Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-29


usder the Gaise Of Gss'os'ss nc
ssisnssne Mes.
A Mlwaukee (wM.) special OF the
27th saws: Last evening the pci'ce 'naue
,aast ;mnortant arrest In the person
Of Leo Lesquereaux. . geoiog'sl, VINO
is alleged to have been conauct'ng .
ss,;es IL swindling operations in various
r , o. the country. Lesquercsux
i.,ne 70 Milwaukee about Q week ago,
and straightway proceeded to dis
nose OF some books oil which ne
Claimed the ownership. He repre-
sented himself as employed upon the
United States Government survey for
the Northwest, and as such sought
the acquaintance Of scientific men
In various localities wherever ne
might happen to be. lie turned
nm in Whitewater about two
weeks ago, and by his glib talk and
immense selEassurance obtained the
confidence Of w. F. Bundy, Professor
of Science at the Whitewater Normal
School. His leaving Whitewater and
the disappearance Of lot OF valuable
scientific books were so closely allied
that il was concluded that the man and
the books had departed together. Pro.
fessor Bundy came to Milwaukee and
reported to the police the loss. In Mil
waukee Professor Bundy obtained track
of Lesquereaux through Professor Peck
ham, Of the High School, to whom he
had sold two or three Of the stolen
books. Ii was also learned that he had
sold some books to Thomas A. Greene,
and others to Professor Rogers. Prose-
cutting his inquiries still further, Pro-
fessor Bundy learned that a man an
swering Lesquereaux's description was
working at the Public Museum, and the
police being notified, his arrest was
easily effected. The charge lodged
against him at the station was that Of
receiving stolen property.
Professor Peckham called at the
police station and had an interview
with the prisoner. He was greatly
surprised at his arrest, and was con-
WINGED that he was very learned man,
skilled scientist, and felt compli-
mented at acquiring his acquaintance.
Lesquereaux had become quite intimate
with Professor Peckham, at whose house
he had taken dinner. lie had also
spent evenings at the house Of Mr..
Greene. and entertained the family
with stories OF his travels and scien-
tific achievements. He said he expect
ed to clear himself as soon as he could
have q preliminary examination. He
mentioned the names of several promi-
nent scientists and biologists in Ohio,
Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York,
and other States whom he was in
timately acquainted, and with whom he
had at various times been professionally
associated. 1t was suggested to him
that those persons be telegraphed to
and that a messag, be sent TO Secre-
tary Lamar, in whose department he
Claimed to be engaged. The prisoner
declined to do this, saying he did
not wish to be Inundated by so
doing. He said that numerous cases
Of swindling charged to him were the
work OF another man, an impostor,
who had assumed his the prisoners
name. When brought to the station
the prisoner gave his name as Leo Les
quereaux, and stated that he was forty
six years old and a native Of France.
His left hand is missing, and in place
thereof is an artificial hand. He is OF
medium height. with blonde nous
tache, wears eyeglasses, and is shah
billy dressed. lie did not appear like a
drinking man.
The swindling operations in which
Leo Lesquereaux has been engaged in
various parts Of the country entitle
him to be classed as one Of the most
skilful of educated crooks. Lesque-
reaux was traced in his wanderings
over the country for three years past
by the audacieus and clever schemes he
has resorted to in order to obtain
money. He assumes number oil
names. and always claims to be the
son or brother Of some geologisi
known personally or by reputation
to other biologists. His speciality
is paleontology, and in January, 1884,
he completely deceived Professor R. p,
Whitfield, Of the American Museum Of
Natural History, probably the best
paleontologist in the country. lie ther
passed as E. p. Strong, Of Fort Scott
Kan, and claimed to be cousin o.
Moses NJ. Strong, of Wisconsin, who
was drowned while descending th'
Flambeau rapids some years ago IN
prosecuting the Wisconsin Geological
Survey. He next turned up in Phlla
delphia as w. r. Taggart, and worm
ed himself into the hospltalltie'
of Professor Hayden, Of the URiteC
States Geological Survey. He carried
off one Of Professor Hayden's mos
valuable books, besides borrowing sZo
Professor Hayden afterward Learned
that the same fellow had been to Sc
him on former occasion and then Dor
rowed 600. He then wore black whis
kers and gave his name as Professor /
S. Holmes, Of Charleston, S. G. Unde
the name of Lee, in Connecticut, he
said to have swindled one man out @
$500. and another out Of 800. II
, onGe called at the Surveyors office il
, Washington, aud was invited to ca
again, when it was intended to arres
him Int he did not call a second time