Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-16
G. N. Townsend, the SwindIer Of Gov. Booth, Try
ing His Tricks in Stanton.


HIS NUMEROUS DRAFTS. TELEGRAMs. &c
LIBERALITY TO BARRIERS, BoOT-BLACKS, AND
NEWsB0YS.
The newspapers have been recently publish
ing accounts of the way in which one G. N.
Townsend, OF the firm of A. H. Wyman & Co.,
of Philadelphia successfully swindled Mr. E
G. Booth, formely of Nottoway county. Vir-
ginia, but now of Philadelphia, and who is
well known to many of our citizens for his Law
ish hospitality to Virginians at the Virginia
House during the Centennial. Since the above
discovery, it has turned out that T. has been
for years engaged in the same business, though
on not SO large scale as in his raid upon Mr..
Booth whom he took in to the tune Of $50 900.
In the month of January, February, and
March, this same Mr. Townsend, gentleman
of fine appearance and pleasing address, stop
ped frequently at the Virginia Hotel, and from
his peculiar behavior excited the suspicion Of
the proprietor. He purchased all the newspa-
pers he could get hold of, and gave the news
boys u quarter instead OF five cents, and would
often return the papers to them, telling them
to sell them again SO he gave the barber twen-
ty-five cents for a shave, and treated his boot
black quite az literally. This useless lavish
ness of money attracted the attention Of the
proprietor, as it was doubtless intended to do,
but had the effect Of arousing his suspicion and
not creating confidence in the financial pros
pcrity of the stranger.
His first visit was In January, when he stayed
three or four days, and settled his bill with q
check Of Mr.. Crews, telegraph operator here
The day after his departure. Mr.. Crowle re
ceived a telegram, purporting to be from A. Il
Wyman & Co., Philadelphia, saying that the
Townsend draft had been protested during his
absence from the cjtV n draft
| and it would be paid with all charges. This
was all very mysterious to MIR. Crowle, as
Townsend had given him no draft, and upon
enquiry found that no such draft had passed
through the banks here.
A few days after the receipt of the above tele-
gram. Townsend again stopped at the Virginia
Hotel for several days, and when he came to
settle his bill offered his own check for $50
which Mr.. Davis, the clerk, refused to cash, but
allowed his bill to stand until he (Townsend)
should return, in few days from visit to
Charleston, West Va.
| In about week or ten days he returned on the
western train, and coming to the Hotel, appar-
emily in great haste, requested Mr.. Davis to cash
draft for $50, which was refused. He afterwards
| tried Mr.. Fl. NJ. McIlhany and Mr.. r. II. Cat
| lett, but not succeeding, again returned to the
| Hotel, and showed telegram from Mr.. Cook
| at Wrightsville, Pa, saying, 81 would send you
a money order for $50, but this is not money
| order Office" Mr.. Crowle still refused to cash
! the draft, and Townsend then told him that he
| had no money with him, but would pay his bill
on his return in few weeks.
| In a few weeks letter was received from him
dated at the Office Of A. II. Wyman & Co., re-
questing to have his bill sent to him, which
was done. Soon after this Mr.. Crowle received
from him large batch of circulars gotten up
in spread-eagle style. representing him as agent
for the sale Of Mines mineral lands, &C., &c, in
West Va. and other States.
About the middle Of March he again returned
to the Virginia Hotel, and on leaving settled
| his whole bill, and left draft for S4S with Mr..
Crowle, requesting him to forward it for collec-
ton and hold the money until he should call
for it. This draft in due time was paid and Mr..
Crowle sent Mr.. Townsend q cashiers check for
the amount, not wishing to send his own check
| as Townsend had requested, feeling unwilling,
after all that had passed. to let Townsend have
a check in his hands signed with his name.
This was the last he heard of him until he
saw the notice of his arrest for swindling Mr..
Booth.
| Whilst at Charleston West Va, Townsend
wrote letter, enclosing it to Mr.1Crowle, re-
questing him to hand it the gentleman who sat
on his left. at table mo. /, and for further de-
scription said "call him the handsomest gentle
man in the room and you will have the right
man. This was Mr.. Fleet, a wealthy gentle
man at N. Y, who boarded at the Hotel last
| winter, and the letter set forth the large
amount Of money to be made by investment in
a Blowing Furnace" Mr.. f. merely 're-
marked, "he can't Rtch me with any such
chaff"