Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-20
and finally .rans,eued his operation. "a


had conducted similar assooiations foy
brief periods at Allentown and yariona
9.ner parts OF Pennsylvania also In New
Jersey, Washington, Baltimore and
throughout the west. he claims to have
peen southern spy In the late war, and
ne hMla from South Carolina, either from
charleston or Columbia.
Ohateaubriand's down State operations
began at Dover, in the formation of et,
organization known as the Southern De.
teotiSe Association, with the home offiee
~ Dover. He went there about the mid.
dle OF September, and by his plausible
aaaress and persistent presentation Of
the tenehtH OF such an association as be
proposed TO form, soon got some citizens
interested IN the project. The objects Of
the association, as he set them forth.
were to collect debts Of the mem bers.
search for property stolen from them
and IN the event that the property stolen
was not recovered in 80 days to pay the
owner It's full value. For this purpose
funds were to be raised by charging for
certificates Of membership and levylng
assessments upon members.
Ohateaubriard soon succeeded In get
ting some citizens interested, and a
meeting was held at which an informal
organization was effected. Frank M,
Dunn was elected President, George A,
Mtllington secretary and treasurer il. T.
cooper counsel aud N. II. Hutchips
superintendent OF the Delaware diyision.
Il was agreed TO hold another meeting
for permanent organization aud the ar
rangement of plan OF operations.
But OhateaubriAnd did not wait for
another meeting. He went right TO
work and in o short time presented a
dozen certificates of membership for Mr..
Miilington TO sign, which he did. la
iesa than two weeks he presented another
batch OF so certificates, but these Mr..
Miiiington refused to sign. He had very
reluctantly consented at first to act as
secretary and treasurer, and the more he
thought about tho conoern the less he
liked 1t. He therefore refused to sign
the certificates and Withdrew entirely
rom the association.
The extent to which Qhateaubriaud
worked up the Organization ia not known
but II is supposed that he was pretty suo-
cessful in inducing persons to pay him
an initiatory fee and joining his detective
association The last time hs wss in
Dover heappeared to be flush with money.
About the last Of November he went to
Norfolk, Va, and endeavored to form a
branoh Of the association in that city.
AS result Of bis work John 7. James, a
detective of that city, published the fol.
lowing card In local paper:
A Gard 10 he Public: desire to call the
attention oil the public to the fact that there
ia a person going about Norfolk collecting
subscriptions from the merchants and
others for membership In 60. called
Southern Detective Association OF Dover,
Dell The Individual In question Is at.
tempting to organize o sham membership
In the above association TO swindle the
merchants In this city, and Is using the
names OF men who have no connection
with II whatever. and without their knowl-
edge or consent. The chief OF pollcs OF
Dover, Del, informs me that he Is a hum
bug. and as a citizen OF Norfolk. engaged
In the occupation OF that OF q detective,
think 1t my duty to lay the above facts be.
fore the public that they may protect them
solves from the 5windling operations OF
this person. JOHN 7. JAMES.
The chief Of police OF Dover, who
answered Mr.. James letter OF inquiry,
is Enooh CLARK, and on Wednesday last
Mr.. CLARK was favored with the following
cheeky epislle from Mr.. ohatoaubriand
q. Norfolk
DEAR SIR: There was letter written by |
you to John James OF this city, and which |
letter is being circulated. Said letter states |
that the officers OF the Southern Detective |
Association resigned because OF my being |
crooked.
Tha whole letter is a lie and fabrication |
and unless s5immediately recanted and denied |
shall instruct my attorney at Wilmington
to commence suit against you In the United |
states Circuit court for damages and Grim
inal libel. want you to understand that .
bear character in Delaware for honesty |
and legitimate dealing.
AS far as tho resignation of officers Is
concerned, have had no notification OF
that fact except verbally from Mr.. Milling
ton, and he aid he couldn't spare time to
give It from his legitimate business.
j. CHATEAUDRIAND.
Mr.. CLARK does not propose TO Gimme
diately recant and deny" and is not
alarmed about the prospect OF suit for
damages and criminal libel.
Immediately Rftes the temporary organ
zation Of the association OF Dover, Cha
.eauhriand had bills and letter-haadE
printed, bearing the names OF the officers,
md went to work. Since then he has
,een the whole association himself,
members and holding on to the
money roceiyed. The officers chosen
,nuw nothing Of what he is doing, and
hey repudiAte him and his association
,ntirely. ..=