Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-22
A SHREWD SCOUNDREL
Stealing $4,000 From an ALE.
gheny Man
And Then Fleeing to Brazil to Become the
Bosom Friend and Companion
Of Dom Pedro-Hs Many
Victims.

| fITTSBCRGH, SepleuOtr %L'-hE' CtoWaEb
Robertson, of Palo Alto street, Allegheny,
who lost $4,000 by the flight of S. B. w.
Gill, is expecting a telegram any hour au-
nouncing Gilrs arrest, At heavy expense
and great deal OF trouble, he has traced the
movements of Gill from the time he left this
| city. He says: within three months af-
ter his departure he located in Brazil, where
| by virtue of his immense wealth he secur-
| I'd q prominent place in society. He was
known under an assumed name; lived and
moved about with the air OF Roman sena-
| tor. He is shrewd, atfable and entertain.
| ing. He has extraordinary conversational
powers and almost every listener fell q
| victim to the wiles Of his tongue. He soon
| became the bosom friend and confidante OF
| Dom Pedro,
The Brazilian Emperor.
By investing about $50, 900 of his ill-got-
ten wealth he was made treasurer ot a
| gigantic railroad corporation, in which the
government OF Brazil was largely interested
| Dom Pedro and the other members OF the
| corporation had implicit confidence in him,
and before year he had control OF all the
| funds. His adventurous spirit again took
| possession OF him, and taking his $4,000
and about $3.50, 90 belonging TO the com.
paDy he silently stole away. He was ao'
sent several days before even suspicion
arose. Finally it dawned upon the cor
poratiOn tnat they had been made the vic
Tins of misplaced confidence. They acted
| at once. During the same night that the
fact of his absconding was established, Dom
Pedro put officers on his trail. They fol-
lowed him patiently to San Francisco,
where he was stopping with his sister, who
resides there. Just as they were about TO
capture him he
Gave Them the slim.
and by the aid of q barkeeper escaped. He
was taken on board u tug, and by lavish
ing money on the captain was taken out
of rt ach. But his pursuers were cunning,
and ultimately recovered the scent. They
traced him to and through Mexico, and
across the Rio Grande back sgain into the
United States, where they abandoned the
chase; not, however, until one OF them
fired at him, which was promptly return
ed, Tut without effect.
From there he was for time lost to the
world. He Sas next heard OF In Santa re,
New Mexico where he established three
large banks. He had then with him a
gentleman named Danford, whose father
is to-day heavy land owner of Ohio. He
bad there assumed the name OF Smith, and
the banks were conducted under the firm
meme of Danford & Smith. They did an
enormous business, and Gill soon grew
Famous rs u Finaneier.
The heaviest depositors of that section
were his customers, and even the govern.
ment had money on deposit with them. 1t
lie said they had 81, 900, OO9 worth Of bonds
on de posit in New York, but that fact has
never been established.
'One morning the banks were closed,
and the money kings missing. Tne sheriff
and a posse were started in pursuit. and
they were finally overtaken and captured
at Albuquerque, several hundred miles
away. The fugitives were taken back to
Santa Fe. The news OF their coming had
preceded them. They were met on the
outskirts o. the city by outraged citizens,
who took possession Of them aud demand
ed the money Of which they had been de-
frauded. The sheriff and his assistants
were ordered to leave the scene, and the
mob in their own peculiar way resorted to
means to get the money. A rope was Sc,
cured, and the bankers led to tree. All
the
Details for the Hanging
h, ID been arranged, but the difficulty was
finally compromised by the prisoners pay
| ing large sum of money. IL was then ar
ranged that cowboys were to AXE care OF
the fueitiyes and see them safely out OF
| the country, which they did.
"He was next heard of in Ohio. He has
| lots of money. Why, think of the vast
| sums OF money he has taken-over sI5O,eOO
from tHis city. OF this amount he took
| S42, ,OOJ from me. He broke up several rich
men, some now dead, whom he seat to pre-
mature graves. The rich alone were not
his victims A number Of poor men and
| even widows were robbed OF their all.
| They can be seen here every day"
RaiIroad Passenger Rate War.
CBIcAGr, September 2l.-The war on
7 assenger rates between Chicago and Lou
! isyille, sfier remaining at 81 50 for two
days, took q sharp turn downward this
morning, and at this nour, noon, are sell.
| ing at S6, with q rebate Of s., over the Pan
Handle, and 81, With q rebate OF s., over
| Louisville, New ALBANY and Chicago, max.
ing the actual rate to Louisville 81. The
object of the rebate is to preyknt persons
from taking advantage at Louisville to go
10 Indianapolis and other intermediate
points. The LswisAille, New BlbaDy and
Ubicsgo is selling straight, three dollars to
Lsgisyille, good for three days, ard rouad
trip tickets, good for thirty days, for nine
dOI.Is.hss 5sE Price tho one S.I. S'y NOV. Is
will be.
RadSGSer Rrnk ZEN Tn.