The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1878-01-01
A FASCINATING SCOUNDREL'
SOME ACCOUNT or HIS
R1SC1 LITIEiS,

President Hayes, through tho
attorney-gcneral, has received re-
quest for tho proper papers to OK
tradito John lsaggs Hopper, now in
jail at ST. John, New Brunswick.
Concerning this precious rascal, who
was SO we'll known in South Carolina
under the name of John H. Miller,
tho Springfield (Mass) Republican,
has the following
The arrest of John Baggs Hop
per, olias John Miller, Maj. John
Thomas, and Charles Chapman, at
ST. John, N. b., the othor day. for
forgery, brings up the career of
very remarkable swindler Spring.
field knew him under tho namo of
Thomas, and he has ''done" Now
England very thoroughly. Here he
put up principally at tho Massassoit
House, but aftorward WAS ut Mrs.
Evans boarding ng-house He sought
to know our ''best people" was
patron of several neighborhood
parties and picnics, his picture is
said to hang in the display made
before Moffatt's gallery, and he
made for time altogether q con-
spicuous figure in tho city. He was
here for quite q stay last january,
and returned again in the early sum
mer for another little visit. Ho
came sometimes to the Repudlicuu
editorial rooms to read the Southern
papers, talked interestingly of poll
tics, and was altogether fascinat-
ing person. Thomas is perhaps just
turned forty of medium height,
stout build and a little inclined to
be portly, Weighing about two hun
dred pounds. His head is shapely
with an incipient bald spot around
his dark hair, which is cut short,
but not close, and has little wave
in it. His complexion is healthily
florld, and he wears handsome
dark moustache his eye is bright,
his mannor frank, intelligent and
attractive.
So much for the man. His career
OF crime and scandal has boon indus>
trious and eventful. Hopper was
born in Queen Anne county, Md,
where he married Miss Miller,
daughter of the local minister, by
whom he had two children. Just
before the opening of the war he
forged heavily, deserted his family
and fled South. Aftor the war he
turned up at Augusta, Ga., having
assumed the name Of his deserted
wife. Miller, as wo must now call
him, was agent for two insurance
companies, which he swindled in
dozen years out of about 100000
by forgery and embezzlement he
also married another wife, by whom
he had five children. Miller finally
passed forged notes on James G.
Ballle " Bros, intimate friends, and
left Aug usta. He next turned up
at New Orleans, and, with the help
OF pal, vlctimized Catholic bishop
out Of $4,000. He is thought
to have gone thence to Cali~
fornia, but turned up in New
England last January He lived
handsomely at the Boston Re-
vere House, and came to Worcester
and this city as Major Thomas. He
was somewhat notable attraction at
Martha's Vineyard last season. be-
ing accompanied by young and
stunning woman who claimed to be o
rich Buffalo (N. " widow, and the
pair gave tho most elegant entertain
ments possible. About this time
Major Thomns won the confidence
and money of Springfield drum
mer, and he proved q "lady-killer"
to tho disgust of certain gentlemen
from this part of the country, it is
said. It is also thought that he
was concerned in the big diamond
robberies that took place at tho
Vineyard about this time. But
Thomas was recognized by m Angus.
to- (Ga.) man, to whom he explained
that he assumed his present name be-
cause he was living with woman
not his wife. The swindled Angus
ta parties were notified, and the
| obocn n e. ~ +bo fo>,o.o,, boo.oo 81 H.