The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-09-17
A PRINCE OF DEAD BEATS
AFTER CUTTING A BIG SWATH
HE LANDS IN A CELL.

The Gilded Youths of Unsophisticated
Atlanta Stood Open-Mouthed While
He spun His Fairy Tales, Ate Their
Dinners, Drank Their Wines, and
Spent Their Monev.
ATLANTA, GA, Sept. IA young man
calling himself George II. Vanderbilt, and
representing himself as son Of the old
commodore, has successfully worked the
town for a snug amount and departed. He
came here ten days ago and registered from
New York While here he took in tho town
by day and night spending his money freely
as long as it lasted and then
borrowing from any one who would
accommodate him Two days ago he
quieted the suspicious aroused about his
gonuineness by telegraphing to Now York
for 81, 900 One of his victims was Robert
G. Crawford, n butcher, whom he worked
in this way. He called upon Crawford and
represented himself to be George Howard,
contracting agent for Buffalo Bill's wild
west show. lie engaged l 200 pounds Of
meat daily for Buffalo BilpS aggrega-
ton, and borrowed $50 from Craw-
y
refunded as soon as Buffalo Bill
reached the city. He then left the city
without paying his board bill at the Kim
ball house This morning he was arrested
in Augusta, where he has worked the beef
racket upon butchers of that city He
will be brought back to Atlanta as soon as
Augusta is ready to give him up.
DOING AUGUSTA.
AUGUSTA, GA, Sept. IA young man.
who registered at the Arlington hotel as
George Howard, is behind the bars hore.
He registered as contracting agent OF Buf-
falo Bill's Wild West show, and wanted to
made arrangements with the exposition di-
rectors about exhibiting hero during the
exposition. Yesterday no called on prom
iuent butcher named Lawrence and wanted
to make contract for a supply OF meat for
the troupe-Lawrence to bill meat worth 10
cents at II 4 cents, and allow Howard "
cents, whicn he would take as a commiS5i IN,
the money TO be paid him now as Il guarantee
forhthe carrying out of the contract. un..
THE OFFER DECLINED.
Lawrence refused to agree to such an ar
raDgement. Howard called on him later i'll
the day and made "a somewhat similar prop
osition, the drift of which was evidently to
get hold of ready money. He wore seN oral
diamonds, and was cutting a big swath
parties, and teegraphic communication led
to a belief that he was an imposter This
morning he was awake by the clerk of the
hotel and asked to pay his bill. He grew
confu ed, and said that he had no money,
having lost it the night before while gam
bling. Proprietor Beerman of the Kimball
house at Atlanta and Chief Connally of the
Atlanta police force telegraphed, asking if
he was here, and the police were searching
fpt. ~ no hn f,.an haitcr
held in the hotel
UNDER ARREST.
Lawrence was indignant at the effort of
the fellow to swlndle him, and walked into
the hotel and confronted him. Howard
begged to be allowed TO depart, saying that
he had IA wife and child in New York, and
tnat he had harmed no one here. He at
tempted to run. but was stopped by blow
from Lawrence, aud was then handed over
to the police. Howard is from 26 TO ~
years of age, smoothly shaven, of a slightly
Jewish cast of countenance and is about 5
feet inches high.
He defrauded the proprietor and guests of
the Hygea hotel at Old Point. t.Comfort, and
at several other points.
SOME DIG FAIRY TALES.
He liked Atlanta aud stayed there a
week, sd eading a report that he was Capt
G. II. Vanderbilt. He told wonderful
tale of his alleged travels. He said that he
set out on Aug. 13 on the yacht Comet,
which he owned, for his rubber plantation
on Magdalena river, Venezuela, where he
owned 800 slaves. He said that he had
rough weather off Cape Hatteras. which
nearly swamped him. He told how, off
Honduras, his yacht was stove in, and the
hole had to be covered with canvas, ETC., to
keep the craft from sinking. He said he
finally reached New Orleans, where the
yacht is now undergoing repairs
DINED AND WINED.
He was din ID and wined at Atlanta by
the young men and finally fed having
swndled a butcher out of $50, beat the
Kimbali house. and leaving debts Of honor
unpaid. He will be tried here tomorrow
for attempting to raise money by false
representation. A telegram received from
Buffalo Bill to-day says that Howard is an
imposter and that he has no agent this far
ahead. Howard refuses to talk. Atlanta
would like to have him there. He tried 30
make away with some letters. One recov-
cred was a request from Il young man to be
employed on mis- yacht.