Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-16
CITY AND DISTRICT
WITH BIG PRETENSIONS.
An Amfable old Gentleman who I'm.
posed On Cab Drivers and Real Estate
Men

An elderly, pleasant-iaced, gray-whiskered
man appeared recently in Washington, and
represented himself AS the owner of thousands
OF acres OF land in Kentucky and Tennessee,
There was nothing in his appearance man.
ners to throw discredit upon his representations,
but those who made his acquaintance are now
strong in the belief that he is either a rank and
clever impostor or an irresponsible crank. He
has bamboozled the rich and swindled the poor
and scores OF people are now trying to ferret out
his whereabouts. Representations OF his i'm
mense landed possessions made him a welcome
visitor At the offices OF real estate agents,
a aar ,s although ,o, ne did not try. as
to any great extent, a number OF them regret
the loss OF hack hire and time on his account
HIS real estate transactions here have been car
ried on something after the following system:
Alter making himself known to a real estate
agent as landed proprietor from the south he
would ask after some farm or suburban prop
erty, such as he knew from advertisements was
in the hands of the agent in question. OF course
the agent would have just the property to suit,
fully before seriously considering the purchase.
An engagement would be made for the next
DAY. The agent would get carriage and take
MS prospective client TO visit the farm. He
would introduce him at the farm house as his
rich friend from Kentucky, about to buy the
place After going carefully over the premises
dinner would be ready. or course they should
not leave until after dinner. The stranger
would express high appreciation Of some article
piece OF that excellent pork back to his
hotel, just to show them some real pork. Or
he would be delighted with the splendid
apples or potatoes grown in the place and make
arrangements then and there to have several
barrels sent to the city to his address. In some
way or other he would manage to get hold OF
something that he could dispose OF in the city
without attracting the faintest suspicion. The
farmers would be just SO much out while the
visitor would be in pleasant country drive, a
good dinner and something to keep the pot
boiling. OF course neither the real estate agent
nor the farmer would hear from him again. 1t
cannot be learned that he attempted any eX-
tensive swindling operations, but would be
satisfied with getting little bit ahead every
time. One of his favorite schemes seems to have
been to take long cab rides, promising to pay at
a certain hour ia the evening. the astonishing
part of ii Is that his representations would be
implicitly believed, while a well known citizen
might ask IN vain for such confidence. 1t is
said that at one time he succeeded in inducing
a poor colored man to ceiiver "A barrel o
cider at his address, the payment being
s soc by the pretended purchaser, but
at one place nd then another, changing the
exigency of circumstances demanded, but
never with his bills receipted. At last he
located at a certain respectable boarding house.
where one OF his table companions, who is
somewhat of q detective by nature, saw that
everything was not right He warned the pro-
prietor on the very day that the amable old
gentleman had an old friend TO dine with him,
whom he represented as the owner of the land
oA WHICH ueisuooTlug rdiiTOau SCatlOn was
built, and named after him. The alleged Ken
tuckian was advised to clear out, while his
friend was waiting for him in his room. He
cleared without questioning, and his friend
was notified of his clearance. He was cry in
dignant, and putting out his chest repeated his
name and station, as an assurance that every
thing was all right. If you are Mr.. -, you
will OF course pay the bill of So which your
friend owes and clear his reputation" sug-
gested the proprietor. He couldn't see it that
way, and neither land owner has been seen
about the Premises SINCE The possessions of
number one were, however, retained, and
a curious lot of odds and ends they proved TO
be- The papers seemed all 10 relate to arrange
Meuts and engagements for purchasing prop
erty, but none OF them show that a sale was
completed. The most frequent callers at that
boarding house since his departure, few days
ago, have been Gao drivers AS many as six
or seven have called during day, to whom
he was indebted in amounts varying from
seventy-five cents to six or seven dollars. His
whereabouts are unknown to those who want
him most. OF course, the extent of his swind-
ling operations are unknown, and il may be
that he was contented with success in small
way. The ease with which he secured credit,
and the peculiar methods adopted by him, are
the most remarkable features vi his Washing
ton career so far Is known