Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-22
PLAYING DETECTIVE,
AN ALLEGED RlchMoNpER DeFHAuD-
ING THE COUNTRY PEOPLE.
He Mahes Love 70 Fair Maid. Borrow
Money, Passes Counterfsit Bflis.
aud Quits.

tectlve was IN DuchlnSbbm county leSSte~
" and went first to the house Of Mr.. Willie
Hall, where he said his errand was to
arrest a murderess from Ashland. Va, who
had poisoned her husband and two children.
He gave minute details, produced q pho
tograph, claimed that the woman was na-
tive of Buckingham, and was probably then
within the county limits.
He enlisted the services Of Mr.. Hall on
the promise of large pay and had that gen
teman to take him around at Will IN ms
buggy.
ADVANCES OF MONEY.
A Dispatch correspondent gives further
details as follows:
Great courtesy was shown the distn-
guished g) detective and advances OF
money made, as the fellow said he had no
small notes, but exhibited the ends OF 800
and $50 bills.
He transferred his operations from one
part Of the county to another, playing each
individual the same game and keeping
every man whom he had first employed
still retained, and their promised liberal
pay was to be forthcoming when he heard
from the Detective Association at Rich
mond, Of which he was member.
oEEAr pEcrrvER.
He proved himself Mason and claimed
to have taken thirty-two degrees, and this
won him confidence with such gentlemen
in the county as Frank Moxey, Esq. the
prominent merchant at Well Water; Messrs.
John II. Roberts, near the Courthouse; M.
l.. A. Moseley, an officer on the North Side;
Andrew Stegar, and others, who obeyed his
behests both night and day, meeting him
to make their reports at appointed places
regularly.
MAKING LOVE.
In the mean time Johnson alas Turner
(for such were the names he assumed,
changing from one to the other as detec-
tive's trick, } was spending much OF his timo
at the house of an obscure family, making
love to an impressionable country maiden,
who promised TO marry him.
To her he was e1trayagantly liberal with
counterfeit 300 bills, leaving six with her.
He had extracted few dollars from each
of the gentlemen he had employed; had
had good time generally; had succeeded
doubtless in eluding justice 0or IT IL now
believed he was fugitive), and the time
was drawing near for him to seek other
fields and pastures new.
HOT TRAIL.
Several DAYS ago he called mp one Of his
employees, highly-respectable farmer. who
| had left his oats uncovered on the ground
and turned his horses to pasture to answer
the call Of his employer, TO take him TO
Browns Station, as the trail was getting hot
and il led him to Howardsville, saying that
| he would return on the evening train.
He took the train and that was the last
seen of him.
ANERvoUs MAN.
| The stranger is remembered to have been
| exceedingly nervous at times; ate but lit
| tle claimed that he was rest-broken; was
a good talker, and the following accurate
description may serve purpose yet II he
is wanted:
He is about thirty years old; perhaps
five feet nine inches in height; monstache
dyed black; hair light, but cut so close tc
the head as scarcely TO indicate its color
| lower teeth separated and lower gum;
show plainly; was dressed in a cheap
brown suit; black slouch hat and badly
worn CATERS.
He addressed letters TO George W. Gate.
wood. Detective Association, Richmond
NOT KNOWN HERE.
Chief-of-Polic John Poe, TO whom the
above letter was read, yesterday said that
some DAYS ago he received a communica-
ton from Buckingham giving him inforna-
tion that this man had been in the county
and making inquiries as to the fellows re
sponsibilitv, &c. The Chief put the matter
|
linson, who ascertained that no such mur
der had been committed at or near Ash
land, and that No Richmond detectiy
bore any resemblance to the person dc
scriDed.
Major Poe added that so-caIled "detec
tive companies or associations" are adver
tising all over the country for detectives
in every locality and upon the payment o.
IS or $40 fee they will give the applicant
10. tf. n Itfa
which he could do as well without as will
their authority. Perhaps Johnson is one o
these detectives. That he is swindlel
seems certain. thinks Chief Poe.
NO SUCH DETECTIVE ASSOCIATION.
Since the death of Mr.. John Wren hi
Office and business have been nnder the
charge of MIR. Alexander Brownell rs agent
for the widow, who is the administrative ol
the estate.
The mother of tho deceased claims the
detective office, fixtures, and good Will un
der q deed of gift made several years ago
but this the Administrative resists, and the
matter has been referred TO the courts fol
adjudication, but mean while Mr.. Brownel
holds possession. He wasfound there yes
terday. and being ASKED to read the Buck
ingham letter, which the reporter then anc
there placed in his hands, did so.
He stated that he knew Of no such mur-
der and no such detective. without {
doubt the person is confdence-man. anc
! may be an ex-convict, he said.
Alr. Brownell looked in the City Directory
but could find no such name as that oi
George w. Gatewood. and he knew Of nc
such detective association as that spoker
Of
His conclusion was that the fellow is I
small-fry swindler.