The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-12-05
LOCAL MATTERS.
Exploits Of an Ex-Convict.

HOW A NUMBER OF RICHMOND MERCHANTS
HAVE BEEN DUPED BY A wOULD-BE PRoPRI-
EToR OF BILLIARD TEMPLE-FROM THE
PENITESTIARY TO CIRCULATING 4" THE
QUgE R"-ARREsTED IN WASHINGTON
WHILE FLEEING FROM HIS RICHMOND GRE
| DIToRS.
Considerable surprise was occasioned
| yesterday morning about IL O'Clock, and
no little amount Of speculation, in and
around the American Hotel, by the sudden
appearance OF clerks Of Mr.. George P.
Stacy and Messrs. Shanks & Barrett in the
handsome new biIliard-saioon under the
hotel, which had Just been opened the day
before by the enterprislng subject OF this
| report.
| The mere presence OF the clerks Of the
| aforesaid business establishments In the
midst Of the festive game was not so much
subject OF surprise as their subsequent
and active proceedings, which very mate
| rally interrupted the little sport Of the
knights OF the chalk and cue. Furniture
OF every kind, which had but yesterday
made its dfbut in this emblazoned saloon Of
activity, vanished before the astonished bill
| lardists as il by magic. Gas-piping and
fixtures toppled from the fastenings in the
| walls, and, together with the stove, which
had scarcely begun to shed its "rays of
comfort" were rapidly transported to the
establishments whence they had lately
come. Painters and upholsterers gazed
with longing looks upon the precious paper
and paint clinging to the walls. "Whats
up?' was heard on every side. All saw
that something was wrong, but no one
could tell Just what. 1t was rumored
around that the proprietor had suddenly
and mysteriously disappeared from the
city. But what could induce man
to leave handsome establishment,
lust completed and doing thriving busi-
ness? He had taken in, it was said, $40
the first day. The young man in charge
said the "boss" had gone out, and would
| return at l o'clock. Many said that the
proceeding OF the "remoyers was too
hasty and unwarranted. 1t was soon ascer-
| tanned, however, that these gentlemen
knew well what they were about, and that
the man who styled himself Mr.. Alexander
Moss, after paying bills with checks on the
Planters National Bank, and having others
cashed, without any money in the bank for
their payment, had, to use the yernacular,
skipped the town." The operations OF
this precious party, who has lately served
out a term in the Virginia State peniten-
tiary, and who was arrested last evening IN
Washington, are as follows:
| ABOUT the 2Zu VI NONculDeI Sai~
| ing himself Alexander Moss rented room
| from Mr.. j. S. Dodson, under the American
Hotel, and at once went to work fitting 1t
up as a first. class hilliard-saloon. Moss en-
gagged it for q number OF months for S15
| per month, no charge being made for the
| first fifteen DAYS. The saloon was beautl-
! fully and tastefully finished. 1t was neatly
painted, the walls papered with handsome
| fresco-paper, and fine carpet placed upon
the foor-the whole having an air OF ele-
gance seldom seen in place OF the KIND,
and showing that it was under the direction
of man of taste.
Moss had written to W. II. Collender,
billiard-table maker in New York, and Or
dered three costly tables, for which he was
to pay $3.50 cash upon their delivery. The
tables were sent, and Mr.. John keane, from
Collender's establishment, came on to put
them up. The cash not being promptly
forthcoming, Mr.. Keane demurred about
delivering the tables. Moss was most CLIO
in making excuses, and by introducing the
agent around generally, and escorllng him
about the city, he very adroltly produced
the impression that lie was man OF con-
siderable importance and responsibility.
Keane was finally induced to put up the ia
bles, on Moss giving him deed OF trust
| upon the tables, duly recorded in the Hust-
! ings Court, together with an insurance
policy on them for $1,000, which he took
out in the Union Assurance Company of
London, Thomas L. Alfriend agent. He
paid So for registering the deed and
s15 premium on the policy. Mr.. Collender
| is thus comparatively secure. The princl.
| pai loosers by the sharper are Messrs. Phil
| Inns & Jennings. These gentlemen uphol-
stored the saloon very handsomely, and
could not so easily get back their goods as
did the other creditors, the paper being Sc
curely stuck to the wall, and beautiful rich
CARPET nailed to the floor, and rich curtains
hung to the windows. Their bill was $3.50,
and Moss paid them with his check for $1S5
| on the Planters National Bank, they giving
him S5 in change. Mr. David Wilson
painted the establishment and presented his
bill Yesterday morning for S23.25. Moss
owed E. 3. Taylor SIS for glassware. He
had given Mr.. George P. Stacy orders for
about $500 worth of furniture, some OF
which was delivered. and got him to cash
check for 800. He also induced MI. Marx
Davis, of the Parlor saloon, to cash his
check for SIS.
The freight-bill Of the Old Dominion
Steamship Company on the tables, amount
;np to S26, he also paid with his worthless
check. A prominent clothier on Main street
dvked him in handsome suit and accepted
bis precious paper to the amount OF $4,000,
and Messrs. Shanks a. Barrett did work to
the amount of $63. So it will be seen that
Mr.. Moss has been negotiating here Win
merchants during the past week or ten
days TO the amount Of some Sl,35o. Ane
these gentlemen are wondering how they
could have allowed themselves to be SO
duped-and by one who not two years
since figured In Richmond as forger, ana
was tried In the Hastings Court under the
name OF Alexander Mas and sent TO the
penitentiary for two years.
Moss was last seen at the hotel when ne
called at the Office early yesterday morning
and obtained from the clerk $40 which ne
had taken in the day before. 1t was found
that he had bought ticket for Syracuse,
N. Y, and left on the northern train yes
terday morning. The Chief Of Police i'm
mediateIy telegraphed to Washington 10
have him arrested, and last evening dis
patch was received stating that the ab.
sconder was in custody there, and repre-.
sented himself to be 8 Jew by the name OF
Alex. Myers.
Moss, it will be remembered, resided In
.fhis city several years ago. He came here
3an a nolahrata6 cook from New York. and