The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-04-27
CONTPS C%USSEONESS.
How a Fort Laramie Horse
Doctor Swindled Fit.
teen or Twenty
People.
Full Account Of a Veterinary Surgeons
Rascally Conduct.

Rev. Father Hayes, of this city, one
of the victims, has kindly furnished
the LEADER with the particulars of the
rascally conduct of one j. L. Cont,
late a veterinary surgeon at Fort Lar
annie. The details Of the case prove
Cont to be one of the most unmixed
villains who ever went unhung. To
begin at the beginning of this, the lat
est sensation, it is necessary to revert
to Conti's introduction into Wyoming:
He came here about two years ago,
representing himself as An ex-oficer of
the Italian army; he also took particu-
lar pains to state a a fact that he is a
brother-in-law of the surgeon-general
of the United States army. Both these
statements have since been proven false.
The surgeon-general took the trouble
of writing to an officer at Fort Lara
mic, denying any relationship with the
man Cont.
1t was one day early in December
last that Surgeon Cont put in an APP
peatance in Cheyenne, and was intro
duced by Mr.. Murray, of Camp Carlin,
rs ''one In great distress" Mr., Muir
raw net dreaming of Conti,s rascalitv.
had no hesitancy in introducing him.
This statement is dine to Mr.. Murray.
who mos aIso one of Co,ti,s vietims
os will ha wp fartber along in this
article.
CONT. with tears in his ayes as large
40 ten-pin balls. informed Father
HAYES that be was in great distress.
His wife was in Chicago and anxious
IN come to CHEYENNE. but she was in
need of more money to defray her ex-
penses. She lacked about S25. He
was "a little shortr lust then. and
would Father Hayes be so kind as to
lend HIM that tri1ing amount? He
would then send the wife OF his bosom
the much coveted pittance. Father
HAYES. who always has an open hand
for those really needy, at once acceded
to his request. Cont took his depar-
ture. and Father Hayes thought no
more about the affair until about three
DAYS afterwards, at which time Cont,
1.-THE veterinary u ex-Italian
army officer and brother-in-law to the
surgeon.general," paid him another
visit. This time lie had another and
sadder tale to unfold. His wife was
still in Chicago; she had fallen serious
" i'll. and he would like to borrow 1926
more. ga woman YOU know,n said
he. sail alone. sick in a strange CITY. i,
in a bad 6x.n Father HAYES admitted
that tn be the case. and loaned him 1926
more. taking his note.
Cont w,nt AWAY. but the next day
called again. and exhibited more tele-
grams. explaining the condition of his
wife,s health. These kilograms. it has
since been a-scertained, were written by
himself and copied by a colored boy
EMPLOYED around the depot telegraph
office. He paid the boy fifty cents
each for carving these kilograms to
him at his hotel as a blind to further
aid him in his rascality.
About two weeks afterwards Cont
again called upon Father HAYES. This
time he was ACCOMPANIED by a female,
whom he introduced rs his wife. She
was a tall, fine looking woman, hand
somely dressed. and. to all appearances,
all abe ought to be AS regards purity of
character. This remarkable female,
whom he represented as his wife, was
not such. She was none other than
the fair but frail and schemipg ALICE
who her lived in the brick mansion,
on Eiohteenth street. And. by way of
further explanation. It NAV be stated
that she ia the same marty who recent
10 married a well known clerk. and left
a fsw davs aoo going to Denver. where
sha b.. rrob,blv resumed her avoca.
t,on
To re,,rr 70 surq Cont He skinned
ont for the east and Father HAYES
made some ,nouiries Inv letter to n
friend at Fort Laramie regarding Com
tia record. This was during the lat.
tar mart of February. He received n
reply. from which we make the follow
inc extract.
FoRr LARAMIE. Feb. oath.
Either Bayes.
Yonrs received. Pardon me when l