The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-09-30
4 CLEVER SCHENER.


DOLLAR CHECK.
A shrewd scoundrel made a despcr-
ate attempt on Monday to defraud
Father H. J. McKeefry, Of st. .Loseph's
Church, ont Of money, but he miscal-
culated on his man. for Father Me-
Keefry thwarted him III his purposes
before he accomplished anything. Be
tween and 8 o'clock, on Monday
morning, nicely dressed and genteel
looking man applied at the parsonage
and asked to see the Father. He was
summoned~intothe waiting room, where
he remained until Mr.. MeKeefry had
finished his breakfast. When the lat
ter presented himself in the parlor, the
gentleman introduced himself rs Col.
Curtin and presented tile following
letter:
GKoneErowN co1LEGG
Georgetown, y. q, Sept, IS 1891. 4
REV, II. J McKEErRy
Martinsburg, " ya.
rsrg Dear Sir
bring you words 81 good cheer, and IN eonneo.
tion with 1t allow me 10 Introduce you ID my
most excellent friend. Col, w =. Curtin, Of
Pennsylvania, II the q $, Pension 0ifice. under
Cleveland pension granted toJames MuIvey,
who was severely wounded al the battle Of
Martinsburg, in March 1854, and who died in
Providence Hospital, In Washington has been
left your church by Mr.. Mulvey In his Will.
Col. Curtin win explain all the facts and pay
you the money. You viii find him highly
educated and most accomplished gentleman, Of
high social, professional and Official position,
and an exemplary member 81 your most holy
church. Any politeness or courtesy extended
to him Will be remembered BY
Yours Very Truly,
j HAvKNs RicaARDs, s, J. President.
The Colonel then proceeded to fully
explain his mission in a very polished
manner. He claimed to be personally ac-
quainted with many priests in Virginia,
West Virginia, Maryland and many
other points throughout the South.
He put forth every effort to impress
upon Father McKeefry that he was
in every respect the educated and
accomplished gentleman that the letter
implied. He statedthat James Mulvey,
who had left the legacy, died in the
hospital, after suffering much agony.
During the war Mulvey had been very
seriously wounded in battle near
Martinsburg. He was brought to this
city, where he received very kind treat
ment at the hands of the Right Rev.
Father Becker, now Bishop Of Savan-
nah, Ga, but at that time pastor at
st. Joseph's. Mulvey, he said, had
never forgotten the kindness shown,
and just before his death left the legacy
to the church. The COLONEL then
handed Father McKeefry the following
check:
No. 2i6 WASHINGTON, ID. c., Sept ~. 1891.
| National Capital Bank of Washington, pay to
the order Of Hon. Henry $. curtinNpne Thous-
and tsi 10000 Dollars.
wSnS3 60.
Endorsed on the back Of the check
was: "Pay to the order Of H. J.. Nc
Keefry." In this connection the Col
onel said that he had expended s5:15
for the recording Of the legacy, which
he would like TO have. Father Nc
Keefry, suspecting that all was not
right, excused himself on the grould
that he had to make deposit at the
Peoples Bank. He took the check
there, showed it to President Wilson,
who telegraphed to Washington and
received a reply that no such firm had
an account there. At the same time it
was discovered that the endorsement on
the check and the letter purporting to
come from the President Of the George
town College were the same.
Father McKeefry4 then went to JUS
tice Mckee and had warrant issued,l
and at the same time asked Detective
Dan. Sloan, of the B. & O., to shadow
the man, who was at the Continental
Hotel. When the detective went there
the man had disappeared, and he has