, 1889-09-19
A HIGH ROLLER.
A Clever English Forger Who
Played Upon the Credulity
of Dakota People.
Represented as Nobleman OF
High Degree With Big
Yearly Income.
From ho chieago Inter OCEAN. !

with himself and the world In general,
q dapper little Englishman sat in the
private Office of Superintendent Mc5inn
ofPinkcrton's st. Paul agency, yesterday
afternoon. He was Oswald Riddel
Miles, alias Leonard Morris, an abscond-
ing forger from London, Eng, who was
captured in Fargo on Sunday afternoon.
Any Anglomaniac would at once pro-
nounce him "a jolly nice fellah, don't
you know" and certainly as conversa-
tionalist he can be both interesting and
amusing Opposite him STAT Inspector
William Mitchell Of the city of London
police force, while Superintendent Nc
CHM and n Pioneer Press reporter COM
pletcd the party. Any person who had
dropped in upon the little gathering
would never have imagined that one OF
the quartet was Il clever forger, who had
given the officers of the law hard chase
for several thousand miles, and was on
his way to throw himsolfupon the mercy
of the men lie had robbed
Miles was clerk and bookkeeper for
Woodall Il Co., who conduct n large
stock brokerage business at No. | Cush-
ing court, old Broad street, London, f..
q. While in their employ he forged
checks to the amount of between t1SOO
and G2000, or about G10, 900, and so skill
fully did he manipulate the books of the
firm that his stoalings were not discov-
cred for nearly four months, The for
gcries were all committed within the
space OF about three months, and were
,,Ap InI I,U mi. an ~ ttf y
on the books. Suddenly quitting the
firms employ when lie learned that ex-
perts were to be employed to see why
the books would not show u balance,
Young Miles made tracks for America,
sailing from Liverpool on the steamer
Aurania under the assumed name OF
Leonard Morris. lie made numerous
acquaintance on board the Aurania,
ana received many invitations To visit
returning Americans upon whom he
made II favorable impression. Several
entertainments were arranged 10 while
away tho tedious hours of the voyage,
and Morris, as he was known,
took leading part in all of them. The
fact that it was generally rumored on
board that the vivacious young gentle
man was closely connected with the
English nobility did not dctract in any
degree from his popularity, and ns hc
was spending his money freely and ap-
pcarcd 10 be on pleasure jaunt TO
America, the young ladies' worshiped
at his shrine with ccaseless devotion.
His arrival in New York was the begin
ming of another round of pleasure, and
he remained here from July % to 20,
stoppingat the st. james. Having done
the sights of Gotham, his steps were
turned westward, and travelling by way
of Niagara Falls, he reached Chicago on
the c~oning of the 30th. He put mp ut
the Palmer house and plunged into the
vortex of wild pleasures to be found in
the Windy City. While In Chicago he
visited +, y. smith, of Wabash avenue,
whom lie had met on board the Aura
mia. Mr., Smith was proud of his illus
trious guest and asa relative of Lord
Chester he got the cntree into leading
social circles and cut quite dash. But
at last the pleasures OF Chicago were
thrown aside, and on August 81 he
bid adieu To his friends and went to-
Minneapolis. lie registered at the West
OH the morning Of the 10th, and OF the
afternoon of the following day paid his
bill and left.
Where he had gone was mystery
which tic detectives had considerable
trouble in uiraveling, He had taken no
baggage to the hotel and when he
walked out of the West that afternoon ii
was rs II the earth had opened up and
swallowed him. This was what lac had
desired, and IL was olevcrly conceived
scheme on his part TO mystity the detec-
tivcs in case they were in search of him.
II well nigh proved successful. 1t was
known he had with him a yellow tele-
scopic valise and shawl-strap contains
ing q coat and shawl, but diligent search
ut the ba aggago room at the depot failed
to give any clue us to the way he had
gone. Neither article had been checked
IN any direction on the llth, and in
Iuiries of conductors failed To reveal his
Whereabouts. FOR short time the
Pinkerton force, who were hot ON his
trail, had come to the conclusion that
Miles had gone southwark. But Detoc-
tive Cleary of the Chicago office, who
had been detailed on this case and was
joined in IT. Paul about a week ago by In
spector Mitchell of the London city po-
lice force, continued his search to the
Northwest. Miles had told Mr.. Smith
in Chicago that he intended visiting
MIR. Clark ut Portland, Or, whom he
had also met ON board the Aura
mia. A telegram TO that gentleman
brought an answer that hc had not seen
his young friend Morris. Finally, II
colored porter on Northern Pacific
sleeper furnished the information which
led to the young mans capture. He
was located at Fargo, where he had a
great time passing as the son of an Eng
lish noblcman. The stories circulated
in Dakota regarding his pareptagc were
legion. Some said he was II son of the
earl of Dunham, Others declared lac was
tho son OF the duke of Devonshirc, and
the free manner In which he bought the
costlicst wines and entertained the
crowds of satellites who swarmed
around this supposed sprig of English
nobility, confirmed these reports. He
was the pet of society. On the train to
Portland, Or, on which he left Mime
| the acquaintance of several prominent
| Dakotans. At the urgent solicitation of
tho manager of the Grandin farm, he
consented TO stop few days MS his
guest. When the train stopped ut Fargo,
Miles got off with his newly found
friends. Later he secured apartments at
the Headquarters hotel and Governor
Ordwny, Governor Pierce, Major I'D
wards, Colonel Howell and others were
enchanted with the condesccnding de-
mcanor and pleasant manners of the
young Englishman, through whose
veins courscd the bluest blood of the old
world aristocracy. His success In social
circles was instantaneous. One intro
duction followed another, and the ladies
of Fargo and the surrounding country
We'd with each other in their attentions
to the nobleman who was travelling in
cognito. The stories of his noble birth
and fabulous wealth multiplied, and
when he was questioned on these points
he preserved discreet silence, and
neither admitted nor denied the rumors.
Chi tace confessa, and Fargo was con-
yinced that live English lord was with
IN the city's gates. The young Iadies
raved about his delicious accent, $50
English, you know" and invitations to
parties aud other social events poured