Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-07-10
A GAY SWINDLER.
YOUNG BERESRORD CLAIMS RELATIONSHIP
WITH ENGLISH NOBILITY
And That Was Enough for the AnglOmaniacs Of
New York, and Swell Society Accepted Els
Worthless Drafts-He Makes an At
tempt to Involve Metropolitan Bank.

NEW 1Ohh, 81 uiy D. w dibCl ~ DSASo
ford, who has been cutting wide
swath in society and reaping a very
substantial harvest from trusting peo-
pie with fat pocketbooks, is very likely
to spend the next few years of his life
in the healthy but rather unpleasant
task of breaking stones with an eight
pound sledge. He was arrested on Sun
day night by Detective Sheldon, of In
spector Byrues' staff. on the request of
Sheriff Jake c. Moore, OF Rome, Ga,
who stated that the young man was
wanted there for obtaining money
under false pretences, and he was taken
to Supreme Court, Chambers, where he
made most earnest appeal, declaring
that he was innocent, but he was re-
manded until to-day to give the Geor-
gia sheriff time to get here with the
requisition papers, and it is proposed to
take him back.
According to Assistant District At
torney Mcintyre young Beresford is a
prince among the swindler who, for the
past few years, have infested this coun-
try to play upon the gullibility of that
wealthy American citizen who willingly
steps into the trap when it Is baited
with anything like title.
Beresford claimed kinship with the
famous Beresford family of England
and close friendship with Lord Charles
Beresford. and on this assertion he
readily found many people to entertain
Ii. hnnnS
came to this country last December on
the Umbria, and he began his little
scheme before he landed. He borrowed
various sums from some Of the paSsen-
gers, giving them in return checks on
the East Side Bank, but he had no ac-
count there.
This morning, before Mr.. Mcintyre
had reached his Office tall, white
haired man, who had an air Of af1luence
about him, paced up and down the cor
ridor. When the Assistant District
Attorney arrived the white haired man
showed him check signed by Beres-
ford, on the Oriental Banking Company
of London, for $500, and asked if there
was any possibility OF getting the money
back. There was not and Mr.. Mcln-
tyre said so.
The visitor declined to give his name,
but said that the man Beresford had
been introduced TO him by the feminine
portion of his family, and he had cheer
fully cashed the draft, and at the same
time intimated that for some feminine
persons sake he was glad to find out
that Beresford was as worthless as his
check.
THAT gives you an idea Of the way
this man worked" said Mr.. Mcintyre to
me when the visitor had bowed himself
out. 81 have had a score of people
come to see me in the past two days,
with Just such bits Of worthless paper
in their hands. No, cannot give you
their names, but the fellows plan was
TO get into society and work on the feel
ings Of the women. He invariably told
them lot of stuff about his alleged
aristocratic friends, and after that it
was an easy matter to get the money he
wanted.
81 know one lady who has cashed his
check for large sum and who has en-
tertained the man frequently and she is
in society, too. 1t is difficult to fix on
any amount which he has gained, for |
do not think that half the people who
have been swindled would say anything
about it, preferring to lose the money to
having any notoriety, but I have direct
evidence enough now in my possession
to have him sentenced for forty years.
"In Rome, Ca, where there is plenty
of evidence to set him breaking stone
in the streets, Beresford was particu-
lar successful In his swindling and was
a great social swell. He Dragged of
his English connections, and in order to
give, as he said dinner to Lady
Pauncefote. the British Minister'S wife,
he prevailed upon lumber firm there
to cash his check on the Oriental Bank
ing Company. The check came back
marked worthless the lumber firm
took prompt action and the scoundrel
was trapped.
The accused man has spent the time
since he was taken into custody by De-
tective Sheldon in secure little box
at Police Headquarters. He is very
reticent and when asked for some in
formation as to just how he was con-
nected with the famous Beresfords he
buIDtu HIS ldI OiuC CgCo IAN = u'N'J VII
the questioner and kept silent. His at
torney is Richard A. Wade and he has
made a strong fight for his client.
At the East River Bank Beresford is
known. Some time ago he called at the
institution to make arrangements 10
open deposit, He said he had 911,-
600 on the way here and wanted to draw
against it. He was told to come again
and bring the 1000, but he was never
heard Of again except as his checks
were presented to the paying teller.
According to the Georgia law. the
punishment for such offences as Beres-
ford stands charged with is, on convic-
ton, ten years imprisonment, with hard
labor-and hard labor there means
breaking stones under contract on the
streets.
Dog-Day Don'ts.
4