The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-14
HE WAS AiDAISYRUSTLER.
coNFIDINo FRIENDS TAKEN IN BY A
SMOOTH YOUNG IMPORTATION.
Weeping. Wailine and Hustling Among
Those WhoiHad Pecuniary Dealings
With w. w. Prouty. an Indianapolis
Product. .,

q----
Several weeksago young man Of fine
appearance and plausible address sailed
into Memphis. He gave the name OF w.
w. Prouty, and, his former home at In
dianapolis, Ind. Prouty narrated to those
with whom he came in contact that he was
one Of fortunes favorites, and never knew
what stringency in the money market
meant. lie owned a ranch in the west,
bank stocks real estate, perhaps a few
gold and silver mines, and carried
snug little sum Of pin money amounting to
about $4,000 He said, among other
things, that he had stumbled upon Men,
phis while on prospecting tour for the in
vestment OF his immense resources, and
that the prospects OF the city had doubled
him up In a sailors knot Of ecstacy Here
he would pitch his tent and here was the
place he would cause TO bloom and bios
som as the garden spot OF creation.
Real cstate2 Why, this was the "busi-
ness" Prouty had reduced to a science.
"1n indianapolis, you know, l bulled the
market at pleasure, you know. Every
thing worth the attention had a string
attached TO, and all that had to do was
pull the string and the boys bowed"
This was the prsndiloquent style OF
Prouty's confidential chats" Plain, mat
ter-of-fact Memphians regarded him as
prodigy In the financial world, and forth
with began to sing his praises and endeavor
to get hand in the great shuttle he
proposed TO manipulate. A week ago the
preliminary step was taken. The young
Napoleon rented him basement apartments
in the Planters Insurance building, on
Madison street, taking out lease for q
long period OF time. In gilt letters, half
a foot tall, he decorated the French plate
glass window, "W. w. Prouty, Real Es-
tate and Rental Agent" that he who ran
might read. Then he engaged board in
ono OF the best private houses in the city,
and the business" began in earnest.
Prouty was, indeed, rustler from way
back. Genteel In appearance, with q
tongue from which oil trickled in n regular
little streamlot, and limbs that never
seemed 10 grow weary from getting move
on them, he gathered in ducats by the
hundreds. A well known banker, stock
broker and real estate agent introduced
him around, and sailing was like unto q
trim vessel before spanking westerly
Of several houses, collected months rent
in advance, and proceeded 70 pocket the
money. Then he Struck" his friends
and acquaintance for an accommodation
and generally succeeded in convincing
them that he had really conferred an
honor by the request. Did he get the
loan? In nine cases out of ten he did. and
could have played the same game over
aoain NTH fha aap.a t,arffoa ~ ka IaI
known the frailty of guileless hu nanity
AS one forlorn but genial creditor ex-
claimed, "Pm in luck, for no could have
gathered In $500 worth OF my bank ac-
count"
Prouty made ''me une grand mees-
take" lie dabbled In the check
racket Ms security. This no reserved,
however, for the Bnal card, and played Il
Monday. lie gaycon Of them TO his land
lady TO balance his board account. Now
woman may appear susceptible 10 one
who was born only few months back,
figIratively speaking, but the old stagcr
will give them right Of way every time.
Prouty didn't como In the latter
category. The lady knew thing or
two, or II she didn't, had a beautiful
sized suspicion. The check fell into her
hnnds Monday evening, after a gentle
but firm persuasion against outraged
innocence, and bright and early yesterday
morning Il passed through the bank tell
ers window. Prouty was there, and. in
order 10 avoid exposure. graciously allowed
his landlady 10 draw the amount. But no
one else got In on the deal In fact, II the
lady had been fifteen minutes later, she
would have now been numbered among
the mournen. The plausible young man
was extingulshing his bank account rs
rapidly as possible, dumping the cash for a
grand and lofty tumble from the gaze
OF his conllding friendA To a young gen
tleman friend from whom he borrowed S25,
lac gave n check for the amount. Yester.
day, having lost sight Of his debtor, the nc.
commodating friend sent his security
around 10 the money centor, and, lol Il
came back protested" This was reye.
lation, and the tidings seemed To laden tho
atmosphere, spreading the infection TO all
who had known, loved and trusted him.
All day yesterday his Office was bcSicgcd
by angry individuals, and the poor telc.
phone exchange operators wished they
had never been born. o. yes, Prouty had
n telephone, and a small boy to answer IL.
The poor, little fellow IL now on the verge
Of insanity, from over mental and physical
exercise. Hes not inl" was his steroo.
typed reply, and No continuously did he
have 10 utter II that he forgot everything
clse and also the absence Of inquirers. II
was the last words heard TO fall from bis
lips M ho sadly emerged from the base
mcnt office and wandered homeward at a
late hour In the evening.
So far as the swindled people have come
together and compared notes, the Doodle
garnercd in by Prouty and spirited away
summed up nj least 5000. There II no
telling how much morc may turn up, never
to be recovered. A part 81 this he raised
In particularly commcndablc way. A
previously stated, be took out lease on
the Office surreptitiously deserted for a
long period This lease he disposed Of
10 another party or firm for n
snug amount, added II 20 bis
ready bundle and departed. To some
who got wind u his Intention 10 leave
Pouty stated thai be was going out on q
business trip over The Louisville & NASH
Vile railroad. Investigation developed
that he embarked ON the steamer Arkansas
City. whoncc2 We'll, the answer TO that
s abandoned as entirely too tough for
mortal ken. w