St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-11

Mild fabrication was his instrument.
To Illustrate: He borrowed between
$500 and $500 from a co-worker, alleging
that all his own money was tied up in
real estate deal. When the time for
him to pay arrived he handed over part
of the sum. He had realized that much.
he said, on the real estate deal. and
would have the balance IN few days,
when the transaction in dirt would be
completed. That was but few days
ago. Since Richards departure his
creditor has learned that the sum paid
him was borrowed from another man.
He borrowed from Peter to pay Paul.
An evening paper publishes some cor
respondence from Easton, Pa, Rich
ards former home, which throws cal
cium light Oh his career. OF him 1t
says:
His father, Daniel E. Richards, was
wealthy iron-mine owner. who died
two years ago. Young Richards grad
uated from Lafayette college in 1854,
having a good record as student. lie
studied law for two years but was never
admitted to practice. He worked his
fathers mines on scientific principles,
robbing the mines and selling the ore at
a discount. To raise money. he told his
father that he had been made legatee
by wealthy gentleman in Boston, who
had left him S250,000. He produced
copy of the alleged will. His father
gave him power of attorney,
putting his entire estate in
his control. He got his father to
assign three judgment notes of $1,000
each on which young Richards realized
5000. He obtained $1,000 from his
cousin Thomas S. Schwietzer on the
strength of the alleged will; also 5000
from Joseph Ruch. guardian OF Edward
SchWeitZer, another cousin, to whom be
gave what Richards claimed to be gilt
edged stock. SchweitZer was killed on
the railroad few days afterWard. The
guardian then sold the stock to settle up
the estate. realizing only $500. tie Dor
Iowed various amounts from different
parties i'll EaSton, making a total OF
about $4,000. Only $4,000 was recOv-
| cred, he having run through with the
rest of the estate. his father lost his
reason and died two weeks afterward.
Young Richards lived near the mines
| in the country two miles above EaStOn.
| He had the farmhouse fitted up in ete-
CANT STYLE, built billiard hall on the
farm and had the ground laid out in
fine style. He never paid for anything.
| He gave bill of sale for the furniture
! to Thomas Schweitzer. Richards kept
| fine horses. Later, however, he moved
| to Easton. During the absence OF his
wife he would remove clothing and fur
niture and pawn them. His wife'S jew
| elry was ratified off several months ago
in saloon. He. by some means, got
possession of the bill OF sale of turni-
ture from Schweitzer. sold the furni-
| ture, and, getting some money from his
mother, went West.
"His wife is living here. She has
made application for divorce, but can
not get it until next November. His
brother and mother keep a small coun-
try inn four miles below EaStOn. He
spent one week in New York driving
about with New York banker and
broker who also has an office i'll London,
Eng, looking for a brOwnstone man
sion for himself on the strength of the
alleged will. The broker was caught
for a considerable amount"
This story tallies, i'll the main, with
what has been CLEANED from Eastern
people who now live in Minneapolis.
Some of these people say that Richards
mother is really worth $4,000 or 1000
and that his brother is affiuent; Others
that his mother has a house in Eastor
and enough money to live upon com
fOrtably.
More than ever, the secret of his &C
lions here becomes ineXplicable. I'm
der certain conditions it would be easy
to account for what he has done. Blu
if his relatives really arc in moderate
circumstances, and if there was no pos
sible chance for him to get "out of thu
hole,' it is difficult to understand VIII!
he should tie himself up as he has. Pos
sibly he is one of those persons wh(
revel i'll mythical speculatiOns merel,
as pastime. If that is the case, hi
career in Minneapolis is evidence tina
his powers are decaying.