Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-19
HE HAD MANY ALIASES.
A Former House Page Who 10 Charged
With Many Swindling Operations.

With Many swindling Operations.
This story of considerable local interest is
telegraphed from Philadelphia: The young
swindler whose operations in this city under
the name of ]. B. Graft caused q sensation
when exposed about two weeks ago, and who
was sentenced last week to four years impris-
onment, has been the subject Of the most
painstaking inquiry by the police of this city
and others, and the result Of their work has
but just been completed.
Graft g victims are to be found in every part
Of the country. When his term Of imprison-
ment here expires he will find that he has only
begun his period Of seclusion. The New York
authorities congratulate themselves because
they have the next demand upon him. They
have already lodged q detainer against him,
and when he walks out of the iron gate of
Cherry Hill it will be to meet Inspector Byrnes'
men. His victims in New York include women
of such high standing that the police, both OF
that city and of this, refuse to divulge their
names.
After the sentence was imposed Magistrate
Milligan and Chief Wood set TO work TO secure
Graft history. With the assistance Of Balti-
more, Washington and New York police his
career wis laid bare. Then Magistrate MILL
gan announced the fellows name to be Thomas
W. GNerin, formerly a page in the House Of
Representatives at Washington, with the fol-
lowing aliases, known throughout the country;
WI. w.
az. w. Graf" 1T F. L. RUSSELL and Thomas
W. Leedom." Guerin's mother keeps Q fruit
stand in the Capitol at Washington.
Young Guerin was page in the House for
years. He was very popular with the Congress-
men and their associates and took part in many
junketing tour and was present at many q re-
ception attended by the leading people Of the
country. II was in this way that he secured
the acquaintanceship Of the social lights in the
various cities Of the country: While page he
learned stenography and afterward secured Q
position in . commercial establishment a. q
clerk. He married the daughter Of q very re-
spectacle Washington family.
Leaving his young wife he went 10 Baltimore,
where his intimacy with Q married woman led
to Q scandal and divorce. The woman Joined
Guerin in Buffalo, N. Y, where he eoueht
refuge from the Baltimore police. There he
was arrested, under the name Of Benton n
Green, May Is, 1887. He had obtained ei60
from Miss Johanna Deisler under the preteuse
Of taking her TO California % Q governess. AZ
ter getting the money he disappeared.
The swindler was next detected in New York
but that was after he had travelled all over the
country and, - the police believe, left victims
along the route, who do not yet know his
identity. While travelling along the Pacific
slope ne became engaged to the New YORK
heiress to whom be alluded ct his hearing hare
and to whom he was soon to have been mar
ried. In New York he was known - John W.
Thompson, civil engineer. He lived we'll,
moved In good society and encountered no
trouble until Inspector Byrnes IVES notified
that he had secured . young lsdy's diamond
earrings, worth 500, passed bogus check in
the name Of 7. +. l. kuasell, and secured ol20
from clergyman's daughter. The swindlsr
got away, and turned mp next 70 his gris3 ta