New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-03-23
RECORD OF TRICKERY.

WARNING AGAINST A sWINDLER WHO ASSUMES
LoRDLY TITLES.
Superntendent Walling received letter
from the London England, Police yesterday IN CARA 70
tie career Of an imposor and confidence man calling
himself Hugh Leslie Courtney who is believed 10 nave
come 10 this country attend the Centennial In Jan
uary, 1874 this man secured quantity of goods from
various tradesmen in London in instance by repre-
sentng that he was acquainted with the OF Mrs John
Hanson Thomas, Baltimore. He stated that he was
known TO q MI Van Buren, in America, an intimate friend
Of Mr.. Fish, an American banker IN London. MIR. flsh
stated that believed Courtney TO be known in New
Orleans and at the Union Club in New-Nork city At
the latter place be believed to have swindled MI
MAYNARD Courtney also obtained money from j. j. Me
Kinnon an American Judge, who was fellowpasscnger
with him from New-York 10 England December, 1873,
introducing himself the son Of the Rev. H. H. courtney
of Manhead Devon and stated that he had recently lett
Her Majesys ship Niobe In June 1874, ne appears to
have been in Melbourne and then wrote TO the Rev. H.
Ii. Courtney, saying that lie had assumed his sons
name and had, while in America, obtained go
from Mr, Domblee. Immediately before gong
10 Melbourne he was in Calcutta representing
himself as Lord Courtney. In October, $780,
the impostor made bis appearance at Savannah Ga and
obaiaed an odu Ction TO various ialhes theTe ny
representing himself the nephew Of Lord Devon who
was appr,ed of the fraud Feb 5, 1876 letter was
sent 10 the Hon. Miss COurtneay POWdeihaul Cts.e,
Devon by Harvey j. Gates Of Buffalo. ~ u '&tng tdt
Courtney was there representing himself as the Earl OF
Devon; that he entirely without means; III dfDt az
his hotel 10 the amount Of $50; and In Imminent DANCER
OF being arrested and sent 10 the State Prison 40 an I'M
pCstur Feb. a letter was sent by Berkeley Mosty
Of No l42 East Eighsenth-s OF TINS city, 10 inc EAR
Devon, that in September 1s74, Courtney ana MI
Mosyn were fellow passengers from QuGeso%n 20
York During this journey Courtney Iepfeseht.d ulat hs
was a nephew Of the Earl. on reaching New-iOfh Wy
they parted. On Nov. 2, 1879, Mr. moStyn rec.lNed a
letter from Courtney, who said that he had been sum
luoucd Join his father who seriously III III lfclal
and asked loan OF 500 for which he gave his note inns
E moi the only in which Courtney has OBTAINED
money by directly false statements OF similar knd
In June IS74 Hugh Leslie Courtney was II years oo
q feet inches high, and OF slight buld. lie L1d hCdNy
eyes brOnzed complexion lie speaks WIN american
accent Is well dressed, and of gentlcmany appearance
He has stated that lie entered the Royal Navy as md
shpman al the age Of a. and spent most OF his time AT
sea until attaining the age OF II that ne was IN me
Caatea In her cruises under H. H. H. the Duke or Edln
burgh: was stationed in the West Indies, ana during MS
naval career performed long journey through me
United states accompanied by two brother Ohccrs No
officer OF the name OF Hugh Leslie Courtney could be
found upon the books OF the Galaea during hef cons
sion aud no one Of that hold commission III he
ROYAL Navy during the period spoken OF by INN. -.
SUPERINTENDENT wallug ordered description OF court
ney TO he all the precincts, and TO INC larger cites
In the United States although Courtney Is DeAe'ed " DO
now this city,