The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-08

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; ployed private detectives TO trace th
scoundrelS who inyeigled the old man int
their clutches. This was soon after he haC
confessed he had been duped. Il was rs
eertained that the money, after the check
bad been cashed, was deposited TO the or
der Of the person drawing II In the sam,
National bank, At once writ OF III,
trustee was procured and civil suit entered
soon aiterward. Working on this clue thu
detectives run down the men suspected o.
the job and IN indictment warrant pro
procured from the grand Jury. His nature
mas been for several years past gradually
losing in mental 9ower. He Ia now seven.
ty-stx years old and has been given
the best care and treatment, and
and knowledge OF his partially demented
condition kept from all political and per.
sonal friends save very few. He has
occasionally met your correspondent on
the street, and from his childish manner
and appearance one might suspect some.
thing was amiSs. However, much ei his
condition has not been generally known,
and the surprise OF all Boston can be i'm:
agtned when they reid this morning
the startling annuuncemnt OF the eminent
statesnan's condition OF mind.
The principal in the conspiracy 10 rob
the demented statesman, Morrison, Is an
accomplished faro player, well known 10
the police Us an unpFincipled character,
and was lodged In the City Hall lookup "a.
stead ot any station house, SO great was the
precautions taken to avoid publication.
ltappears, In addition 10 the history pre-.
viously telegraphed, that the old gentle.
man did actually play the game. One Of
the detectives on the case says the old man
took deep interest in the game and he
played according TO rule, doubling his bets
every time he lost aud shaking hands with
himself whenever he won, in expectation
Of eventually getting even or doing some.
thing better. But his winnings were only
on suhrance, and the players led him on
In that manner. Morrison, the fellow who
has been arrested for completely in the
swindle, has been identified as james Fiiz.
gerald, alias "Fitz the Kid" cookbook
ing chap, twenty-five years old. He was
brought into court this morning, and
was held for trial IN bonds Of twenty-five
thousand dollars, on three counts for lar.
eeny, each count representing q check.
Morrison waived an examination and was
committed to jail, in default Of bail, to ap.
pear in the superior court, where the in.
dictment will be returned against him,
The real name Of the defendant Is James
Fitzgerald, alias the "Kid," and but little
is known Of him by the Boston officers ex.
cept his reputation Of being professional
banco player. 1t has been ascertained
that the check was taken to B. N. Fernold,
-,
Bank building, by Norton.
Fernald is u member OF the Legislature
from Metrose, and he had previously had
dealings with Norton, who claimed to be a
real estate dealer. When Norton brought
the check to him for collection Fesaald
saw that it had been drawn in blank and
filed in by another person. He was sus.
picious, and thought Mt first he would
notify Mrl Adams. Onthe second thought
however, he made up his mind that, asst
was then The Goth, there would be no
harm in depositing the cheek to his
own credit and waiting until
alter the first month before drawing against
it. On the first OF April he knew that all
checks would be sent to Mr.. Adams and
If there was anything wrong about this
particular note the fact would at once ap.
pear. The truth actually did come out in
the way Fernaid anticipated and on Mon
day he learned the circumstances of the
check. He knew nothing Of Norton's
character aud the fact OF the check on the
National bank, payable TO bearer, being
brought to him for collection was what
excited his suspicion.
The money received on the Sl7,5O0check,
which Adams was induced to sign, has been
refunded by Fernold. A detective here
says Fitzgerald has always been "bunco
man" and "laro steerer." He is good
convertationulist, OF easy, polished address,
and is said to have been born in New York
where he received a college education.
By reason OF excesses there he was
obliged 10 leave for other parts. In con-
nection with the New York career OF Fitz.
gerald it is said one OF his most intimate
associates was Charlie Miller, shot some
time ago in bar-room by Billy Tracy.