Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-02

"A 13-YEAR-OLD IMPOSTOR.
Little George Shepherd Tries to Swim
die Business Men.
From the Philadelphia Press.

From the Philadelphia Press
most remarkable instance of mature juve-
nile depravty was developed Thursday night
and yesterday. The principal actor in the case
WIS a boy of thirteen, residence Cumberland
nd, and the scene of his exploits was divided
between the Girard House and the store Of
Hood. Fouldrod 4 Co., on Market street.
About I 80 Thursday evening bright-lookng
boy dressed in knickerbockers and a straw hat
walked mp to the desk at the Girard House and
registered George Shepherd, Cumb., Nd"
William Barry, the clerk, asked him If he was
not a son of l.. NJ. Shepherd, well-known &C.
casional guest of the house. The boy replied
in the affirmative and added that he had come
to Philadelphia to buy goods for his fathers
store, as the ''old man was sick in bed and
could not attend to his business The boy was
self-possessed evidently knew the ordinary
run OF things ant. acted as if he had tho ex-
perience of years.
In order to furnish him with boyish amuse-
ment Clerk Barry called front and had one
of the hall boys take him upstairs 10 the stere-
Opticon. In five minutes he was back with the
remark that the man with the pictures was
jay, and then he went to the Writing room and
wrote out, as he afterward explained to Mr.
Barry. list OF the things that he wanted to
buy the next day. remarking incidentally that
he wouldn't make out the Wholesale list until
IL
time he he was busily engaged putting cigar
cites in a manner that would reflect credit on
the average smoker, and he furthermore
showed an attainment of full manliness by re-
fusing an invitation to so up to the Zoo 10 see
the monkeys. Yesterday morning Mr. Barry
introduced the youthful buyer to MIR. Haines.
who is connected with Hood Foulkrod & Co.,
and asked him to take him to the store aud
| show him the proper attention. The two went
up together and young Shepherd asked TO.
either Mr.. Weston or Mr.. Smith. Mr.. Weston
came in shortly afterward and this precocious
mercantile Dick Turpin presented the following
letter, addressed to.the firm:
This is my son George, and whatever goods
he may select will be all right. He also wishes
| to obtain light and genteel suit of clothes.
| Ii he wishes any money advance him not over
| $50 and charge to my account.
Yours forever, L. NJ SHEPHERD"
| The letter was in schoolboy hand and this
| aroused touch of suspicion in MIR. Weston g
| mind. In order to determine matters a tele-
gram worded as follows was sent to the boy's
| father:
Your son George here and wants money.
| Shall We advance IL to him?
| (Signed) HOOP, FoULKRoD 4 Co."
| Mr.. Weston had gone upstairs to write the
telegram, and when he came down with the
blank in his hand the boy saw him and appar-
| entity saw that some thing was wrong. He
walked toward the telegraph office in the store,
| climbed up over the transom and evidently
| read the words Of the telegram, as he at once
| made break for the door and disappeared.
Later dispatch came from the boys father
saying: ARREST him ut once ana hold until fur
Their orders" From words that the boy LEI
drop it is inferred that he has gone to Atlantic
City. When he left home he had considerable
| money in his possession, portion of which
| was spent in Washington, where he stayed some
hours. Chief Wood has been asked to arrest
| him when found.
L. NJ. shepherd came on last night from
| Cumberland and put up at the Girard. He re-
fused to answer any questions regarding the
boy, nor would he give any information in the
matter OF q check for ESQ, said to have been
signed BY his son In the fathers name.