Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-01
nEaCULEAN SOB.
Statement of How an Adventurer
Tired to Dupe a COlOred Man.
The Petersburg Ldcr-Appedi of
yesterday contained the following letter
from resident Of this city:

The Petersburg Hdcr-Appeai of
yesterday contained the following letter
from resident Of this city:
RICHMOND, VA. February q, 1883.
Hon. - Jarrat. Mayor Of PeterstUrg:
Dear sir.-I see that one "Rey James Her
cules" was arrested in Petersburg for perse-
vering a rather eccentric course. ! write 70
state that I, the writer, and my wife hachel
keep clearinghouse on broad street. No 1900,
this city; that the "Rey. James Hercules" or
DIR. Hur.n played substantially the same game
here on me and my wife that be played or al
tempted 70 play upon toe lady at whose house he
boarded I'm Petersburg. lie came 10 ny house
representing that he knew my mother who had
recently died in Cuba; that my mother tad left
5000 IN real estate. and that available box sent
TO me by ms mother before she died was AT his
Qlercules'O ofiico Ia Washington, d. G., ali OF
which he agreed TO procure for me If | would
board him and furnish small amounts Of money.
He said the box was 40 valuable that he was
willing n pay W. $500 cash Tor t without opening
il lie also said be had al hts Onice In Washing
ton for me two parrots-one red and the other
green-they had been raised by my mother and
were very 10 teli gent He said he bad been offered
fifteen dollars apiece for them, but would not
sell them because they belonged 70 an orphan.
My mother was sOll away in 1850, ana had
learned long ago that she was in Cuba. So when
this man came in, heiug an entlre stranger To
me, and told me about my mother l believed
him because could not see how he-a stranger
had learned ANYTHING OF me or my mother aud
her supposed whereabouts.
IL was on the 18th aud 10th instauts that he was
ut my house aud played his game. lie hal me-
pay for a telegram to Washington for the box.
which has never come 70 sight He pretended TO
write a letter for me 10 parties In cuba about
the property lett there by my mother for me. |
cannot read. but after he was gone out had the
address on the envelope real and found that in
stead OF being addressed 10 the United states
Consul a. Cuba, a. he pretended, twas addressed
to Dr. James Hercules, Ole st. Peters street. this
city.
This aroused my suspicion, and when no came
in my wife charged him with deceyng and de
frauding her aud her husband. She told him OF
the letter, when he pretended that he had made
a mistake and gave her the money to send 70 the
post-ofice. lie demanded the letter and We re-
fused TO give il IN him. Then he threatened TO
90 and get policeman 70 make my wife give up
the letter. BE went out in great haste to get
policeman, but has never returned since.
was sick at the time, and that Is the only reason
/ did not have him arrested here and then.
could not get out 70 attend 10 my business. | am
glad TO hear that he has been arrested 10 your
city, and trust that fun justice will be meted out
20 him. Yours respectfully,
WILLIAM JACKSON.
1906 east Broad street
When the Doctor was here be did not have any
watch, but he did have a pistol with him
WILLIAM JACKSON.