New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-22
A TEXAS "COLONELs" swINDLING CAREER.
The name of "COlonelD William Fitz-Charles


the above facts.
A TEXAS "COLONEL'S" SWINDLING CAREER.
The name of Colonel William Fitz-Charles
Mccarthy very successful swudier is familiar to the
criminal authorities of this city, He was weilknown
on Broadway, and supposed by many TO possess
large wealth and much land in Texas whence he came
here. Detective Sampson. OF the Stock Exchange ana
Treasury, Monday received letter from sergeant
Hancock OF the London detective force. Informing him
that Mccarthy had arrived there and desiring to know
whether he was wanted" Sergeant Hancock said that
Mccarthy was living in a fine house, at No 13 Lands
downe Terrace, fashionable portion Of London.
In speaking OF McCarthy's Detective Sampson
SAID: "McCarthys people are from Hagerstown, Nd,
and be was born in PItt5burg Penn, though he lived
for many wears In Galveston Texas. He served in
the Confederate Army, and his left hand was
almost shot off in Virginia. He never was n
colonel but | believe he held the rank OF lieu
tenant. He Is now tbirty-fve years old. When the
WEI closed, Mccarthy became an adventurer: In 1871
he told Thomas Acton that he coud save LOT te GOV
erumen $4,000 900 ia United States bonds, when ad
been stolen from the Treasury agents IN LohdOh, Mr
Acton took him TO Gelleral lllinOtsc, Wio , IN
over me. McCarthy5 story was tnlt he IoTuleu tho
h,nds and were willing to give them up for $2jOO00 in
greenbacks. lie wanted SO 600 Tor MS services Inc
be assured of money before they would show inc
bon IS what gave air of truth to the story was that
Mccarthy said these men told him that tho bonds had
been stolen BY Treasury clerks, mentioning lhelr
names They actually were the only persons VINO cnu
not going TO trust Mccarthy We got pile OF counter
felt money and deposited 1t in Henry Clewss oifce TO
McCarthy's credit II done up III package ana
McCarthy on INQUIRY informed that DIS Tor o-1O
900 were deposited bis credit For -FOUR days we io
lowed Mccarthy his appointments wth tc othcr per
sons at the Metropolitan 81. Nicholas ana NcW-foih
Hotels and The Hoffman House. Ihe Olher persons
wanted Mccarthy to pass them the money
ont Of carriage window, ana again through
n partially opened room door. lie feltiSHd ANA
they finally agreed 10 meet hm IN n rcon Mysef ana
my n sistauts IN the next room men ney ocEed
the door of the room him. McCaIiGy SAID E"le
there won't BE- any trouble. because have my liicnis
ont .dc and have lot got the money with me. inc
men at once ouCucd the door and walked out We lei
them IN the hail. They were four clever saWdGst,
swndlers. headed by the notorious Charles stone.
have not made up my my mind Yet whether hc'"rthl
intended sWlnde II lac could, hut thlnk ht acIeu
i'm good faith and that the sawdust men were trying 10
swndlc him. A. $500. Ia.
"McCarilys last exploit wos in fabrcatnS letters CIV
ing The particulars OF purchase " Cuban rvhltcs
In England. These letters supposed To he written
by L. WaipOle Callin Cuban agent III London ana
addressed 10 ScnOr Adpmd, the President oil the Cua
Junta He sold them Maatllla the Spau ~ MN
istcr Mccarthy got about 5000 out OF the spanish
Minister aud was To receive $1,000 more. lie nndc lic
affidavit on which the Ertele detained aud ihe
spanish Minister paid him gl.jOO for II. When MctH
INV found that suspicion rested him he LETT the COM
trv and went France lie has nav crossed the 'ndii-
mel TO London There several indictments against
l I'm the DiStrct-AtnTucy Office bat thry are only
Tor false precnccs doubt whether he can be brought
over here unless England >urGcHucs HIN as matter oi
accommodations