The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-13

made few friends believe lin, but in It
were incidents that could only have
been written by him, say his friends, so
his statement was accepted. 1t was
brilliantly written.
An AUTHOR WAS lie.
Last week when ho was here tho
colonel told his friends he was on his
way to Gettysburg to make observations
on tho battlefield, for the purpose OF
compiling n history OF the battle. This
book, he said, he was writing for New
York publishers and was TO receive $500
iorit. At tho time he was well dressed,
had plenty OF money and was liberal
with it. He left for Harrisburg AFTER n
brief stay here. His friends EXPRESSED
some doubt as to his Gettysburg his
tory. They knew his crookcdness and
propensity for assembling and there
fore accepted his statements with tho
provorbial grain OF salt.
How often he was married his
friends do not pretend to say. Twice,
at least, he bowed ut Hymcn's altar.
His first wife was Roman Catholic
lady and through her he is supposed to
have become SO intimately acquainted
with prominent Catholic personagcs.
There is story, more probably pure
fiction, that he and Cardinal McCloskey
were on very friendly terms with each
other. Was it true II is more reasOna-
bic to accept this tale as one OF tde
dreamy carnations from the brain OF
the deceptive colonel. In strange con.
trast to his protested, friendship with
prominent Catholics are his continued
efforts to prey upon Catholic priests
and schools. 1t is hard to reconcile his
conduct with his protested regard for his
victims.
But as 10 his matrimonial ventures:
His second marriage was rs singular as
his conduct. He met lady MT Harris
burg one Sunday evening and was intro
duccd to her. He had never met her
before, but that did not prevent him
from marrying her on Monday evening.
Maybe his winning ways and courteous
manners secured him this prize, but
aside from all conjectures it proved to
be marriage at very short notice.
He EVEN BURNED BARNS.
Porter was known rs tricky fellow
in his early days. His father was John
Porter 4 fine good natured gentleman
and altogether unlike his son. When
yet young man Isaiah was implicated
IN the burning oil several barns and was
sent to the house OF refuge. After scrv-
ing his sentence ut that institution, he
was liberated and given fine
education by benevolent gentle
man. In the course OF time he
graduated from Union college and
became q disciple OF Blackstone. His
friends say he was shrcwd lawyer and
had he remained an upright citizen
OF York and practiced his profession,
his talents would have before this time
secured.him recognition in the form OF
public office, but instead OF following
an honorable career he entered upon n
life OF Irickery, fraud and deceit. 1t is
said that he swindled Hanover bank,
his accomplice being his so-called hand
some wife. Also that he entered into
partnership with his father and sue
ceeded in running him. Others say he
lett York and practiced his confidence
games in Philadelphia, that his
crimes were written up and the newt
able shame and grief which his father
experienced on so public an exposure
OF his son, while not destroying the
pride with which he regarded him,
brought him hcart-broken to his grave.
Thus, with slight variations, Porter ran
the gamut OF petty crime, forgery and
knavery, one time i'll prison and an
other time out. To such an extent did
he carry on his neiarious practices that
he was written up in books.
a recital OF his many crimes would
be firing and would fill volumes.
AS the coloneps operations were con-
fined mainly to schools and colleges, he
did not forget to pay his respects to the
folks at the Nlillersvillc State Normal
School. 1t is said that the principal OF
that institution iell victim to his wiles,
to a greater or less extent, in cold cash.
Mr.. j. NJ. Austin, the wel-known pub
fishing man, after reading the story in
yesterdays Gazette, remembered that
Porter had once been in his employ. He
found, after some search, the following
card:
"IsAIAII J. PORTER,
Attorney.at-La
tOfce on Market Squarel
ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.
Will practice in all the courts OF the
twelfth judicial circuit and the territory
OF Kansas.
Refers by permission to Drexcl l. Co.,
bankers. Phia.; Parker Brown & Con-
way, \. Y; Ed. Converse 4 Co., Boston;
Clarke Brothers & Co., st. Louis; B. NJ.
Hughes, Wes'n Bank, st. 10; Nave, Nc
Cord & Co., st. 10.
On the back OF the card is written:
Isaiah J. Porter, Col. commanding the
51th National Fusiliers Regiment, St.
Charles, No." The card was dated by
Mr.. Austin at the time OF its receipt,
November ., 1861. 1t came from st.
Joseph, Mo-, where Porter seems to
have spent considerable time after the
exposures in the East had made his
operations here somewhat dangerous
and difficult He also spent some time
in Texas, whe:e he is said to have
married.
LATE OPERATION.
One OF the latest victims OF his cum
ming was, beyond doubt, Prof. Bierman,
President OF Lebanon Valley College.
During the latter days OF October
the professor received the following
letter:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. %, 1851.
President U. B College, Annriile, Pa:
DEAR SIR:-Can you take boy in
your college for several years? His
father lost his lie in the government
service in this city, and many promi-
nent men feel an interest in him, none
morn 50 thnn will be in IInrriss