The New York herald., 1876-11-28
A CLEVER SHARPER.


PSEUDO GENTLEMAN OF PRopEITY-HIs
TRICKS UIoN HOTELS HAcKMEN AND HOUSE,
KEEPERS.
At the close last week gcntemanly dressed per-
son who was frequently hotel corridors and
who for time past has infested places OF public
disappeared IRON his rooms in the ST. Nicholas
Hotel Very opportuncy, too was this step taken. rs
the managers Of that establishment had Just come TO
view hm.wth suspicion and to crave settlement Of
his bill However, when the hotel clerk sought him
with the intention OF submitting his statement Of In
debtcdness requiring the liquidation OF the same
the gentemanly boardcr had vanished, leaving moth
ing but bis appcass the wrath and satisfy
the claims OF his creditors This article held in
hopes OF ts owner returning in quest of It, but he
had evidently scented the danger and shy OF
turing. Mr f. A. Alexander the name he wrote
upon the register. and while inquiries set foot
relative to his whereabouts there various ladies'
TO The hotel in quest Of him, who, IL appears, have
been very adroitly vctmized by tho missing boarder
Tho story OF one Of them Will suffice explain
modus operandi OF this gentlcnanly knave.
On Friday an advertisement appeared in the papers
stating that gentleman OF property required the
Of housckecper and those Of gardener aud his
vile, the latter to attend to the dairy Unexception
able references looked for from applicants and
reply this a respectable lady, who looking for
the position OF housckeeper in hotel family,
wrote, giving her references and soliciting inter-
view. Tho advertiser answered her communication,
giving his card--sE. A. Alexander at the ST. Nicholas
Hotel'-and promising 10 call aud gee II she
qualified tor the position On Saturday Mr.. Il.
A Alexander appeared, fautlcsslv atrcd aud wearing
OF notlccabIy nc material and fashionable
cut. lie conversed with the applicant told her that
he was gentleman OF means, was the posscssor OF
hue country residence and waxcd eloquent in his de-
scrpton OF conservatory, which seemed to engross
HIS attention and which lie ventured 10 say was the
finest all the country around. He also spoke OF
little children OF whom he the fathcr and referred
casually 10 the governcss, who was an old lady OF
many cndearing Qualities and who was also the only
person with whom the housekceper would be brought
IN contact Every additional statement OF Mr. Alex
andcr seemed to augment tho desirabllity OF
the situation and the applicant was very
much sratiicd have such a proposition
made TO her, especially as the terms offered
cccdingy liberal TO gain time Tor deIberation, how
ever she SAID that she would enter into agree
AT this Mr.. Alexander her that he widely
acquainted IN the city ANA had large circle OF personal
friends in the ST. Nicholas HOTEL to any ono OF whom
he could refer her TINS calculated to satisfy her.
but she requestcn tmc 10 confer with her sister, Mr.
Alexander accorded her this on condition that she
would communicate with him before 1--WE O'Clock on
Saturday evening. She consented to this arrangement,
and, alter submitting the proposition to her
friends, concluded to accept II, and teIearaphcd
her acquicsccnce u; the inquiring
how she would be required to leave the city. TO
this he answered that he would leave at ten A. NJ.
and his wife wnom he had employed He himself
was TO accompany thcn. On sunday morning, how.
ever, Mr.. Alexander appeared at the home OF Tho ap.
plcant said that tho storm would be likely
is and she must get ready to leave with
h that afternoon. She dcmurred little at this
but finally agreed to II. and about four o'clock
Mr.. Alexander drove up 10 the door In q carriage
He had not his over.oat on HIM now, aud she
remembered that at his morning call that part OF
his apparel missing although The made IL a
very desirable garment at the time She forebore
however 10 draw any deductions from this shedding Of
rnlu IN ilp a prpnu Pau IN
accompany HIM TO the Grand Central depot, where he
said the garioner and MS wife werc awaiting them
The carriage drove away, and the lady, who is not
familiar with the Streets was unable to notice what
direction IL took Tho rain coming down fast, too
he said the depot she unable to herself
whetaer IL WAS or not When the carriage drew up
Mr. Alexander aghicd and turning TO hor inquired il
she had any small change. She was surprised such
question, but almost involuntary taking out hGr
pocke:oook she said she had little and asked how
much he wanted and what II was Tor. With quick
movement Alexander snatched the pockctbook from
her hand at the samo time SAYING Pm only
going buy your railroad ticket IN put i, IN this
and return il TO you have TO look after the
baggage AS no spoke he turned around
and entered tho building The lady. though
aud peculiar conduct OF her employer, did first
suspect hts Intentions but limo passed., and no
failed 10 return she became ANXIOUS and called the car
'.Is his the Grand Central depotq'' she asked.
''Not much,p returned the driver. This is the
Fifth Avenue Hole, Tweniy-thrd street entrance.
How long is that gentleman friend OF yours going TO
wait 7"
s.ne went in 10 buy me a railroad ticket" she SAID.
s.Don't you know him ~
s.know him How would know him? He engaged
front oi the hotel over hour ago, and he
hasn't given me Il cent yet !"
Inquiries were then sot on foot, and II was found
that Mr. Alexander. whose TACO familiar to the
door boy Of the hotel had entered from 1wcnty-th
and hurried out through the Broadway entrance
leaving the dupcd cabman and tho victmizcd house
Keeper wait for him vain. The latter Yesterday
went the ST. Nicholas Hotel to inquire about Alex
andcr and there she encountered five other ladies who
had been vctmzcd as she had on the same day and in
the same manner. Tlic hotel clerk looked prmly ut
the empty overcoat the rack ana felt that the st.
Nicholas might also be regarded portion of the
sharper's prey. The gcntemanly Mr.. Alexander is
now much sought alter by the police.