The evening world., 1891-07-18
WAS he MURDERED =?
4" Gentleman George" Parker'S SuS.
plCiOuS Death In q London Lodging.
He Had Done Time In New York
for Swindling.
Facts that Lead to the Belief that
He Met Foul Play.

cableHam from London announces the
death there, under suspicious circumstances,
OF George Parker, who is described US resi-
dent Of Brooklyn and gambler.
His body was found at his lodgings in Great
| Russell street Thursday morning with a bull
let wound through the heart. An American
revolver OF Al calibro was found near tho
body.
The theory Of suicide was at first advanced,
but Il suspicion that n murder had been COM
mltted was developed when II was discovered
on searching his clothing that there was q
pawn ticket for n revolver IN the dead mans
pocket.
The police thought It hardly possible that
Parker had two revOlvers.
| This suspicion was strengthened by the fact
! that another American named whitman, who
| had been on intimate terms with Parker, and
| who Is described AZ OF vilalnouS appearance,
was the first TO give the ALARM, and that when
! the body was found ParkCr's false teeth had
| been removed and were placed IN tumber Of
water.
II was argued that had the man intended
! to commit suicide his natural vanity, OF which
hc was known to possess n great deal, would
! have led him TO keep hiS false teeth In his
mouth 50 that he might look his best In
| death.
| The Cabled description OF the dead mnn--
handsome, between forty y-nye and tlfty years
! Of age, over six feet In height, with hair and
mustache whito-haS led those who knew
him TO believe that the Victim OF the tragedy
Of Great Russell is none other than George
| +. Parker, who, hve or six years ago, did
| thriving swlndlng business I'm this city.
He had a regular bureau and advertised for
the collection of old World legaccs, which
people We're advised by him were awaiting 10
be claimed by them on the other side OF the
| Atlantic.
He had an ofice In the Stewart Building,
where he hud employed twenty young women
| typewriters to conduct the extensive cor
respondence of the agency, which was
known as The Brtish-American Claim
Agency.
This pretended TO be regularly incor-
porated association OF which Parker was the
President, Edward s. Withereu the Secretary
and Treasurer and Lawyer George w. Glib
bOns the counsel.
The claim agency Issued a pamphlet con-
tanning what purpOrted to be an index regis
tering next OF kin, heirs at law and legatees
claimants In Great Britain and Ireland as far
back as 1850, which they spread broadcast
throughout the land.
II also published thousands OF little slips,
pretending to be clippings from newspapers
with attractive headings, such as "A Poor
Mechanic Falls Heir TO Several Millions" In
these circulars the agency was advertised as
bringing the poor mechanic his good fortune.
requests for small retaining fees Fees were
In fact wanted for every move the agency
pretended TO make, but all were less than
$"5, so that an indictment could not be for a
greater of1ensc than petit larceny should one
Of the dupcs think It worth his while TO pros
eCute.
So many complaints were made against the
agency" that Inspector Byrnes made II
dead set against 1t and secured the indiCt-
ment Of Parker, WitheTell and Gibbons
March 3, 1887, aud finally broke up their cx-
tremcly lucrative but Illegal business.
There are four indictments for petit larceny
against Parker In the office OF the Clerk Of the
Court OF General Sessions, but II was impos-
sible to convict him because he had sailed
very close TO the letter OF the law, and n con-
ylctiOn cOtlld only be had by proving that he
did not have II connection with agents In
Great Britain who were actually pushing
claims placed In his hands.
lie was released on $4,000 bail, which was
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, 1850, when he heard
that we had a warrant for his arrest for grand
larceny for stealing a pair OF 1000 diamond
earrings from Jcweller William Laich OF Sixth
avenue.
"a funny thing about that" interJected the
Captain, "is that Latch is now doing fve
years for receiving stolen goods.
when Parker left New York." he CON
tlnued, 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 lie served the
Queen year behind the bars"
Capt. Mclaughlin did know the woman,
Mrs. Lottie Hamilton, OF lIO West Thirty
eighth street, New York, who IL said 10 have
| accompanied Parker In his wandenngs and
| who went on % London frOm Paria Yesterday
TO meet her lover only 70 ma his corpse
Parker was arrested in 1875 tor larceny and
| spent three years In the state prison.
| II Is said that he also served a term In
| Australia Tor forgery.
The dead swindler was remarkably hand
| some man more than six feet tall, with q
distinguis Aed appearance, which WAS added
| u by hi gray mustaChe and hair and his
! always fnultiCSS attire.
| He had a reputation as a masher.
| ills career IN south America ia said 20 have
been Of the same criminal character which
had characterized his previous lie, ana his
! Swindlilg operations there are said TO have
been very lucrative.
! In Luud n he lived and dressed well and
! wa~ priuCc among the SWEET CROOKS until he
was caught ana had 20 ' do his time " for
! sNlrd.i0g imau, tue GUldcn square jrweller,
out uT ~ 600 diamond necklace, whi h he
/ purchased for hlS inamuTuta, Mrs HalnilLOn.
Insane and IA suicide.