The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-07
A THIRD VISIT.

| HINT
A distinguished stranger visited Rutland
for the third time Saturday, and remained
over Sunday at one of our hotels. His
first visit was made with an eye single fol
business, and he departed universally
lamented. so thoroughly did he ingratiate
himself into the good graces of the Yer
monters, during an eight weeks stay, that
for four years and six months he was
sought for anxiously and with tears, and,
when found, was welcomed back with open
hearts but manaccd hands, and was placed
for safe keeping behind grated windows
and cell doors. From Rutland we bid him
go up higher, placed him where he could
do the state some service, and now, after a
seven years absence, he again presents
himself. For the benefit of our readers we
recall his story.
In January, 1868, one go. b. Clark APP
pesred in Rutland, representing himself as
the general agent, and son OF the junior
partner, of "Millard, Singleton ~ Clark, of
Quincy, Illinois, importers, dealers and
growers of pure blood and graded sheep
stock" and that his business was the buy
ing of sheep in Vermont fer the firm. He
was introduced here by well known bust
ness man, and by his pleasing manners, gen.
tlemanly bearing, and apparent attention
to business, soon ingratiated himself in
public favor.
He renamed in Rutland, with occasional
absences, some two months, and passed his
time in visiting parties having sheep to sell,
and contracting for their purchase He
procured one or two genuine drafts cashed
at the Rutland county bank spent money
freely both here and elsewhere in the state ;
employed others to buy sheep for him ;
buying them himself, but making contracts
with those from whom he purchased to
winter the sheep and deliver them in the
spring; and his whole conduct betokencd a
man of business with large capital at his
command.
On Friday, February 6, or Saturday the
It'll, he visited the Rutland county bank
and enquired of Mr. James Merrell, the
then cashier, if be could cash some New
York drafts for him. and was answered
that he could in few days. Clark then
went out, and returned again on Wednes-
day, February 11th and presented two
drafts, one for So, 300, and the other for
$3,400, each purporting to be drawn by the
cashier of the state bank of Indiana, at
Logansport, on the city bank of New York.
Mr.. Merrell cashed the drafts, paying
Clark SO, 600 in bank bills, and certificates
of deposit for 50, 100 for which Clark,
subsequently, obtained currency at the
Bellows Falls bank-and sent the drafts to
New York for collection. Saturday,
February Is, the drafts were returned pro-
tested and were pronounced forgeries. In
the meanwhile Clark had followed Horace
Greeley's advice and "gone west ~
| We have stated that Clark left Rutland
on Saturday and returned the next We'd
nesday, and it soon transpired that he had,
during his absence, Travelled considerably
and transacted large and lucrative wool
business-not exactly in buying wool or
sheep, but in pulling wool over cashiers
eyes. He procured, during his four days
absence, by means of forged drafts, some
"a, 700 at Brandon about SO 600 at Mid
dcbury and the same amount at Vergennes,
and $4,000 at Orwell. From here, he
event est, taking in Bellows Falls by
the way, and there obtaining some $4,000
more, so that his "wool pulling" business
netted him nearly twenty-five thousand
dollars
On the discovery of the forgery, the
room at the hotel, recently occupied by
Clark-whose real name was "E. S.
Piper"-was searched, and an envelope
found addressed to sc. p. Bradley, Chi
csgo." 1t subsequently transpired that
Bradley was detective. Circulars were
issued, describing Clark and offering a re-
ward for his arrest, and the telegraph
brought into requsition, so that the par
ticulars of his crime, a request for his ar
rest, and the fact of the reward reached
Chicago, before Clark, himself, did And
here is a good place TO let Clark tell his
own story as related by him to the Wis
consin sheriff-who arrested him at Madi-
son, in August, 1S67-and as detailed by
that officer in court.
"When left Chicago" said Clark, 81
told Capt. Bradley that was going down
to fleece the Yankees; he told me I couldn't
do it l said if couldn't my name was not
Piper. After my arrival in Vermont, |
commenced by getting the confidence OF
the business men. i bought few old bucks
and started them through the country from
one express office to another, until had
them covered with tickets, literally blan-
keted with them. That was what | call
business. l always make il business to
60 in with bankers, and did there When
| left, commenced at Vergennes and went
through the valley and cleaned em. When
| left the cars to cross the mountain to
Manchester, had a fine horse, but drove
him SO fast to reach there in time to take
the train south, that noticed, on going
into Manchester, his ears began to Top, ant
, that he was about used up. | drove up t.
} livery stable and. jumping ont, hurriedly
handed boy in attendance twenty dol
lar note, telling him TO take care of tn,
horse till l called for him. ! thei
got aboard the train and started fo
| Albany, where | took state room oil
! the Central road for Buffalo; this
, entered and changed my clothes for lieu
: tenants uniform, which ] had in IN,
valise, which change effected l went out
locking the state-room door. After leav
: Buffalo, took sleeping berth and wen
: to Niagara Falls, and through Canada t,
! Chicago. When got to Chicago, saw
= old Bradley in the depot, and knew by hi