Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-24
a Bogus Lord.

HOW AN ADRoIT s~INDLER DUPED PRoMI-
MINT AMERICANS UNDER THE MASK OF
AIITLE
Superintendent walling Yesterday re.
ceived from the police authorities OF London
letters relating to an expert swindler VINO,
under the guise of an English nobleman,
has hourished in many cities throughout the
United States. In the London Times OF Mon
cay, March %, 1874, appeared the following
caution
The public are cautioned against a young
man who by wrongfully representing him
self 10 be Hugh Leslie Courtenay. "A son OF
the Hon. and Rev. III. III. Courtenay, has 90
America and London, Paris and the south
of France. He also represents that he has
been In the English navy and he has the
above name with the letters "R N" on his
Luggage. The above facts having come 10
the knowledge Of the said II. IL. Courtenay.
he hereby cautions the public that the young
man Is Lot bis son, but an impostor.
II. IL. CoURrENAY.
MANHEAD, DEVON, March, lisa.
From subsequent inquiries made by the
Metropolitan police the following particu-
lars were obtained: In January, 1S54. this
man obtained by false pretences a quantity
of goods from various tradesmen i'm London.
In one instance by representing that he was
acquainted with the son of Mrs. John Han
son Thomas, Baltimore. He stated that ne
was known 10 Mr. Van Buren, in America
tan intimate friend OF Mr.. Fish, an Ameri-
can gentleman of the firm of Morton, Rose &
Co, bankers, Iondon.l Mr. Fish when seen
stated that he believed Courtenay TO be
known In New Orleans and at the Union
Club, New York. At the latter place he was
believed TO have swindled n resident named
Maynard, address unknown. Courseusy by
talse pretences obtained a sum OF money fron
J. J. Mcklnnon, an American Judge, who
was fellow passenger from New York to
England, per White Star steamer Repubiic
IN December, 1873. He introduced himself 10
Mr.. Mckinnon as the son of The Rev. IL. H.
Courtney, OF Mamhesd, Devon, and said
that he had recently left Her Maiesty's shin
Niobe on the North American static n. In
June, lsil, he appears TO have been in Mel.
hurne, and then wrote to the Hon. and Rev.
II. Courtenay saying that ne had assumed
hls SOD name, and while in America
obtained from Mr.. Dombilee the sum
OF so. Immediately prior to going TO
Melbourne he was in Calcutta, repre-
In October, 1875, the impostor made his ap-
pesrance at Savannah, Ca, obtaining intro
auctions TO various families there by repre-
senting himself as the nephew OF Lord Devon.
Mr.. I. A. +. Whyte, box 20, post Office Sa
yannah, apprised his Lordship OF this. Ga
February 5, OF the present year, a letter was
sent 10 the Hon. Miss Courtensy, Powder
ham Castle, Devon. by Mr.. Henry j. Gate
Buffalo. y. Y, saying that Courtensy was
n ere. representing himself as the nephew of
the Earl OF Devon; that he was entirely with
out means, In debt TO his hotel 10 the amount
OF $50, and in imminent danger OF seiDg ar
Tested AID sent 10 the states prison as an i'm
poster. On the sth OF February a letter was
sent py Mr.. Berkeley Mostyn, of No li2 east
18th street, New York, To the Earl of Devon,
10 the effect that I'm Septem Der, 1874 Courte-
nay ard Mr.. Mostyn were fellow passengers
In the steamship Abyssinia from Queens
town 10 New York; that during his Journey
he represented that he was nephew to the
Earl and that his father was q clergyman,
holding liviles In Devonshire and Ireland
On reaching New York they parted aud Mr..
Mostly saw no more OF him until the ID OF
The following November, when he said that
he had received q letter summoning him 20
join his father, who was seriously iii In Ire
land, and by this falsehoOd obtained $50, for
which he gave his o U. This is not the only
instance In which Courtenay has obtained
money by the false statement that q dear
relative was seriously i'll at home and that
be had no time TO get remittances.-lN Y.
Herald, sd.