Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-19
A KING OF BUNCO.
SKETCH OF TEE LIYsor THE NOTORIOUS
MILLER.
Vow an Aston Was Dupsd-Dashing Mo
thods Of the King-Ths Successes
Hs Achieved.
fphiladelphia Times !

do dcxisVeo.
Philadelphia Timesl
Henry Miller was the son Of q Midland
farmer IN New York and was constltu
tionally opposed to work. he ran away
from home and went to New York city
when he was thirteen years old, and, al
ter graduating among crooks, he launch
ed out as a bunco man during the Cen
tenuial in Philadelphia. His first lieuten'
ant was young man named Raymond,
who had Spanish blood in him. Miller was
five feet eleven inches in height, dotted
on good clothes, and had his coats made
ct POOLS. in London. He dressed always
in the height Of fashion. and passed
wherever he went as a rich mans son,
and his keen knowledge of human nature,
aided by his imposing presence and his
glib tongue, cost tho rich men OF TINS
countrT many hundred thousands OF
dollars, for it took $4,000 o year
TO run the business Of Miller, Ray
mond Il Co., and keep an army Of good
lawyers. Whenin Jacksonville. llorida,
the genial Morris said he knew OF bis own
personal knowledge that Miller carried a
balance at his bankers, ID. G. Amber, OF
$4,000.
Miller was the brains of the combine,
and Raymond, natty, well-mannered
yputh of twenty-four, was the executive
Mead. Miller conceived the iniquity, the
other executed it. During the Centen-
NAL the first boarding house they stopped
at was No. south Merrick street, but as
soon rs they began 10 be suspected by
the police they skipped, as was their
custom, to more sImptuous quarters.
Miller always had credit with his New
York banker OF $3.50 his New YORK
city aims being Marshall Lamont. Du-
ring the Centennial they did land-ofice
business. and Miller boosted that ne car
ried away s65, 600 from tho Quaker City
aud its environs. Among his victims was
BENJAMIN Darlington, of Pittsburgh.
who took care never to tell anybody oil
his loss
MILLER SUMMERS AT CAPE MAY.
During the festivities attendant upon
the Centennial Frank Cake kept Congress
Hall and Colonel Duffy the Stockton. 1t
very naturally occurred to the quick In
stincts of man like Miller that great
harvest, white and ripe for the reaper,
awaited him in the city by the sea. Ills
motto, before no had been there week,
might well have been that of Cesar
VCni. TIdi, Vici-for he first saw and
then conquered the pOcket-books OF half
dozen fnanciers. His first business
was to rent cottage, neatly furnished,
owned by Colonel Lansing, who was
profoundly ignorant OF the nature OF the
business which called the dashing Miller
to the city.
Miller represented himself as q son OF
Banker Clews. Of New York, ordered
two or three cases Of wine, said his safe
would be down in a few days. with some
paintings by the old masters which bad
been presented TO him by his uncle, the
well known banker. He paid the rent IN
advance with a check on q New York
banker, which was duly hOncred. No
thing was too good on the island FOL
Pauker Clewss son, whose financial
standing was now 50 good that ne could
have bought every hotel on the island
with checks.
BRGINNISG THE GAME.
One month-JuIy--was spent by the
courtly Miller in becoming acquainted
with the land. With an eye to business
he had issued orders that no bunco
steerers should inveigle a victim till per-
mission WAS first given. MIR. Miller was
n bankers nephew ard wanted TO buy
real estate. so ne said. James DOak was
then special officer at Congress hall and
William Fl. Walker, once an appolntee
of General Cameron to Government OF
fee. was special officer at the Stockton
Several large hauls had been made by
| Banker CLOVIS pretended onand HIGH
links" were celebrated every night al
the vine.embowered cottage near the old
PRESBYTERIAN church. One man from
Colorado went to see the pictures al
Millers. and at the second merry go
round of the roulette wheel he lost SlO,'
O00-sj 600 in cash and s., 600 in New
York draft. He had been candidate
for the United States Senate and was SC
mortified at being taken in by acommor
sharper that he paid his bill at Congress
Hall and made straight wake to his
mining camp in the far West.
After cleaning up several quiet victims
tho bunco man ran against bad snag il
the person OF retired Trentonmerchant
who saw the wheel 60 around for the sun
of e. 900. The old man, quietly living
ON bis income, who never lost anythins
before, rarely drew out over $40 at
time, and g kindly and frugal cashier
well known in Trenton, telegraphec
down TO Cape May to know if Mr.. -
was in his right mind, while the keen
eyed cashier kept the check unpaid. The
denouement had come. A spasm o
public virtue struck William Il. Walker
special officer OF the Stockton, and at the
instance Of tho urbsne Colonel Duffy
proprietor, he printed broad sheet, bis
as one side OF tho Times, with head lines
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