear out to the Pacific coast followed, but
although her perfdous husband appeared
in San Francisco and carried out thessnug
operation OF bagging SIS, 900 on u raised1
siIyer.mining stock-Van Valkenburg, the
gentlemaply superintendent OF the Atlantic
and Pacific Telegraph Company, being bis.
victim his friend did not come up with him,
but here first learned that her gay Cuban
was 8 most expert forger from Chicago.
Clermont, after the San Francisco transac-
ton, next appeared ia New York; 81 q de-
positor with Belmont & Go. Of $50, 200, the
purchaser Of bill of exchange on London,
and ticket TO Kurepe. This was ia 1879: y
A srkcULAroE IN srocKs. = s
Iu,July, 1874, Lou. La Dezma, gentlemsn
who might have been With difficulty recog-
nized By q detective acquaiHted with his
history as Clermont, was passenger on q
home ward. bound steamer for the United
States. and the pecialaequaintance, and even
friend, OF Mr.. w iilistm 81. Camp, president
of the New YORK Clearing House. Through
Camp. and the Betmonts our spaye friend
was introduced INFO the best stockbro keriEgt
circles OF New York, and Wall astrectissoon
rupg with his bold EsraDsae,ions. Success
and then tbe fate of Daniel Drew fell on him,
and he LEFT New York in debt to bis brokers
81, 600 10 margins on Toledo and Wsbass.
.T Iao REAL WIFE AND Hks DurY. s: s !
Y,,st mare s ssil episode ia his early lie in
Gh,capn Acc nsas ifsapoff + Maad IL Mar
crave Il ssangiitss HUI safge family of ~.
nacteb,I III 81 mad Won bis yo7ug saffs etf91sS