Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-20
An ALLEGED sw tnaler Arrested.

An Alleged SW fndleY Arrested.
PIoUs ENGLISH DEALER IN BOGUS JEwRLRY-
WHAT Is SAID OF HIS OPERATIONS HERE AND IN
OTHER CITIES.
An alleged confidence man was taken into
custody yesterday afternoon by Detectives
McDevltt and Voss. who had been apprised OF
his advent here by Capt. Adams, connected
with the Treasury department as chief OF
special agents in New York city, who Is now on
a brief visit here. HE is an Englishman' OF
recent DpoTtation-not Adams, but the arrested
man. He arrived in New York last March,
since which time from accounts given Of him.
ne ssi Seen ov Win e. uG ev e mae for
career at large as brief as 1t Is crooked.
1t seems that he came here from Baltimore
during the holidays and has since been
by his ADVERTISEMENTS possibly for t6ritty
business. To what extent he has been working
Is not yet known. He was found by the
officers In front OF the st. James Hotel, at
accosted by them assumed offended dignity,
but In reply TO questions put to him at police
headquarters, he unmasked his true character,
and showed the uninistakable marks of the
kind OF man he is described to be In the New
York papers. His name is given as Charles
Albert Ashley and his occupation dealer In
precious stones-'
HIS APPEARANCE Is FATHER STRIKING.
ana II Is said OF him that ne strives
to assume the appearance OF the accepted
portraits OF the Saviour. He is rather thick set,
about i've feet eight inches high, With yellow
brow hair. carefully parted in the middle and
flowing curls ranging upon his shoulders. His
beard Is OF the same color, soft and wAvy. lie
has regular features, With child like AMI bland
expression, and an exceedingly oily tongue
his dEeSS Is plain-an OvercOaJ ABOUT the ga ne
color OF his hair, striped pants, bun detached
CATERS, large shoes, and bis way hair sur
Conspicuous upon his person Is the ieNelry 10
Which he deals; rings, studs, pins, cnains.
DC. being rather profuse. Seated at head
maintained dgnled ee siIenee od saen s
pretended 10 read, but it Vas Observed that his bis
eyes were scanning every one who entered over
searching him he was highly indignant, not
rellshing the thought of exhibiting the contents
OF his pocket. During this operation McDevtt
talked quite plain, as he spread out the jewery
on the table, 1ntimating that he was sWindler
and ought to be ashamed 10 be beating honest
people with his
"sSIDE" DIAMONDS AND OTHER PRECIOCs STONES
70 this Ashley replied that he thanked GOD
that be had SUI rior brain, by which he could
get good living, and If he couiu make bis vic
Tins believe that cobblestOne was diamond
II only showed his talent That was business;
II, In trying to get the best Of him In business
IL was their look out. These were fixed brlst-
ness maxims OF nis aud no one had rlyh, to
complain. ffe professed TO be thoroughly
competeAt dealer In precious stones, and IL he
couiG make man think paving stone was a
diamond, 1t only showed his superior business
qualities. McDevitt here made allusion to his
operations In Baltimore, where it Is alleged
that be
ASSUMED TIE RoLE OF AN EVANGELIST.
and preached sermon to crowded audience,
which sermon It Was afterwards aScertained
was cOncOcted and prepared In house OF Ill
fame. where he was constant visitor. and de-
nv h m fnr no nfr
quainted with respectable people, to fleece
them In his vocation. TO this he replied that
II he bad the gift OF drawing tears by his ser
IL showed his versatility OF talent and that the
good he accomplished this way might bs offset
against other acts OF bis.
IN HIS POCKETS
y, were found ND Quantity OF what Appeared
stones. studs, pins, watches, gold coin
and greenbacks His numerous pockets
appeared to be full OF them. These were taken
from him anG locked up in the safe at headquar-
tiers. and later Mr.. Eoss went to his hotel to see
how much stock he had there. During the con-
troversy with the officers about being searched,
his counsel, Mr.. E. G. Ingersoll arrived and adj
vised him 10 accede to the requirements OF the
Officers, and II he was not properly treated, he
had bis remedy afterwards. He was not locked
up In the CELL but permitted to sit In the office
where he smoked cigars most OF the time.
HIS OPERATIONS IN WASHINGTON.
II Is found that he has quantity of inferior
IL
GERS state that it looks like the pawn dealer is
acting with him, rs this confidence man has
been Offering to sell the pawn tickets about the
city, and they represent the articles pawned TO
be OF much greater value than they really are
Several persons have found themselves bitten
when they redeemed the pledges put up by Ash
ley. In what manner he has operated With
those who have answered his advertisements
and met him is not known, but this will soon
De developed. He Is at present held as a sus-
picious person.
HIS CAREER IN NEW YORK.
Capt. Adams states that he met him at the
Metropolitan hotel, New York, just after he
!anded that he put on great style and exhib-
tied great deal OF fiaShy Jewelry then which
awakened his suspicious that he had srnuggled
It ashore from The steamer On which he ar.
rived, and he was about to hav' him arrested
when Ashley, getting wind OF 1t, secretly left
the hotel, paying The hackman not to disclose
{AdaIns) put detective on his track and found
him at the Grand Union hotel OF that city
from which place he also decamped, and upon
further investigation he found by his passenger
declaration on the steamer that no jeWelry nor
precious stones was mentioned In it; Subse
4ueHtly he traced to Ashley number of ad-
vertisements asking for loans of various
amounts, and oiiering to give large bonuses
and to deposit collaterals of triple value
In pursuing this clue he found man who had
answered one OF his advertisements, but this
person treated the officer cavalierly, refusing
to give him any Information. Another one was
subsequently fOund-a man named ResSler, a
clerk In the post Office In New York, who had
been duped to the extent OF 500 By this fellow
who made him believe that he was scion OF
the noble Ashley family OF England; that he
was travelling In this country for pleasure, and
bis remittances having failed to arrive he de-
sired to make temporary loan: that he was
very reluctant to ask any Of his friends for the
money, as II would be q stain on the
Ashley eScutcheon were it known that he
had been reduced to the necessity of borrowing
He offered great bonus, secured by his note
for $500 and quantity OF JeWelry OF incalcula-
Die value to him as family heirloOmS. The DaIt
caught, and Ressler parted with his hard.ea armed
$500, which he had gradually laid by, and fou nj
himself pOSsessor OF Snide jeWelry, for which
ne was offered $40 by dealer. Obtaining these
facts, captain Adams, who had meantime
possessed himself or sufficient evidence of
smuggling, made raid upon Ashley's room. In
the Metropolitan hotel. where he captured a
large quantity OF stuff, consisting OF IeWelry of
almost every conceivable design and limitations
OF precious stones, making a long list OF them.
me entire lot. including many articles which
hao osen marked at great prices, were ar
praised al 500, and il Is believed that the
articles he Is now selling are part or these
goods.
IN SARATOGA
ne played the role OF preacher and bamOOoZled
Hunoer or women, and the next heard OF him
was 10 baltimore, and now here.
WASHINGTON VICTIMS STORY.
Inns morning, young man well-known la
thlS city and popular temperance advOci ate
applied TO police headquarters, having seen the
publications In the morning paDerS and told
10 1fN ff,,