The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-26
A NEW CoNrIDEN OH GAME.
A Texas sharper Attempts to swinale the
Merchants ana Artists.

| A Texas sharper Attempts to swina1c the
Merchants ana Artists.
New Orleans has no sooner got rid Of her
Egyptian confidence man than che fnds herself
annoyed by Texas confidence chap. who, like
prince tselm II. Bey. IL = cattle dealer.
Texas, however. does not swindls on ~ large 4
scale ~ Egypt, yet his ntodus operdndt IL equsl-
ly novel,
The name Of the Texas confidence man il q.
viensuve. He claims to be from Indianols.
He arrived in this city few days ago, and
beiog In need Of funds, started 10 work his me-
fafious game.
On Thursday he drew note payable At sight
10 the order OF ]. Maihers for three hundred dol.
lars, on Oonkln b Davis, Of New York, which
note bore the signature OF Mr.. A. Couturie on
lie back.
Az the note bore the Endorsement OF Mr.. A.
Couturie, Mr.. Mathers advanced v,lleneuve
rHE THaEE HUNDRED DOLLARS.
As soon as the Texas chap had received the
money he skipped away gleefaly, never stepping
TO think how soon The Law would lay hold Of him,
His only thought was ~ to how he could double
his III gotten three hundred dollars. The idea
flashed through his mind Of hiring dramatic
company and making q tour.
After much labor he finally engaged troupe
aud his intention was to take II through Texas,
but before the members OF the company would
bulge \ step they demanded bonus OF two
hundred aud fifty dolisrs. Texas was q man Of
means, and he otiueked up two hundred aud fifty
dollars Of the three hundred that he had gotten
from Mathers. The dramatic troupe thought
that their
MANAGER WAS VANDERBILT,
a a A.
parts Of che earth--they thought there were
millions Ia him.
Everything was now fixed the troupe and
manager were TO leave for Texas on Monday.
But every dream has It's awakening. and 10 did
this troupe and manager come to gtief.
The broker, Mr.. Mathers, placed the draft OF
q. villeneuve yesterday Ia the aermsn National
Bank, 30 that ID would be forwarded to New York
for collection. But the cashier Of the bank
noticed the so-called signature Of Mr.. A. Couture
and pronounced II q forgery.
The draft was returned 70 Mr.. Mathers, who
Immediately sent for the apparent indorser, Mr..
Couture, who stated that ID was not his sigma
ture, and that his name had been forged.
The case was INN edstely placed in the hands
of Aids Peoora aud Minor, who
STARTED OUT TO LOOK ron v1LLENEuvE.
After they had searched every holel In town,
they found their m an on g. Charles street. near
Commercial alley They made him prisoner
and took him 70 the Central Station, where he
was identified by Mr.. Mathers M ths party who
received from him the three hundred dollars on
the note above described.
The accused was searched NJ the Central Sta.
ton. and on hs person was found several blank
notes signed by L. Peago; also, letter dated In
New York. and directed to the accused IN Calves.
ton, from his father, the contents Of which were
~ follows:
"IEnclosed you will find draft for three hun
bred dollars. which sum will get you out Of your
present difficulties. This IL the last dollar will
ever give you; you have been an trrng son, aud
you must expect no more assistance from me-"
This money was evidently Intended to get him
out OF some trouble that he had got into In Gal
weston. The above letter Ia signed by his father.
THE ACCUSED WAS LOCKED up,
charged with having obtained money under false
pretenses and with fJrg.ry. When interviewed
no said hs was innocent Of any crime, and that
Mr.. Couture had indorsed the draft for $500. He
said the blank notes that were in his pocket,
signed H. Peagot, were notes that he Intended to
raise money on-thAt Peagot was his partner In
Indianola, Texas.
The detectives state that villeneuve's game
was u ahrewd one that he never thought his
crime would be discovered until the draft
reached New York, aud by that time he would
have been In Texas.