The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-01-12

A scoundrel who Has ssvindled Hum
drsds or People tn kentucky.

lFrom the Midway (Ky.) sun, Dec. a.
For four or five years past a man
known by as many different names as
he has visited different localities, has
made practice of going about Ken
lucky, swindling honest people out OF
various sums Of money by telling them
fine stories and gaining their CONT
dence. lie has usually passed himself
OIL as an exiled foreigner, and often gave
the name and title Of "Count Won
Borg but has passed himself under,
perhaps, hundred names, and told
equally as many stories OF his origin,
fortune, misfortune and aims in life.
His mode OF deception is of the boldest
kind, and, although he perpetrates his
evil deeds in near proximity, and Is
published by all the papers in the land,
and is even arrested and imprisoned at
times, yet he manages TO 70 from one
vicinity to another, and ''conidences"
one victim after another, without losing
much time. A majority Of those who
have fallen prey to his schemes are
farmers. He will 60 into county, in
quire in what neighborhood the best
farms can be found, and learn the own
ers' names. He then goes 70 look at
the land and asks the price. He always
pronounces himself delighted with the
situation, and thinks the price reason
able one. lie usually tells that he is an
exile from some distant country, but
that the Consul or some one
else has large amount Of
money belonging TO him, and that
he wishes 10 purchase as much good
land as possible. lie borrows horse,
and in company with his host goes
Though the neighborhood, looking 1T
all the blooded stock, and buying such
as he likes. In the meantime he gets
numerous "square meals" and other
good treatment. He sets a day for pay
ment, hut before the time arrives sue
ceeds in borrowing more or less money
of his newly made friends, ostcnsibly
for immediate use in having his money
forwarded, the deeds TO the land drawn,
or something else, and gently takes his
departure.
Certain parties in the counties OF JET
ferson, Henry, Marion, Boyle, Jessa-
mine, Madison, Fayette, Bourbon The
was recently in Bourbon), and else
where. doubtless remember him. He
,. has been in jail in Louisville, Lebanon,
| Danyile, and other towns. lie has
been published in the Co,trisr-Jour'iat,
Lexington Press, Lebanon Standard,
Danyille advocate, Richmond Register,
Lancaster Letter, Paris True hen-
tuckian, and many other papers. After
. All this notoriety, ne continues his IA
|. vorite pastime. He is near five feet ten
inches high, and weighs about IA,
|. pounds. He wears full suit Of short
: dark or brown whiskers, and has dark
hair. He sometimes wears colorec
glasses, but whether from necessity q
otherwise is not known.
! An officer OF the United States Army
\ who il a friend of the associate ediiol
. Of this paper, writes the following con
! corning Hoffman, alias Won Borg;
y Fort COLUMBIA, n. y. H., Decembe
J. 8. 1876 so, our old acquaintance
4 the Count Won Borg has turned ~
n againi Ii il most strange. as you say ina
Z he succeeded in victimizing people so Otter
u In the same manner and In the same yicin
n ity, when he has been publish d 80 OFTEN
K III Ii Il the same man know tand 40 NJ
Il doubt that II ~. my first knowledge Of biz
! commenced IN 1869, when he was priVa'
y soldier under the name OF Hoffman, IN Com
u pany A, 10Th lnfantry, afterward trans
;, ferred 70 Company r, from when ne ~
e discharged al Nashville, Tenn, on accou,
- OF mental idi0syncrasies tprobably feigneu]
y which rendered him unsafe 70 trust with
8 loaded musket. A few years after ne ap
Q. peared a. purchaser OF real estate. some
AZ where In the vicinity OF Nashville, for whic
y he gave orders ON Mr.. John Ruhm, the
= German Consul at Nashville, representa-
II that Mr.. Runm had large sum Of gold
N "A itLXt
II fr~m Germany. lie was arrcs'
o. ed for this little game, thini
I, Mt an events, some proceeding
y were had. and hs was discharged on CON
10 mission Of lunscy. In about q year or 20
struck his trail again AT Louisville, ny
,c where he was arrested for swindling, hay
~ ing purchased farms from two or three pa
\ ties In the vicinity aud appointed meetln
M in Louisville To make pay meat and receis
u conveyances, also TO marry daughter Of o.
1t OF them. They all came In ~ the appoin
a. ed time with tueir wives ana families, an
~ by locating them at different places he pla1
Z ca them OF for several days. until u leaks
n out, and he was arrested and sentenced |
OF Judge Hop Price 10 one year In = Bea
ri grass A long account OF this trsnsactit
re wa published la the Courter-Journdt NJ
"A or June, 1872, | Think | went 10 n
~ ~ Judge Prize about him, aud informed hi
~ Of the anteceden's Of the man, and he 20
he me that. in Consideration OF his hasil
x been declared lunatic In Tennessee
ar II would procure record OF thai matte
= and Hoffman would promise 70 leave y
II State. he would procure mis- dischargc; b
~ a. there appeared u be 20 much 'mtth
o. In his maduess, took no further actio
Ia UP 81 TINS time believed him insane. ~
next knew ~ him WAS u repetition 81 y
same saindlng ia Richmond, At which pla
~. the papers were an made OUT by Judge Bu
~ nam, for the purchase OF a large estate
'p- Madison County. After the exposure
np which he came into our camp AZ LancAste
eli aud sent for him and told him u he
IA not leave tnal section Of country within !
~ hours he would yet taste Of Lancaster d
~ cipIine that would do him good. tie lefi