New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-13
sWINDLING MANY HOTEL KEEPERS
THE CAREER OF JAMES A. AUsTIN-PRErENDINGI TO
OWN VALUABLE MINING CLAIMS.

THE CAREER OF JAMES A. AUsIIS-PRETENDING TO
OWN VALUABLE MINING CLAIMS.
Colonel James A. Austin was arrested yes
terIay, charged with giving worthless ponds
to ]. s. Wheaton, proprietor OF the Vanaer'
b!lt HoIe al Lexngton.aye. aud Forty.secona'sE
Mr. Wheaton said to TRIBUNE reporter that bis rela-
tons with Colonel Austin had originated IL this way;
Theodore Williams aud his family had lived
IA my house for some time, ana
had run into debt. Finally. when they
owed me $780, refused to let them stay any longer
and they went away leaving behind their baggage.
shortly after this Colonel Austin came 10
me and represented himself to be worth
$4,000 in real estate, the property bong
on Long Island. He gave Inc bond as surety Tor the
paymen ofMr wiiams's debt and shortly afterward,on
the strength Of my Acceptance Of his bond got out writ
O. replevn, and obliged 70 give up williams
trunks. Finding on investigation that the bond was
worthless put the matter into the hands OF my law.
yer"
p H. Sumner a real estate lawyer whose Office Is In
Tn, Post Building was arrested May TO- charge OF
com,liclty With Austin In swindlng Daniel NJ Davidson
ont OF $4,000 on bogus mining claims and was
later admitted TO bail. Mr. Sumner made the
following statement in regard Colonel Austin and hts
career since the spring of 1882 Austin came mere
from Colorado and lived very extensively at the
Fifth Avenue Ho.e, for some time paVing
regularly until his credit was established
and then beginning system OF checks
and drafts which, proving worthless at maturity leiI
MIR. Hitchcock nearly $1,000 the loser, when
he refused to keep Austin any longer
Austin went 10 the sturteyant House, where he re-
NAMED nearly two months and then Ieit IT,
owing about 5000, minus his baggage
From that time, April Is, 1882. he played the same
game M various hotels and boarding houses until
Re brought up Everetts Hotel In Chathnmst wbere
he was arrested the charge OF having gwen worthless
honds 10 Jonas s. Wheaton. In regard 10 his business
can only saw that IL complete fraud from begl-
Mag 10 end He had expensive and elaborate maps
drawn of claims which had existence, ana swndleu
a client OF mine, Daniel NJ. Davidson, out
~ "a 900 claiming have seven valuable mining claims
In SILVER Cn Custer County, Colorado. HIS method OF
doing business has TO furnish an Office eaOOTatey
and after covering the walls with maps OF mining
Claims wait for victim When he got one
and had bied him freely the office would be closed
and the Colonel would disappear AS
~ this affair with Williams / don't see
how he can get out Of It. He hasn't friend In town,
anG naturally most Of the hotels are down on him
Mr. Htchcock OF the FithIAvenue Hotel, refused to
snscify tie amount OF his loss, but said that
Colonel Austin had boarded at ., the hotel
House the head clerk remembered one transac-
check which did 20. gain value r, from
remom6ered Colonel AUSTIN ana md. de SaieT@
Major Leland said that HE loss about u so and the
Coonel's personal property which he retained, proved
totally inadequate to cover thls sum-