The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-10-20
BOGUS LORD BERESFORD.
AN ENeLIsH sWINpLER NEAR THE
4 END or HIS ROPE.

TT.TUNTT 1870"
whose Conn denee He HAD InsratIatsd
Himseit-Causht In Now York-An all
ItcundRsscaI.
ROME, Ga, Oct. 16.-There is on
tflal IN this pretty little city one Of the
most accomplished confidence men,
Who're name Is Lascelles. He assumed
the name of Lord Beresford. A local
paper tells the following facts as the
opening chapter TO q series of rascally
tricks perpetrated upon those who re-
ceiyed him In Rome with every courtesy
thas could be expected by one Of 30 much,
distinction as he claimed:
In January last II. j. Maguire, presi-
dent of the Corporate Sales Syndicate of
New York, arrived here on a business
visit. Among his friends here Ia the
wealthy firm Of Hamilton &c Co. who
also own the Etna Furnace. Mr.. Ma
gulre had received letters Of introduce
ton from friends In the English capital,
requesting that Walter Beresford should
be furnished with information with ref.
erence to Southern investments. Mr..
MaEuiie came first to Rome to
for bis lordship's coming, and desired
that he might be treated royalty as an
English gentleman.
In due time came the willy Walter. In
response to O telegram, Mr.. Mcguire
met '.his lordship" January Is, and pro-
ceeded with him to inspect tho Etna fur
mace. Upon their return Beresford was
duly introduced as o blue-blooded Briton
o. slxteen quarterings, the son of lord
William Beresford," q real old Indian
officer, who was about to be retired on
an enormous pension. Mr.. "Walter S.
Beresford" had also served beneath the
"torrid suns Of Iude," and was himself
TO be retired on q big pension. His
present income was 100000. He had
an enormous amount of money. He
wanted to invest where he could get
good interest. This couldn't be had in
England, don't you know. The South
wa really o wonderful country. He
would invest heavily and Immediately.
Berestord was handsomely entertained
by the Hamiltons, and played his part
well-up. Finally he came down to bus.
mess. He liked the Etna furnace, and
upon his return to New York would
complete arrangements with his agents
for the purchase. When ready to de-
part from Rome he appeared at the store
& of Hamilton 81 Co., and stated that he
was ridiculously short offunds. He was
careless about these things. He never
carried much money about will, him.
Would they generously cash o small bit
OF paper for him. They did. He wrote
q draft for s20O on the Westminster
Bank, Limited, London the depository
of the blue-blooded nobs of London. He
also wrote q letter to his alleged father,
Lord William Beresford With many
ELUSIVE good-byes he took his departure,
ostensibly to look after valuable proper
ties in Savannah.
He also carried with him q valuable
diamond ring, the property of Miss
Maude Allgood. The Indictment states
"he having requested Miss Maude ALL
good to let him wear the diamond ring
for two weeks as his mascot and bon
VOYAGE promising faithfully to return
said ring at the expiration Of the two
weeks, which promise wa falsely and
fraudulently made" Incidentally 1t
may be mentioned that Miss Allgood is
one of the bellies of Rome.
Inquiry Of the British consul at Savan-
nah developed the fact that Beresford
was a fraud, that he had approached the
consul for money to pay his hotel bill
and claimed to have only $l3 in all the
wide world. After a bit the returns
commenced coming in. "No funds''
was reported with the returned dishon.
ored draft. The letter written by the
l~ackadaisical lord to his alleged father
was returned, with innumerable post
marks, unopened. Communication was
opened up between MI. Mcguire and the
Hamiltons, with a view to experimenting
the willy scamp. Mr.. Mcguire saw his
lordship In New York on more than one
f0nnQainn hnf woo unable IN aoxk,. liz
On July s., Sheriff Moore, of Rome,
received a telegram stating that Walter
5. Beresford had been arrested in New
York charged with swindling, and asked
hlpf'to come, ON with q warrant. When
\ the sheriff arrived in New York he found
his lordship considerably lionized; no
less than ten reGusitions were presented
Tor HIM and every body wanted him.
The Police Gazette, having been tapped
for $500, trapped his lordshlp. Although
the best legal ability was exercised to
prevent his being carried back to Rome,
yet the eloquence of Col. John r. Eel
lows and Mr.. w. Bourke Cochran was
unavailing. A big crowdawaited his re-
turn to Rome. He was accompanied by
his wife, q very attractive woman OF
graceful carriage and sweet voice, evil
IDENTIFY a thoroughly refined lady. HAY.
ing accompanied her to a hotel, the
parting was very affecting, he himself
seeming quite overcome.
Arrived at the jail, he was assigned to
a cell, which he had made ready with
some bedclothes he had brought from
New York, while he sat and smoked
HAVANA cigarettes. He is described as
a man of about thirty-four years of age,
brown hair, blue eyes, and q prominent
nose. While not handsome, he is GER
tanly attractive looking. His carriage
and manner are those of gentleman.
.2IIis language and well-modulated voice
show him to be n man of education.
Mrs Lascelle "Beresfordn is said to be
the daughter OF q very rich lady, esti-
mated TO worth $1,000, 900 and resid-
ing in beautiful home at Belvoir-on-
the-Hudson. Her maiden name was
Maude Lilienthal. There is quite q
chapter connected with his pursuit OF
her, the objections Of the mother, and
the wedding in q little Pennsylvania
summer resort In the middle of the win.
ter.
His operations seemed to have GOV.
cred a very wide range in this country
and Canada. 1t is said he committed q
burglary in April, 1890. In Manchester,
England, and stole $4,000 worth Of
Diamonds and jewelry. The following
letter. writtan nv the citv editor of The