The evening world., 1891-07-18
WAS he MURDERED Z?
I" Gentleman George" Parker'S SuS.
piCiOuS Death In a London Lodging.
He Had Done Time in New York
for Swindling.
Facts that Load to the Belief that
He Met Foul Play.

A CaDleBram from LONDON announces Jhe
death there, under suspicious circumstances,
OF George Parker, who is described as resi-
dent OF Brooklyn and gambler.
His body was found at his lodgings in Great
Russell street Thursday morning with bull
let wound through the heart. An American
revolver OF Al calibre was found near the
body.
The theory OF suicide was at first advanced,
but suspicion that murder had been COM
mitted was developed when 1t was discovered
on searching his clothing that there was a
pawn ticket for a revolver in the dead mans
pocket.
The police thought 1t hardly possible that
Parker had two rovolvers.
This suspicion was strengthened by the fact
that another American named Whitman, who
had been on intimate terms with Parker, and
who Is described as Of vilainous appearance,
was the first to give the alarm, and that when
the body was found Parkers false teeth had
been removed and were placed in tumbler OF
water.
1t was argued that had the man intended
to commit suicide his natural vanity, OF which
he was known to possess great deal, would
have led him 10 keep his false teeth IN his
mouth, so that he might. look his best in
deatl..
The cabled description OF the dead man
hands me, between rorty-nve and hfty years
ii age, over six feet In height, with hair and
mGsiache white-has led those who knew
him to believe that the victim OF the tragedy
Cf Great Russell Is none other than George
Z. Parker, VINO, iive or six years ago, did q
thriving sWindling business In this city.
He had regular bureau and advertised for
the collection OF old World aegacies which
Io)plc were advised by him we're awaiting to
be claimed by them on tho other side OF the
Atlantic.
He h0d an office In the Stewart Building,
where he had employed twenty young women
typgYTiters TO conduct the extensive cor
Ie Jundencc OF the agency, which was
known Us The Brltish-American Claim
Agency.
This pretended to be q regularly lncor-
purated association OF which Parker was the
President, Edward S. Witheren the Secretary
and Treasurer and Lawy er George w. Glib
bons the counsel.
The claim agency issued a pamphlet con-
tanning what purpOrted TO be an index regis
teriGg next OF kin, heirs at law and legatees
To vast properties which had been waiting
claimants In Great Britain and Ireland as far
back as 1850, which they spread broadcast
throughout the land.
1t also published thousands OF little slips,
pretending to be clippings rrom newspapers,
with attractive headings, such as "a Poor
Mechanic Falls Heir 20 Several Millions" In
these circulars the agency was advertised as
bringing the poor mechanic his good fortune.
Inquiries poured In and were replied to with
requests for small retaining fees. Fees were
In fact wanted for every move the agency
pretended to make, but all were less than
S25, so that an Indictment could not be for a
greater ofTense than petit larceny should one
OF the dupes think It worth his while TO pros
ecute.
SO many complaints were made against the
agency" that Inspector Byrnes made q
dead set against 1t and secured the indict-
ment Of Parker, IWitherell and Gibbons
March 3, 1887, and finally broke up their ex-
tremely lucrative but illegal business.
There are four indictments for petit larceny
against Parker in the oflice OF the Clerk OF the
Court OF General Sessions, but It was impos-
sible to convict him because he had sailed
very close TO the letter or the law, and con-
viction could only be had by proving that he
did not have a connection with agents In
Great Britain who were actually pushing
claims placed In his hands,
furnished by his wife, who resides In her own
home at 1872 First place, Brooklyn. She has
two children, who also reside with her.
"That is Gentleman GEORGE" said Capt.
Mclaughlin, who is In charge OF the Detective
Bureau at Police Headquarters, when he was
shown the description of the London suicide.
"That's Claim Agency Parker. He left
New York in December. 1880, when he heard
or yUah had a yVa Mt ia TpF nd
larceny for stealing a pair OF $500 diamond
earrings from Jeweller William Laich, OF Sixth
avenue.
"A funny thing about that" interJected the
Captain, ais that Laich is now doing hye
years for receiving stolen goods.
"When Parker LEFT New York." he con-
unued, "he jumped TO Brazil. He LEFT South
America and went TO Paris, and then went
over TO London, where a diamond necklace
again got him into trouble and he served the
Queen year behind the bars"
capt. Mclaughlin did know the woman,
Mrs. LOttie Hamilton, OF 10 West Thirty
eighth street, New York, who is said 90 have
accompanied Parker IN his wanderings and
who went ON 20 London from Paris yesterday
TO meet her lover only o md his corpse.
Parker was arrested in 1878 for larceny and
spent three years In the state prison.
II IA said that he also served a term In
Australia Tor forgery.
The dead swindler was a remarkably hand
some man more than six feet tall, with a
distinguished appearance, which was added
70 by his gray mustache and hair and his
always faultlesS attire.
He had reputation Ns q masher.
His career In South America Is said to have
been OF the same criminal character which
had characterized his previous life, and his
sWindiing operations there are said 70 have
been Yecy lucrative.
In London he lived and dressed well and
was prince among the swell crooks until he
was caught and had % " do his time " for
swlndling | .hlan, the Golden square Jeweller,
purchased tOT his tnAmorGtA, hrA Hamilton.