Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-12-08
A RELIGIOUS CROOK
UNDER GUISg OF A SHAM CONVERSION, A
SANCTIMOSIOUS THIEF
Dupss POus-Hsar.sd Old Lady-Hs Swindles Hsr
Out Of Twsn.y-OHs Thousand Dollars Before
She Suspects TreaehGy-He Goes
10 the End Of His Rope.

BosToY, December "a remarkable
story Of deception and crime comes
from Needham, small town in Norfolk
county, the victim being an aged woman.
and the villain In the case an ex-conyict
whom the old lady was trying To reform
and Christianize. She expended sci 900
in the effort before she became con
vinced that the devil had stronger in
fiuence over him than she had, and
then she reported the ease TO the po-
lice.
The swindler decamped as soon aS his
supplies were stopped, and when the
police investigated they found that the
supposed penitent was wanted by them
to answer to the charge Of forgery aud
six or seven burglarieS. His name j.
Marshall +. Gillon, and his would-be
benefactress is Mrs. Matthias Mills. She
is - years old.
The manner in which Gillon worked
his aged friend 10 the tune OF S2l,OOO
forms an interesting chapter In his ca
reer. At Is he was recognized a. a
thief; at 22 stealcr OF horses; AZ -
he was a burglar. and later an all
round crook, and was serving five
years sentence In the Massachusetts
State Prison. Now. at the age of 80.
he is charged with forgery and embcl-
Element.
Mrs. Mills knew him as boy. When
she heard that he had experienced
change OF heart, while in prison, she
determined to do all in her power 10
put him upon his feet when he left
Mrs. Mills was the only one who knew
OF his conversion. She had prayed
with him To renounce his evil ways. and
when she received his letter announc-
ing his conversion she was oyerioyed.
In his letter he limited that 500 would
be OF much assistance to him in finish
ing his education, and that sum was
sent to him by return mail. Finding
that he had struck gold mine, he sent
for another like sum, and in about two
months he was again rewarded by re-
turn mail. He kept this up, and at the
end of his term Mrs. Mills held his notes
for something like $1,000.
His first visit upon his release was
upon Mrs. Mills. He talked religion
like a presiding elder, and Mrs. Mills
was convinced OF his change OF heart.
She thought ii little strange that he
should change his name 10 \. C. Sher-
man, but believed his explanation that
he did that in order TO escape from the
influence of evil companions OF other
days. Before he left he had negotiated
another loan of $3.50, which he prom
ised to return as soon as pending busi-
ness plans were completed.
In order to clinch the conversion
theory, Gillon knelt by her side aud
joined her in prayer that he might con-
tinue faithful in the path he had chosen.
lie spent the $50 in a nights carouSal.
In week he called again at the
house Of his victim and unfolded new
scheme. II he could have 81, 600 10 in
vest he was sure that in less than
month he would gain 80 per cent. Mrs
Mills trusted him. In a week Mrs. Mills
received letter. in which religious SEN
timcnts and request for more money
were artistically blended. He wanted
| 81 200 more, and he got II. The young
man was next heard from In Pctou,
n. ). lie declared that he was still
firm in the Methodist faith, but needed
the sum OF $1,000 to keep the stock
company in running order. Like pre-
yiouS sums, the =. 900 was sent.
The most astounding proposition that
he had dared to make mp TO that time
was set forth in the next letter I'm
this he proposes that he shall in future
sign her name TO checks TO save
tronblc, and mentions that he has al
ready started the plan To save time.
After that checks came thick and
fast, until the old lady notified the po-
lice