The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-10-16
FLEECING A RICH WIDOW.
How the Pious Mrs. Upham was Swindled
by Splrituallstlo Friends.

ny NllfltuullNttC fflenuss
Mrs Upham widow of Prof. Thos C, Up
ham, of Bowdoin college, came to this city
to live about four years so, She was then
well advanced in years, and had become a
convert to the doctrine of spiritualism.
Among the persons of the faith with whom
she became acquainted was Mrs. Mary G.
Ward, an unmarried woman, of middle
age, whose f.thcr at that time was aphysi-
clan, practicing in Newark, n. j. Miss
Ward won Mrs. Upham's confidence, and
learned the lady was owner of bank stocks
worth about $4,000. In April, 1873, she
introduced to Mrs, Upham, Rev. John A.
Lansing, spiritualist brother" who had
been Methodist clergyman in Massschu.
sets Mrs, Upham was much i'm
pressed by the conversation and bear
ing of the minister, and her admira.
ton of him was increased by the
praise Of Miss Ward. Mr. Lansing told
Mrs. Upham that he was interested in the
Jacques cologne manufacturing company
and was making great deal of money out
Of il, although he had not allowed his name
TO be published in connection with the
business. lie said he had invested the
property Of many widows and orphans in
business, so they are able to realize hand
some sums. At his suggestion Mrs
Upham gave Lansing, in trust, the $l4,-
900 in bank stock which she owned. She
took in exchange n receipt signed by
both Miss Ward and Lansing. She
was promised she would receive an annual
profit Of 10 per cent, paid monthly Fol-
several months she received the install
ments promised. She was then told there
had been an unexpected failure of the con
Germ, and the payment ceased. Mrs
Upham employed aman named Williams
| TO look sftcr her interests, but Williams did
nothing for her. She trusted to the
power of the spiritualist many
months, but the lost money did not return.
Ii was not until about six weeks
ago that she made step in the right direc-
ton by consulting reputable lawyer. Her
counsel Immediately secured the assistance
of District Attorney Rollins and police In
speCtor Byrnes. Both officials interested
themselves in the case. The district attor-
ney secured the indictment Of Lansing and
Mi@Ward, and gave the inspector the war
rants for their arrest.
Inspector Bryncs learned that Miss Ward
had been preaching ut Ocean Grove during
| the summer, and she had aiterward gone
to the home of her father, at Wavcrly, n.
j., and he also learned that Lansing was
preaching at Broollue, Mass, and he
procured from Gov. Cornell the neccS
| sary requisition papers early in the present
week, and Wednesday took measures &c
arrest both the swindlcrs Detective
Richard O'COnnor, was sent to Brlokline
and detective Richard Fields to Waiver
| ly. Detective Fields arrested Miss
| Ward at her fathers residence Thursday
and brought to this city the same evening
aud locked her up at police headquarters
all night. To-day she was taken before the
district attorney and held for trial A
Pearl street merchant became her bondsman
in $4,000. Before she left the district at.
torney's Office, papers in the suit for S25,.
600 were served on her by Mrs. Upham'
counsel. Detective 0'Connor returned from
Brooklyn to night, bringing Lansing with
him. The minister arrived at police
headquarters about 10 O'Clock
and was locked up He vii
be taken to the district attorneys office to
morrow. The following is portion of {
letter Lansing wrote to Mrs. lpham il
January, 1870, in answer to her request fol
the return of her bonds 81 cannot meet
with your demands tonight, The plans
and arrangements were all made in God
and can only move rs He commands. Car
you not follow the word of God as il camt
to you first? You know the word to be o
God now as you did then. Follow it as yor
did then. The papers are all drawn in God
and are at His disposal. Yours in Chris
Jesus, the Lord God Amen.
| j. A. LANSING