Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-19
HE HAD A GOOD TINE.
A Meteoric Young Man who Squan.
dered $2O,OOOin Two Weeks.

A Meteor1c Young Man who Squan.
dered O,OOOin Two Weeks.
Perhaps enc of the most notable
characters since the days of Goal Oil
JOHNNY" although his money was pro
cured in a different manner than the
wealth which fell to that spendthrift
of the oil regions, was IN the city Thurs
day says The st. Louis Globe Demo-
crat. He is known to all residents of
Niagara Falls, where he spent some
500, 900 in less than two weeks, and
where his reckless doings are told and
who will remember the arrest of James
Grenier at the Falls in February last
on charge of forging the name of the
firm by whom he was employed as
cashier in New Orleans. He was given
signed check to fill out to the amount
of SO and instructed to pay bill with
it. He however made the check for
$e3, 900 and left the city going to
Niagara Falls. He registered at the
American hotel, on the canadian side
as James johnson. and as coming
from New Orleans. He secured the
best room in the house and paid the
rent monthin advance. In appearance
he was very fashy. His hair borders
ed on the red while his mustache was
of the same color. He was in the
neighborhood of % or 80, and alto
gether was what could be called a good
looking young man. He had no bag
gage of any kind, with the exception
of small hand valise. He wore sew
eral costly diamonds, and was dressed
| IN the latest metropolitan fashion.
The first two days of his stay at the
Falls he was very quiet, remaining ia
his room most of the time and scarce
ly making his appearance only at
| meal-time.
After few days, however. he be-
came more laxative, and made the
| acquaintance of several young men.
He ordered a sleigh, and took a party
for ride in the country. He bought
them cigars, liquors, and champagne
at every stopping place, and when
they returned to the hotel bought the
| sleigh and horses and made the driver
present of them. This was only a
| starter, and in less than two hours
| every one in the town had heard of
Johnson. He went to the roller rink
on both sides of the river and made
| the acquaintance of the first young
ladies IN the place. He was invited
to dinner by enterprising mammas,
who looked upon him as great catch
for their daughters, while all the girls
spoke of him as ''the rich young man
from New Orleans"
About a week after his arrival he
was invited to a country dance, which
| was held in a hotel at Drummond-
vile, but which place is better known
as Lundy's Lane. and the famous
battle ground of 1912, where General
Winfield Scott was seriously wounded.
Old residents at the place say that the
hotel is built exactly upon the spot
where the famous general was shot
from his horse. Here Grenier made
things lively. He first commenced
by setting up the beer for the crowd,
then he bought them champagne and
wines, ond wound up by buying the
entire bar, for which he gave the
proprietor So, 900. He sent the guests
home in hacks, and would not allow
them to ride in anything else. Shortly
after this he chartered a train on the
Grand Trunk railway and took all of
his friends and acquaintance to Mon
| treal to witness the storming of the
ice palace by fireworks. He enter
tanned them there in royal style for
two days, and on the return trip stops
ped at Toronto, where he took the
party for drive around the city. He
| also gave great dinner at the Queens
| and furnished his guests with all
| comforts and luxuries. He bought
| many of them costly gems and valu-
able watches, by which she wanted
to be remembered" In this trip many
of the most respectable and fashion,
able people of the Falls were present.
He bought whips, robes and horses
for the hack drivers. and made one of
them, a man by the name of Tom
Flanagan, present of $1,000. Two
sisters, by the name of Andrews, who
| reside at Suspension Bridge, received
much of his attention. He lavished
| diamonds and jewelry upon them,
and was arrested By the custom house
officials for violation of the law liz
smuggling diamonds across.
He got safely out of the difficulty,
however, and remarked that the rea-
son he didn't pay the duty was be-
cause he merely wanted to have some
fun. In no case were his presents re-
fused, and the ladies who possessed
them considered it an honor to wear
them, while gentlemen displayed his
gifts without any reluctance, and
wanted the people to know that they
stood in with the great southerner.
But all this pleasure and happiness
came very suddenly and unexpected>
ly to an end. One evening, Grenier
was entertaining some friends in the
Grand Trunk dining-rooms. when
Col. John Byrne, Buffalo detective,
walked into the room and asked for
Mr.. Grenier. Grenier responded with:
Here L am; what will you havea"
and proceeded to pour out a glass of
wine for the detective. Byrne drank
it and when Grcnier asked him to
state his business, replied: II am
sorry tn trol1hle Won Mr. Grenier T