Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-24
EDUCATED CROOKS.
Foes of Society Who Could Have
Made Their Mark.
From the Ph1adelphia Ve,cs.


rough and uncouth. raised in the gutter
and among criminals, and without any
early training which might partially
eradicate the germs of inherited moral
disease. This is far from being the
truth. The hereditary criminal is to be
found only In the lowest grades, among
pickpockets and sneak thieves. Most
burglars, bank robbers and forgers have
been at one time well-tO-do artisans or
mechanics, or the sons of such, while not
few criminals of this grade are men OF
culture, we'll educated and we'll read.
such are usually the most dangerous and
are by no means the exceptions proving
an opposite rule. Name after name might
be quoted, but few Of the,cultured GRIM
inals who have operated in Philadelphia
will suffice TO illustrate the proposition.
A COLLEGE MAN.
Louis G. Clermont was one of the most
notable of educated criminals. He was of
Southern birth. His parents were rich
and he received liberal education, gradu-
ating with honors from college in the
South. He was somewhat reckless In his
conduct and his associations were of the
most democratic kind. Thus he became
acquainted with Walter Patterson and
Ira Graysides, notorious forgers and
check raisers. He Joined them and made
considerable amount of money by par
ticipating in their schemes. With his
ill-gotten gains he went to travel in
Europe and made pilgrimage through
Palestine. While in Stuttgart, Germany,
he was the guest of Baron Shindle, better
known to American detectives as Max
Shinburn, a dangerous bank rob5er, who
accumulated fortune by pursuing that
specially and then going abroad, pur-
chased a title and settled down as a
shining light OF the old nobility, among
whom his name appears in the Almanach
de Gotha. When Clermont returned from
Europe he settled down in Philadelphia.
He was tall, handsome man, fine con-
versationalist, and in bearing and beha-
viOr evidently gentleman. He got in
troGuced into good society here and was re-
garded as valuable acquisition, owing to
his geniality and accomplishments. He
represented himself as a Cuban refugee
and always carried revolver. His dark
complexion and complete knowledge of
the Spanish language aided him in sus-
tanning his assumed character. At last
Mrs. Josephine Dumel. beautiful wild
ow, became his wife. They arranged to
travel on their honeymoon trip, and she
packed up all her valuables and $4,000
in cash. At the moment before starting
Clermont gave his bride a note to deliver
to friend, and when she returned to re-
join him she found that he had decamped,
taking with him the $4,000 and all her
valuables.
CLKRMONT TURNS UP.
In July, 1875. Col. Ralph Pollard, an
invalid, who had served with distinction
in the Louisiana Tigers, turned up at
Chambersburg. Pa, and took up his resi-
dence there with his wife for the benefit
IF his health. He formed an early &C
s.,& ,x,;AR fl
the cashier of the National Bank. The
latter had valuable library and Col.
Pollard manifested wonderful knowledge
of books and authors, and soon became
the centre OF a distinguished coterie.
Col. Pollard was joined by another
Southerner named Johnson and
they remained in Chambers burg
until early in March, 1876. One afternoon
in March Pollard and johnson dropped
into the bank just about the hour of clos
ing up. johnson had package which he
requested the cashier as a personal favor
to deposit in the vault until morning.
The cashier refused to open the vault, but
said he would keep the packet in a place
of safety until the morning. He took
charge of the packet, and as he turned
around a bag was thrown over his head.
He struggled and knocked Johnson down,
and then, despite of Pollard's threat to
kill him II he made any noise, shouted
"Murdern' Pollard seized bundle con-
tanning $4,000, which had arrived by eX-
press that day, and ran out Of the bank
only to be met by the persons who an
swered the cries of the cashier for assist
ance. He was detained and the money
taken from bin. Johnson escaped, but
was subsequently arrested in Virginia
and proved 10 be MECHANIC belonging to
New Orleans named Weeks. Pollard was
sent for term to the Eastern Peniten-
tiary, and there William A. Pinkerton.
the detective, identified him as no other
than the handsome Cuban refugee, Cler-
mont.
Mrs. Dumel prosecuted him for bigamy
and robbery. The charge of bigamy failed
because he had been married to the wo-
man who lived with him in Chambers
burg in Chicago, and the proofs had been
destroyed in the great fire, and she swore
positively that there had been no mar
riage. However, he was convicted of
robbery and got twelve years. imprison-
ment. After various ingenious devices
to escape from prison he died in 1888. In
the hollow of his shaving brush were
found some stones, supposed to be dia-
monds, but which proved TO be paste, and
1t was believed he intended to bride the
jailers to let him escape.
A LINGUISTIC CROOK.
George Leonidas Leslie, better known
as George Howard, has as remarkable
and romantic a career. He was born in
New York State and graduated from a
Western university. After being in bust
ness in Milwaukee and san Francisco he
joined Mike Stafford and Dunlap Scott,
bank burglars, and proved one of the most
ingenious that ever attempted TO crack a
safe. He was concerned in the robbery of
Sl,300,000 from the Beneficial Saving
Fund, in this city, in 1866. Sub
sequently he became lion in
Philadelphia. He was accomplished
and agreeable, showing culture
in every word and action, and talking
several languages. He married a lady
high in the social ladder. One day in
1870 he was arrested in Norristown in
connection with bank robbery after
wounding a policeman who had shot at
him eleven times without iniuring
him. He gave bail and skipped, while
his companions where convicted and sent
10 jail. He was accused Of numbering n
man in Dexter, Me. His dead BODY was
found at last by roadside in Long island
with pistol by his side, to give the idea
OF suicide, but IL is believed he WAS MUIR
dered In bed through jealousy by Shang
Draper and other bank burglars.
big Frank' Mccoy, who IS serving
out ten years sentence in New Castle,
Del, where he was returned after escap-
ing three times aud reforming, belongs TO
Pennsylvania, and was surveyor and
civil engineer. lie is an excellent Latin