The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-13
.M'GRANN'S CASE AGAIN.
Tho United States Authorities put
In a claim for him, and got him.
NE IS STILL IN JAIL HERE THOUGH.
Detective Wheeler did not Want to
pay the Costa and tried by Sharp
Practice to get out of 1t, but he
Struck another Snng.

There was another interesting dcvcl-
opmcnt yesterday in the case OF the
man McGrann, the operator in bogus
certified checks arrested BY the police
last Friday. Detective Wheeler, OF
Washington City, who came hero to get
the maa for similar oiIengcs in the
District OF Columbia. did not want to
pay the costs attendant on tho arrest
and detention OF the prisoner, and the
authorities here thought it was but right
that he should. 1t is the custom, and
certainly rests on reason. Wheeler,
however could not be brought to sec it
in that light, and he went before United
States Commissioner Rogers and sworo
out warrant for the man under tho
name Of William II. Swallow, charged
with obtaining money under false pre-
lenses from Prof. GCsGraenncss. The
warrant was given to Deputy Marshal
John Dcyinc, who went to the jail and
took the man into custody. lie also
called upon the chief OF police and made
formal demand for whatever OF Me-
Grann's or Swallows belongings were
in the chiefs possession, and they were
turned over.
KEMASDED 70 JAIL.
The prisoner was arraigned before
Judge Rogers and remandcd to Jail. He
was in the custody OF Deputy Marshal
Dcyiuc, and twas Wheeler's plan to take
him to Washington on the afternoon
train, but there was 4 little matter OF
costs TO settle with the marshal, besides
the tcchnicality OF the law, which is
about rs complicated rs the law oil
acquisitions between the states. In
deed, ii there had been any good hold
on the man here or ii Capt. Dclbruggc
had desired TO hold him Tor the Martins
burg authorities, the U. S. authorities
could no more assume the custody OF
him than could justice oil the peace
from Wcegcc, Ohio.
Wheeler left alone for Washington
last evening to get the papers from the
court there TO authorize the transfer OF
the prisoner TO tho District OF Column
bia. lie had doubtless concluded be-
fore that time that the easiest and hon.
cstc5t way would have been better than
The sharpcst way.
1t has developed as was all along sus-
pccted, that McGrann, or Swallow, or
Porter, or whatever his name is, is an
old time scoundrcl and has been
charged with half the crimes in the dec
alogue. He is Il lawyer by profession,
served in the Confederate army, and
has long been known as desperate
and successful schemer and fraud.
HIS CAREER.
Capt Dclbrugge yesterday received
from York, Pa, copy OF the Gazette, OF
that city, containing. long account OF
1IcGrann's career, from which the fol-
lowing extracts are taken, with the en-
PLANTATION that in that place the man is
known rs Col. Isaiah Porter.
Many OF the older citizens OF York re-
tain vivid rccollections OF Isaiah, some
not entirely without cause, for Isaiah
tleeCed people without any regard to
race, color, creed, or previous condition
Of scrvetudc. Even his best friends
We're not omitted from the category OF
his victims.
In character, Isaiah is I unique
Specimen OF the genus homo, and above
MI he is an accomplished rogue and
sCOundrel. In education and intellect
he is highly developed. lie is gifted in
book knowledge. lie is skilled in cum
ming and artiticc beyond the common
lot OF men. In manner he is q second
Chesterfield, suave and polite as q
French dancing master, eloqucntly per-
suasiye, and conspicuously able 10 con-
verse upon variety OF subjects with
great briliancy. When telling an nm
truth he speaks most convingingly. He
would scorn to tell plain straightfor-
ward lie, it is said. Another popularity
OF the winning colonel is his utter dis
regard ior honesty, and his love for
knavery.
lie claimed TO be the president OF
railroad IRON Missouri to Mexico, and
when here shortly after the fair, had
lot OF blanks printed with his name as
president OF the railroad at the bottom.
His friends cannot recall the name OF
the railroad. He also posed as writer,
correspondent and newspaper man.
Whether or not this is true is not
known. His friends say it is. They
FAY he wrote under the non dc plume Of
Col. ". II. Swallow, and show articles
accredited to that gentlemen in proof
Of their assertion. They also say that
ne wrote'for the United Press associa-
hon and Tor various magazines. His
abilities rs writer they say were re-
mark0ble.
But his pCculiarities do not end here.
They are manifold and are displayed in
HlI his habits. He is tender hearted.
his is his one and possibly only re-
Gecming virtue. His friends say that
he would part with his last cent to al
!ey!atc tho suffering and distress OF n
fellow creature. Besides being aifable
lie IS IN measure pompous, but only
when discussing his imaginary interests.
lie was never without some great and
undeycloped scheme on his mind, hut
these schemes invariably failed to mn.
icriaIi&e. Last week, when he was here,
lie was talking OF various business ven
lures in Mexico.
He FIGURED IN WHEELING.
One OF the journals to which he con-
'nbutcd was the defuMct Southern Biz
oaac. He also wrote ior other maya
zines. But so connected are the main
incidents Of his career and so do they
run into each other, that his career
curing the COS must first be told. Dur.
iNs the war number OF Workers serv-
ny IN the union army were SO unfortu-
nate as to iall into the hands OF the
lc9eis and were sent to u Richmond
rebel prison, where they suffered the
usual pryations and indignities which
Gnlon prisoners were subject to. One
aay rebel officer passed through tho