Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-11-11
Sxyindlrrs Captured,

The Portland papers seem to think their
officers have captured the head and front of
the gang of patent right swindlcrs who have
SO long infested the State, and the Press
gives the following particulars:
Tuesday Nov. 4, Marshal Bridges arrested at
the Central House on Centre street, woman
| aged about "a years, who gave the name of
Mrs. Royal st. Clair, on a charge of attempt
ing to pass forged note. Mrs. st. Clair is
a woman of ordinary stature, with swarthy
complexion, black eyes and hair, projecting
brows, and an expression of great determine
alton. When she was arrested there were
found on her person three notes all purport-
ing to have been made by +. NJ. Fogg and &.
NJ. Fogg. Deering, and signed by them.
One was for $50, one for S37 and the third for
S2j. On one of these notes were several en-
dorsemcnts Of sums paid on the notes, and
it is claimed by Mrs. st. Clair that these are
all genuine notes At the time she was ar
rested Mrs. st. Clair was trying to negotiate
a note for $3.50, signed bv Charles Il. Bunk
er, Franklin, agreeing to pay the above
amount six months after date, with interest.
at any bank in Maine. The note was drawn
on piece of common white paper, was ILL
spelled. and badly written. The signature,
a note shaver in town ascertained was genu-
inc, and he was about to advance Mrs. St
Clair $50 on it when she was invited to the
police station.
Arrangements were then made for the ar
rest of Mr.. St Clair, who was probably the
chief mover. Saturday morning he came to
Portland and that night he was arrested
When taken to the station St. Clair tainted
dead away, but on coming to, he admitted his
guilt, but declared his wife was innocent; !;
that she knew nothing about the genuineness
of the notes. Afterwards, in conversation
| with the reporters, he declared the notes
were all regular. He claims TO be agent for
b. Butler & Coin whose favor the Bunker
note is drawn-who deal in patent rights at
ST. Johnsbury, Vt. Their principal articles
are a harrow and patent dish-pan The par
ties acting as their agents dispose of the right
to make the goods for sale, and in return
take purchasers notes for what they can get.
To use st. Clairs words, they 'drive sharp
bargains, and when the countrymen get bit or
think that they have been bitten, tiey some
times squeal." He refused to state how the
Bunker note was secured. Mr.. St Clair.
who is about 80 years of age, was formerly
in the grocery business in Portland. and
three years ago kept store on India
above Middle street. He failed and went to
Lewiston, where he also failed, and the failures
have never been settled. Notes were found on
his person TO the amount of $4,000. as follows ::
Gilbert Jordan, Franklin, S5DO; John Nj.
Burnham Biddeford, $3.50; s. r. Thompson
| & Son. Bangor, 5000; SumnerG G. Rowe, Els
worth, $50; r. L. Hamilton, Calais, $50;
Lester Burrett West Charleston, VT, $500;
A second note from the same $1,000; Wen
dell Silsby, Amherst Me-, $50;
White Brothers. Bridgewater. $500.
These notes are written like the Bunker
notes, on different scraps of paper, but it is
thought the signatures are genuine, obtained
in the s'lightning saw swindle" way.
Mr.. Bunker telegraphs that he has never
given any such note as that mentioned. Sher-
| if Deveraux of Hancock county, says Mr..
| Bunker is an honest straightforward man, and
possessed of considerable property. He
drives the stage from Chcrryfeld through
| Franklin to Ellsworth. The Sheriff further
states that about a month ago he was en-
ployed by a Bangor stable keeper to look up
the whereabouts of st. Clair The latter
hired team of the livery man for three or
four days, and four months had elapsed since
that time and the team had not been returned
The Sheriff traced the man to Franklin, found
the team, and st. Clair settled the matter sat
raux saws ST. Clair has been floating through
the country for several months selling a
patent right and sponging money out of every
person whom he could induce to listen to him.
In some cases he got money, in others notes
and horses.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. st. Clair are good
dressers, and Marshall Bridges learns that St.
Clair has been operating for some time in
Houlton, Bangor, Eastport and other places
with headquarters at Kenduskeag.