Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-04-26
Plln White.
A BOLD, BAD vERNONTER A STRANGE AND
EvKNTFUL CAREER - TRUTH STRANGER
THAN FICTION.


Pln White.
BOLD, BAD vERMONTER A STRANGE AMI
EvENTFUL CAREER TRUTH STRANGE
THAN FICTION.
Tho Boston Herald has the following his
tory of Plymouth White, the notorious
swindler, now in Jail in that city
lie was born in the town of Weathersfeld
Vermont. When about l6 years old he went
to Montpelier, there learned the printer :
trade and worked as cOmpositOr and re-
porter upon a newspaper. Alter some ex-
pericnce in Boston. Bangor and other East
ern places. he went to New York, where he
was employed upon the New York Herald
as a reporter. lie became possessed of a
little money while on the Herald, and the
next seen OF him he was in the employ of a
firm engaged in manufacturing window
shades. Here he began to develop talent
4 as salesman, and, a. a result OF the busi-
ness sagacity manifested in his dealings. the
firm became quite prosperous, and White,
after making about $4,000, withdrew
| from the firm, and formed a partnership
with two brokers, for tho transaction of a
general brokerage business, This was about
the latter part of the year 1851 and the first
of 1852. The miners were beginning to
arrive from California at about this time,
and by means Of false weights, so it is said,
those who were foolish enough to trust the
firm with their gold dust were robbed of
very large amounts of money. Subsequent
| ly. according to Whites story, he became
coguizlnt of the fact tha: his partners were
making systematic efforts to rob him, White
was informed of the plan and, after borrow
ing all the money he cvuld from business
| friends and getting the funds of the firm
| into bis possession. be started for Europe
| with $415, 900 in ready money in his pos
session. After making tour of the
old world. be came back to this
country, was arrested on DO less than
twenty civil suits, but lodged them all !,
and went to Vermont and purchased nearly
$500 900 worth of real estate. Country lie
was too tame for him, and DE again went to
New York city and entered the brokerage
business. Up to this time his reputation as
a keen business man stood high, and he
mbered among his business friends and
acquaintsnces some of the wealthicst men
of the city During this time the civil
suits commenced against him for his former
transactions while in business made it
necessary for him TO have more money.
Accordingly, he went to Alderman Libby
and succeeded in wheeding him out OF
5000 600 by representing that as soon as
his law suits were settled he would be in
POSSESSION of almost an unlimited amount
of money, and that then all would be right.
Another one of his victims was Pearl
street merchant named Platt. This man was
completely ruined, and shortly after died,
as nearly all who knew him thought, OF
broken heart. He then became acquainted
with Mr.. Locke W. Winchester, now treas
urer Of the National Express Company. and
proprietor Of the Winchester House of that
city. White represented to Winchester
that he was engaged in the civil suits above
mentioned, and succeeded In sticking him
to the tune of SlOO,OCO, which he still owes
him. Two of the smartest lawyers in the
city we're his next victims. but their names
are unknown to the writer, as are alsl the
amount out of which they were swindled;
but it is enough TO say it was very large.
About this time be was arrested upoa some
one OF the numerous civil suits pend
ing against him, and lodged in Lud-
low street jail. Being unable 20
obtain bail he was compelled to
stay IN durance for some time, but while
in Jail he formed the acquaintance of Sheriff
Wi!lett, whom he finally persuaded to enter
into business with HIM. The result OF this
venture was, that Willett was out about
1900 with nothing to show tor his money.
There being some iniornality IN the COM
plain; upon which be was arrested. he was
released. and forthwith shook the dust of
Gotham from his feet. The next heard of
hin wa- in the Safe o; Louisiana, at the
close Of Il, var. There he was elected
supervisor OF two parishes. and figured
prominently as q ballot manipulatOr.
Through his efforts Warmoth was assisted
into the gubernatcrial chair, and, as
reward for services rendered, he was given
the government printing for one year, he
having in the meantime started news
paper in tho parish of New iberia. 1t is
almost nee Hess TO say he made considerable
money out OF the venture. Becoming tired
Of journalism be went to Texas and. upon
some oUe of the numerous islands IN that
State, started a mammoth henIcry, in
which he had thousands of hens. The
flood destroyed all of this property. and be-
coming disguised, Mr.. White left the South
and turned up in Portland, Me. In that
city, although total stranger, he
very soon scraped acquaintance with lead
Ing merchants, and shortly thereafter
opened a dry goods store. lie formed
the acquaintance of wealthy lady of that
city, Mrs. p. s. Williams, aud succeeded in
Inducing her to start with him a dry goods
strs in Denver, Col. Her brother John and
E6en Mayall were also interested in the pro
ject. Mrs. Williams became suspicious thar
all was not right, ard withdrew from the
firm, after losing, as she said, "a fortune"
all OF which went into Whites pocket, 50 1t
is said. The firm was reorganized. John
and Eben Mayall remaining in the firm.
White then commenced to buy immense
quantities of goods in Boston, Baltimore,
St. Louis, Portland, New YORK and other
cities. As soon as these goods were receiv-
~ .1,a
have them sold, and pocket the proceeds.
The result Of it was disastrous failure, and
Mr.. Eben Mayall. dismayei at the ruin
which stared him in the lace, shot himself.
White was shortly after arrested by Kansas
City officers, but made his escape and jump
ed to Montreal. In that city he lived iu
splendid style, gave grand entertainments,
and cultivated the acquaintance of the
wealthiest people. Becoming acquainted
with Mrs Charles Fehrer, u
wealthy widow lady, he succeeded,
by telling the old stories about
his fabulous wealth and law suits, in
swindling her out of $4,000. His next
victim in Montreal was Mrs. Murphy,
poor woman, the proprietor OF a small gro
cery store. lie got S3,S00 out of her-all
she had in the world. and left her 800 in
debt, which surl she borrowed to lend him.
EhOutItd! DeComlug 10 WtIm W uOlu ulAi' uo
suddenly took his departure in June, 1877,
and arrived in this city the latter part OF
the ssme month. Board for himself, wife
and two children was taken in fashionable
South End boarding house, where he was
introduced to Mr.. Clinton Lowell. who in
turn introduced him to his uncle, Allen q.
Lowell, wealthy man. The same seductive
stories were poured into the ears OF
these gentlemen, and they suddenly
found themselves $50, 900 out. Mr.. f.
NJ. Linnell, a young business man Of this
city was also introduced to him. and to
him and Mr.. Clinton Lowell the credit for
his arrest il larely due. White, when
brought to this city, was not in the least
Disconnected. and assured the officers that he
would be all right in a short time. lie has
secured the services of one Of Boston's best
known lawyers. and bitter fight will
doubtless Re the result.