The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-02-07
A Fascinating ScOundrel.

Chapman, at St. Johns, N. b., the other
day, for forgery, brings up the career OF
remarkable swindler. Springfield knew
him under the name of Thomas, and he
has "donetNew England very thorough
ly. Here he put up principally at the
Massasoit House, but afterwards was at
Mrs. Evanss boarding house. He sought
to know our "best people," was patron
of several neighborhood parties and pic
MICS; his picture is said to hang in the
display made before Moffats gallery, and
he made for time altogether a conspic-
uous figure in the city. He was here for
quite stay last January, and returned
again in the early summer for another
little visit. He came sometimes to the
Republican editorial rooms to read the
southern papers, talked Interestingly on
politics, and was altogether fascinating
person. Thomas is perhaps just turned
40; of medium height, stout build and
little inclined to be portly, weighing
about 200 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 florid, and he
wears handsome dark mustache; his
eye is bright, his manner frank, intelli-
gent and attractive.
So much for the man. His career of
crime and scandal has been industrious
and eventful. Hopper was born in Queen
Anne county, Md, where he married
Miss Miller, daughter of the local minis
ter, by whom he had two children. Just
before the opening of the war he forged
heavily, deserted his family and fled
south. After the war he turned up at
Augusta, Ga, having assumed the name
of his deserted wife. Miller, as we must
Gall him, was agent for two insurance
companies, which he swiHdled in dozen
years out of about 100000 by forgery
and embezzlement; he also married an
other wife, by whom he had five chill
dren. Miller finally passed forged notes
on James G. Bailey & Bros, intimate
friends, and left Augusta. He next
turned up at Charleston, S. c., and with
the help of pal, victimized Catholic
bishop out of 100000. He is thought
to have gone thence to California, but
turned up in New England last January
He lived handsomely at the Boston Re-
we're house, and came to Worcester ana
this city as Maj. Thomas. He was a
somewhat notable attraction at Martha's
Vineyard last season, being accompanied
by young and stunning woman who
claimed to be rich Buffalo, New
York, widow, and the pair gave the
most elegant entertainments possible
About this time Maj. Thomas won the
confidence and money of Springfield
drummer, and he proved "ladykiller"
to the disgust of certain gentlemen from
this part of the country, it is said. 1t is
also thought that he was concerned in the
big diamond robberies that took place at
the Vineyard about this time. But
Thomas was recognized by an Augusta,
Ga, man, to whom he explained that he
assumed his present name because he was
living with a woman not his wife. The
swindled Augusta parties were Notified,
and the chase after the forger began
which has just ended in his capture
Those who knew Thomas in this city
say they are not surprised at his great
success as rogue. He had most re-
tentive memory, was accomplished, stu
diously polite and carefully agreeable.
He rather overdid the business at first,
so as to bring suspicion upon himself, but
soon dispelled it with great art. OF
course, there are people who now say
they always knew him to be villain.
But the degree of confidence that Thomas
everywhere inspired seems to have been
no less remarkable than the success with
which he carried out his crimes While
here he pretended to be New York law
yer settling up the estate of a ward in
the metropolis. He is also said to have
had $4,000 deposited in the Chicopee
bank.-SprinQdeid Republican.
A SEAFARING CoUPLE.-When we
reached Honolulu the first thing We
learned was that the only hotel WAS shut
up for repairs, and would not be open
again for three months. A son of VIM.
E. Dodge of New York, who came here
with a daughter, on the Zeaiandia, to
meet his wife and spend some months
with her, found that she had left some time
ago for the United States in consequence
of the closing of the hotel, and so he had
no wife to meet him and no hotel to meet
her in. OF course he had to wait month
before he could hear from her, or get q
steamer to return in, and he could not be
at all certain even then that she would
not be returning to meet him here, and
he would pass her on the way back. In
fact, had "A sort of dreary feeling that
they were doomed TO go on that way,
like a couple of "Flying Dutchmen,"
sailing back and forth forever aud ever,
trying to reach each other, and always
passing on the way.-Letter from General
Comfy.