The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-24
GONETO SEE MALLABY
DIR. J. p. Guthrie Skips Across
the Border.
he WAS 4 CONFIDENCE SHARP.
After Getting Nearly $4,000 ON Bogus
Paper the Doctor Goes to British
Coium bfa-

DE-. J. B. Guthrie, the young Canadian
physician. who has been cutting such
wide swath among Seattle ''bloodx." since
his arrival about two months ago, has sud-
denly taken fight and has disappeared
from his old hauuts and acquaintance. or
il might more properly be said--his VIC
Tins The engaging young doctor left Sc
attic on the Premier Tuesday night last,
for the sole reason that the town was get
ting too hot to hold him. In a word. DR..
Guthrie has turned OFT to be forger.
swindler and confidence man Of the deepest
hue. and is as thoroughgoing . rascal as it
Is possible to conceive of. Coming
to Seattle with letters of i'm
PRODUCTION from well-known men
in Canada, he insinuated himself into the
good graces Of . large number OF prom
inent men in Seattle, as well as others. and
brazenly swindled them TO the extent of
his conscienceiess ability. To such an ex-
tent did this candidate for the pcnitentiary
carry his operations that yesterday morn
ing Mr. Charles kittinger. one of the doc
tors many victims. swore out q warrant
for his arrest in Justice Rivers court. and
placed it in constables hands for SER
vice. But the warrant came too late. DR..
Guthrie had gone to Vancouver some time
before Mr.. kittingcr could get out his pa
pers. When DR.. Guthrie came TO Seattle
two months ago he brought with him two
letters of introduction. one of which, from
Professor William H. Henderson, of
Queens university, at Kingston. Canada,
he presented to DR.. r. B. NJ. Miller; the
other, to Mr.. Charles Kistinger from Mr..
Abbott, manager OF the Canadian Pacific
railroad at Vancouver. Guthrie also pre-
sented himself to Mr.. A. g. Stewart, of
Stewart 4 Holmes. who had known his
father in Guelph, Canada
To DR.. Miller young Guthrie, for be is
only "a years old, unbosomed himself first.
His excellent recommendation caused DIR.
Miller to take more of an interest in the
young man than he otherwise would
have done. As Guthrie wished 10
gain a practice here. DR.. Miller Of
fered to help him all be could. He first
took an Office in the Columbia house, bnt
vacated that in about two weeks. and then
went out 10 Ballard, ostensibly to practice
medicine. He hired an Office there and
also lodgings, but spent most OF his time in
Seattle. Ii did not take long for him to
extend his acquaintance, and shortly he
knew most everyone in town worth know
ing He gave out that he had gone into
partnership with Dr. Miller but this state
ment was unqnalifediy false. Guthrie's
methods OF swindiing were audacious.
From the start he borrowed money and
Paid some OF i. back in order
to extend his credit. He operated primer
paily by checks and drafts, and had them
cashed whenever he could. His fayorite
method was TO 60 to some friend and get
Ia n L. 81 n Z.
was generally done after banking hours, or
else al expected draft from paterfamilias
had not come and he must have money.
And AT first this clever young swindler had
not the slightest difficulty IN getting his
drafts cashed, TO whoiHever he applied.
How could young man, thought they. Of
such good family connection. of such i'm
sinuating address and such bon hoHaaie
| air. be guilty OF such atrocicns cussedness?
Snch thought Mt first did not enter their
minds. Young Mr.. Guthrie had but to
pub the string and forth came the Ameri-
can eagle! Ii mattered not whom; doctors,
lawyers, bankers, druggists and business
men--a goodly portion of Seattle's 400,
helped contribute toward this young
scamp's support. He was addicted TO
gambling. and he had the lucre to indulge
in il; he had good living good wine. good
cigars and-a precious good time And,
vuigariy speaking. the suckers" looked on
and applauded, because he was a good
fellow.
Guthrie spent great deal OF time at the
Rainier hotel, and his famous game of pool
there with Captain Mallaby in which he
won s., 100 from the English swindler and
did not get, is still fresh in the minds Of
many. Ii is rather iaughable when one
comes TO think of the affair. Apparently
dead esrnestness on each side. Both were
excellent swindlers and neither expected to
| pay the other, although the one expected
the other TO pay him. 1t was case OF
diamond cut diamond" pure and simple.
| About two weeks before Guthrie's depar-
ture he changed his plan of operations
| to another field. He succeeded
in getting his personal checks cashed. re-
| presenting that he had funds in the bank.
His checks were returned with mo funds. -
but in several instances he affected q sur
| prise that he had no money on deposit,
/ but promised successfully in many cases
| TO make it all right
The First National Bank was caught to
| the extent of $40 on Guthrie's personal
| check They knew he was all right.
| Nearly all the banks handled his pauer: .
/ hut the First National and bank of North
| Seattle. so far as is now known, are the
only banks caught.
| Mr.. A. b. Stewart. of Stewart & Holmes,
| druggists, has had very interesting ex-
/ rerienee with Guthrie. Mr. Stewart. who
/ formerly lived at Guelph. Canada. was well
/ acquainted With Guthrie 8 father. Judge
/ Guthrie, he says. of the law firm of Ga,h-
/ RE, Watt 4 Cullen, at Guelph, is ~, emf
. nent man arsd well known in Canada
When young ssuihrie came here be me,
Mr. Stewart, who thought him splendid
{ fellow. Mr.. Stewart loaned him several
/ small sums OF money, which be paid back.
! He came IN the store one day aud said he
was expecting remittance OF s2s8 from
| his father. and - he was very much in
| need OF money he asked 10 have Mr. stew
art indorse his draft for $50 on his father.
Mr.. Stewart did so and the draft was
drawn on the Puget Sound National bank.
/ Next day Guthrie received the expected re-
/ nitiance for SO from his father.
and went TO the bank ard had the
/ draft ordered back. 4 iew davs after
he persuaded Mr.. Stewart 10 endorse an
| other draft for Si50. saying he wanted 10
hsay some real estate. Ihis xaS secured
without any difficulty. Mr.. Stewart sup
poses tins draft Was paid, rs he mas net
heard from is since i was sent east ts,r es,I-
iectloa. Bat not satisfied with previous
favozs received. Gsthrie came in two or
three days Afterwards and asked as a rser-
f.srk - =