Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-05-12
FOURTH EDITION


The Bogus clergyman APA-
James Jones alias Father Doyle. the
boz us clergyman, who swindled John
son q Son Of this city short time ago
ar v no was sentenced TO ave years
imprisonmsnt by Judge Arnold OF
Philadelphia last week, obtained lon
Ger residence ct the expense OF the State
than he bargained for. He made no de-
Tense and pleaded guilty. Jones, rs ne
calls himself, 10 a character with y his
tory. He Ia q thorough man OF the
world, bright and we'll educated. His
correct name he woL Id not reveal, but
he admitted that his father is rector OF
a church ct Swansea, Wales, and that
he was educated ut one of the great uni.
versities vf Eug gland with the idea OF
entering the church. de came TO this
country with letter. of recommendation
TO many prominent citizens OF Phila'
delphia who are acquainted with his
father, entered upon protracted spree
and finally turned up as q wonld.oe
clerical swindler. His scheme was 70
attire himself ne q minister, order goods
from q tradesmsn and present cheek
| in payment. The check Was always FOR
q larger amount than the bill, and
Jones was given the change. He prac
ticed this scheme for about six weeks In
various parts OF that city and surround
ling cities and towns but managed to
elude the police.
'T put up ct the Lafayette" said
Jones. "because i was safer from the
Iofficsrs there, and l made enough
money TO have q rare good time, and
meet my hotel bills promptly. always
found that the women were my easiest
victims. l would enter the store, talk
y It'll them about religion, and. finding
out what denomination they belonged
TO, would assume to be q clergy man oil
that church In part OF the city some
where remote, and thus at ouce gained
their confidence. Then 1 would pro-
csed to order q bill of goods, give my
check for an amount OF few dollars
or, II the field Looked promising, $40 OF
$40 In excess of the bill, and get tbs
chance readily.
when had thus collected q little
pile would 20 to my hotel and have
good time until IL was De cessary TO make
other visits to the stores. OF course,
Expected 10 get caught sooner or later
but j lived royalty while the fun lasted
Ia order to bs properly posted studied
the names OF the clergymen OF all th'
lefty congregations and was Away
ready for an emergency. One day aftel
i bad been captured l read In news
paper an account OF trial before on,
OF the Judges Of the Court in which
the prisoner brought large number o
witnesses to prove his good charsote
land respectable surroundings, and
Inotei with natural interest that tn
effect of this was not what was antici
ipaied. ~,
"The Judge said, in sentencing tn
man, that, 40 far from that being
miti cation of the ofieuse, the fact tina
tue prisoner had 70 many good friend
and advisers about him aud had re
apectable surroundings, 1t was an az
; lRrav4tion. He had less excuse fc
going wrong and deserved the ia
; penalty OF the Law, and lie got 1t. TIL
was o pointer for int. Although
know many we'll connected people |
Philadelphia who would have testifie
TO my previous good character, TAXI
this conclusion OF the Judge TO mysel
determined TO claim no such exteuui
lion, but to plead. guilty and take IN
chances. Bat 1t happened that N
scheme did not work, and l caught H.
Iytars."