Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-27
A sWINDLER ABROAD.

A SWINDLER ABROAD.
| He Assumes to Be Numer0 us Hotel
Man and Hires Help Promiscuously-
Unsuccessful Attempt to Buy Goods.
There arrived in st. Paul from Miles
City few days siuce an alleged capital
list, whose subsequent operations in this
city mark him as being the most despica-
petty swlndler that has ever appeared In
this city. He gave the name of G. Lewis,
registered at one of the leading hotels,
and put on more s'lugs' to the square
inch than nabob. He selected as his
victims hotel waters, clerks, barkeepers
and others who depend upon their daily
exertions for livelihood, and nearly all
his dupeS were of that class who could ill
| afford to suffer by the arts of swindler.
In order to successfully work his nefari-
GUS racket he gave out that he had formed
copartnership with Mr.. Joseph Leigh
ton; that they had purchased four hotels
in Miles City, and that in short they in
tended to corner the hotel business in
that part of the country. He next clrcu-
lated a report that it was his intention to
employ about 100 walters, clerks and
other help, aud that salaries would be on
scale of magnifcence equal to the bal
ance of the great hotel scheme. AS may
be easily imagined he had plenty of ap-
plicants for the situations, and it is esti-
mated that he duped at least so persons.
Of this number he secured the services of
number of walters and chambermaids
from the Merchants, Metropolitan, Grand
Central, International and in short all of
the hotels.
But his grand opportunity to consum-
mate the rascality was found at the hotel
walters ball last Tuesday evening. He
appeared at the hall attired in faded
costume of bedizened flnery. The suit
represented knight and his long, lank
lean legs and peculiar figure, together
with his short trousers and Ill fitting suit
made him the observed of all obervers.
The ball however was his meat and he
proceeded to play it for all it was worth.
He addressed all the walters with whom
he came in contact, engaging them at ex
orbitant prices, on condition that
they were to give him s. to make the
bargain binding. He gave receipt for
the money which was to be refunded on
arrival at Miles City. The party were to
have left yesterday morning, and on
Wednesday he left word with all his
dupes that they were to meet him at the
Merchants at 9 o'clock. At that hour the
corridor was filled with persons
ready for the expectant trip.
Of course he didn't come, and when, af-
ter waiting for two hours, the sad fact
dawned on the phalanx that they had
been beaten, deputation headed for city
hall and poured their lamentations into
the ears of the police. Scouts were sent
out, but it was evident that the rascal
had skipped.
Among those who expected to 60 in
addition to the walters, were the clork
of the International hotel, the clerk at
Golding's, and the bar tender at the Mer-
chants. Later developments go to show
that he was working another scheme of
far greater magnitude.
A day or two ago he called at Mlchaud
Bros. and disclosing his scheme, he pur-
chased ST., 900 worth Of goods. Think
ing that he was a crank, the goods were
withheld until he had left portion of
the money. He also visited hardware
firm and purchased carload of stoves.
In addition he ordered stuff at Appleton's
sash and blind factory, and on the
strength of the bill he borrowed SIS.
Wednesday night he was at the varie-
ties drunk and it is supposed that he
skipped out yesterday morning
In conversation with gentleman re-
Gently from Miles City, last night, a
GLOBE reporter learned something of his
operations in that city, where he was
rated as first class dead beat. His prin-
c1pal enterprise IN Miles City was in the
hotel and restaurant line. A short time
ago he managed to obtain possession of
an old building formerly used as hotel,
which he opened up and continued to
run until he was badly in debt, when he
pawned his watch and cuff buttons and
used the proceeds to buy ticket to st.
Paul Up to last midnight he had not
been arrested, the belief being that he
left for parts unknown yesterday morn
ing.