Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-26
HON sOME WIN LIVE.
Further Light on the Methods of IA
Fellow VINO Lives by his wits.
New York Herald

Further Light on the Methods of n
Fellow VINO Lives 10y his wits.
New York Herald
The story which appeared IN Sundays
Herald entitled GLOW Some Men Live"
forms but small chapter in the life and adj
ventures OF that eniernrislng gentleman
from London. Roland Gideon Israel Barnett,
whose name Is nauscatiug TO hundreds in
America, Canada, and the Continent.
Few men are better known IN London
than Roland Barnett. Years AGO he carried
on his usuriOus business in Adams street, OF
the strand, aud iuveigled young sons OF the
nobility and Others into his dainty parlOrs,
where he would advise them 10 dispose OF
any reversionary interests that they might
possess. Nor were Juniors his only patrons.
Army officers and impecunious medical men
caught at his bait with surprising avidity.
While thus engaged Barnett always dress
ed well and was ever conspicuous for the
barbarpc richness and abundance OF his jew
elry. lie was plausible in his conversation
and affected Ga easy freedom that seldom
failed to fetch" the Young men, hut to
his superiors he was becomingY deieren-
tial.
HIS METHODS OF BUSINESS.
A gentleman who has passed through Bar
netrs mill explained his mode OF operating
70 0 Herald reporter Yesterday as follows:
"Roiand seldom II ever advanced money
direct TO his clients. HIS method was this
When a person had applied 10 him for
loan on good collateral. or had disposed Of
his reversiOnary interest in a property, an
appointment would be made for a certain
day and hour az Barnett's offices.
Barnett then would express regret that
he had loaned out all his money. whereupon
the client would become excited and say,
FBut must have my money this afternoon
The willy usurer would appear 10 be in
great state Of perturbation, and at length
suggest q visit TO friend OF his IN the East
End who might accommodate bin with the
money, but Of course additional interest
would be charged. Aud il was. A ride 10
Whitechapel or Mile End would be under
taken in a hanson cab and q visit paid 10
some small dealer. who after great deal OF
persuasion apparently would consent TO ad-
vance the amount, less his commission, to
Barnett on the understanding that his client
should buy an Oriental mirror or some other
antique incumbrance OF no earthly use TO
him. Barnett would then take his commits
sion and pay for the purchase out of the
clients money, handing that unfortunate
what was left, which OF course was very lit
tie"
PROM PRISON TO AMSTERDAM.
Some trouble subsequently arose out OF
proceedings IN the court OF chancerY, and
the bejeweled. bald.headed usurer was
landed In Holloway prison, where he So
journed for some months. When he left the
prison he shook London's dust from his feet
and the next that was heard OF him was from
Amsterdam, where he started theatrical
agency, OF which many curious stories are
yet atioa..
HE COULDN'T LEAVE AMERICA ALONE.
or course America had TO be visited. The
Americans, with all their cuteness, are con-
sidered easy prey by the cOckney. And,
indeed, they need to be cute when approach
ed by a Londoner as plausible as is Mr.. RO-
land Gideon Israel Barnett.
In the spring OF 1883 Barnett was skir-
mishing around New York organizing an
opera company, which aiterward was known
as "Barneit's New York Ideals" He had
found copfidiug friend who backed the
enterprise with about $500, and in the course
OF time the Ideals" opened at Providence,
II. l., but after few weeks proved failure.
From Providence The company was taken by
Barnett TO Boston, where again the receipts
proved terribly small. A Sunday concert,
however, pulled Barnett through, and, like
any other swell, he summered at ocean
Spray.
In the fall he returned 10 New York and
staff OF the .JetciSh Messenger, but the re.
muneration must have been entirely made
quate to the requirements OF one accustomed
70 play with thousands OF dollars. At this
time he had no iewelry, and he lived In II
small room In Clinton Place, where be
cooked his own suppers. This honest life
became too slow for Roland, so In January,
1884. be collected several sums fer the Jer-
ISL Messenger which the management say he |
did not account for. He was arrested and
bailed, but he Jumped his bail aud went (as |
do all that kind OF people) to Canads. This |
was, however, unfortunate for many hun. |
dred poor Canadians, as the sequel viii |
show.
SHAKES UP TIE CANADIANS,
Montreal was the fugitive's first hating |
place in Canada, and within a few weeks |
sitter his arrival there he succeeded in get |
ting two or three men interested IN scheme |
20 convert the Victoria Skating Rink, which |
stood within stones throw OF the Windsor
Hotel, into q summer opera-house. An |
opera company was engaged, aud although |
entertainments were given all through the
summer months, the venture proved to be
great loss TO the syndicate, for at the end OF
the season the gentlemen interested mourDed /
over the dropping OF somewhere near $780,
600, aud they were not alone in accusing |
Barnett OF having appropriated the greater |
portion OF that sum. However, Barnett |
could stand little accusation like that.
Having severed bis connection with the |
% Crystal Palace 0pera.House Company" as
Il was styled, MIR. r. g. 1. Barnett was next
heard from in Toronto, which city helm
vaded with letter OF introduction 70 firm
OF lawyers, Messrs. Roaf d Roaf, No. 30 |
King street, Toronto. The firm was then
composed OF Mr.. james R0ai and Alderman
William Roaf. 1t proved 10 be an unior,u-
nate letter Of Introduction for the inhabi-
tsnts Of Toronto, but gold-mine for the
fnancier and impresssrio Barnett.
cHuNs WITH THE BANK CASHIER.
Shortly after his arrival In Toronto Barnett
was introduced by the lawyer 10 Mr.. A. A.
Allen, then cashier OF the now defunct Gen.
trail Bank OF Canada. The bank bad only
been In existence brief period and Mr.. Al
len was anxious 10 increase ITS patronage.
Barnett at once opened an account with the
Central Bank aud deposited $500 and draft
for collection for about cas-. This was all
be ever deposited. From tina: day CON-
meneed Cashier Aliens woes.
by bis plausible tales aud patroniziDg airs
Barnett was too strong combination for
Mr.. Allen, who soon found himself discount
fog BarDetps own notes, until at length that
Industrious gentleman owed the bank a very
large sum OF money. The cashier became
alarmed, and endsayored TO close down upon
Barnett; but, alas, be had gone too far, and
that crafty person did not propose 10 "let
up" on such good thing.
cotLtTERALs or LITTLE VALUE.
The following letter, dated Toronto, No
vsmber 10. 1884. addressed 10 "it<G q. |.
Barnett, Esq, Merton House, Sew York"
and received BY that worthy durlng visit
10 thB city, will give $ little light on The 4