New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-24
4 PLAUSIBLE SWINDLER.
Row A CHARITABLE INSTITUTION WAS YICTIMlZED
TIE LOSS OF A RETIRED MERCHANT

E0W CHARITABLE INSTITUTION WAS NlCTIMlZED
THE LOSS OF RETIRED MERCHANT
IRON ANocCAsIOYAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBuNE.l
BUFFALO, n. Y, Dec. 23.-The adventures
OF shrewd and plausible swndler in this city have just
become public The impostor operated upon the
strength OF story that had fallen ber to fortune OF
five million which had been left him by rich rela-
tive who had recently died in Havre France. He gave
the John DeChauleu and told the Sister Supe-
rior of the Charity Hosrita that he had come IRON Bal
tmore He arrived here about the middle Of March, ana
brought with him woman who purported to be his vile
and required medical treatment. They remained at the
institution months and suspicion was not aroused
until the suddenly disappeared leaving no trace De
hind them DeChaulicu is about fifty years OF age Is
short In stature and IL inclined to corpuence' lie was
we-drcssed and wig Of black hair, his mustacDe
being dyed agree with in color lie was suaye ana
insinuating In and told exceedingly plausoie
stories in such way to impress upon his listeners the
truth Of all his statements Upon lis entrance to the nos
pital he said that no had been barber in Baltimore
for some time previously but having fallen heir to this
large fortune had given up his trade and was then max
ing arrangements to the money The rch reatVo
was nm unco who had died at Hayre, which place he
claimed that OF his nativity He also SAID that ne nu
sister living In this country who was entlucu 10 o.o
half OF the property, which he claimed anphted 10 Yen
millions OF francs DeChaulieu developed q propensity
for iewelry and succeeded in obtaining crent ioi con
siderable quantity at the store OF Mr. Bushhhn' LII
The couple lived at tho hospital the very best fare
that the place Afforded ana Teg o np ne CSau
lieu showed his found friends two sps one CUT
newspaper of Baltimore ana the other iroi9 one
published IN washington containing aecU% n hear9
marvellous good luck lie also showed documents Dear-
ing French and American consular seals anI ates.s
tons which tended to confirm the truth OF ms state
ments, lie talked very gi0ly ABOUT Ms i0rtuno t III
what he intended to do with II. After making careil
and minute Inquiry the financial condition OF the IN
stuon he announced that he had determined e. make
an advance OF $4,000 to the Sisters that they ngh pay
on their debt with the money. This would be considered
loan and he would allow the good 70 nrPay
him when they could do so without Interest ne pIoPo
stOn was accepted When asked by the Sisters when
this could be done he said that 1t would be accomplished
the necessary legal proceedings 10 nrqllo
possession OF his fortune could be completed Matters
we're then allowed to rest until recently when the sister
Superior asked De Chaulieu II he could not pay ior to
board Of himself and wife Iley were tnhAiu " nn H
for his generous offer could not afford to lodge ana
feed the couple the bare strength OF the proposition
which he had made 1t was, she explained, tne custom
could afford pay but 1t customary 10 receive
compensation from those who could giyel me also IN
his promise to lend them the $50 900 without interest
adyenturer told her that II size doubted MS word she
was ut liberty To write the French Vice Consul Ht bal
tlmore who would yOuch for his statements Inc sister
felt trhe reassured but determined to Wilte TO tls
the Shortly afterward and Just before lne answer
! was received, the pair suddenly disappeared me
Vice Consul his letter stated that he knew nOnhg
aDOut the but had made inquiries ana hau iOulu
that his familiar. but no one IN Baltimore WIN
surmised that De Chaulieu was an ulostof ana MS
documents fOIgcrics. ,
tiaons whereby he contemplated tho purchase or prop
crty valued quarter OF million OF dollars Vo per
SONS I'm Cold Springs suburb OF this city one or these
transactions was with George Bailey retired merchant
anxious dispose or his house, worth TloVVOO
that lie might to England. De Chauieu put the
merchant to much trouble and some Expense IA pepdI
ing inventories deeds and tax andtte searches OF tc
property, and the negotiations were pending when th9
disappearance occurred The swindlers t,lnhg 1au
prevented sales favorable terms 10 Others ana 10
crown MI baeys poqolg Irrl IL iIpin and was con-
suned the occupants barely escaping with their lives