Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-06-24
SLY, SLICK N SLIPPERY
Astute Lawyers Pel Victims 70 His
WHY Ways.
lOyCED FOR CHECK THAT NEVER CANE
ses Way to Bag . Hsrss-Lissrymsa
sstBdisd Wh0lesAis-Aa AiasrmAa
EadoFssr- AnotheF OIL asr.
chAnE iakea IA.

lrfe are teH sLOOtls SICK people
still living and Grand Rapids has witn-
III It's limits at least one who has not a
peer in ell this broad universe. One
that has knaek OF roping IN every
body irrespective of their social posi-
ton, their intelligence, their business
ability or reputed sharpness Lawyers
were not exempt from the wiles OF the
schemer and fell easy victims 10 his
means Of feeclng them. The name OF
thls lndivldu ual - I'll. ". Swan, and he ls
an agent of the Buffalo Machine OH
company, Of Buffalo, New York. There
~ BOt = iiyeryman IN the town who has
Dot had more or less experience with
swan AS An instance OF the man ;
sxill as d swindler, the following ls
mentioned: Swan went to West SIDE
hveryman and told him be wanted TO
buy horse. The owner Was willing 70
sell, SO Swan told him 10 make out a
bill of sale, hand IL 10 HIM and he
would send Il to Buffalo. and ms Iirn
there would remit check for the
amount. This was done and the horse
turned over 10 swan. The lveryman
waited IN VAN Tor tne check, but the
check
That He Longed for Never Game"
Finally the owner of the horse made MP
his mind TO get the animal If there was
any law in the land. Rather than 20
into court Swan gave the horse back
after using il about three months, and
said he did not want II. Pat Moran,
who runs livery stable on the corner
of Spring and East Fulton-S.s., knows
Swan for atout $3.50. and there are
others st.ll 10 hear from. Geo. O..
steketee. the druggist on Monroe-st., is
victim. Chester L. Davidson. the
etatloner, 40 Pearl-st., has made the ac-
Guaintanceo of Swan much To his sorrow.
l.. X. Rathbun is one OF the dupes
and is cursing the day that he ever me- {
the OIL yender. Ed. Morris IS another
lyeryman who has been furnishing
Swan rigs with which TO cut a swell.
Alderman Mckee went on two pieces
OF paper which went 10 protest and
were afterwards squared up IN some
manner. There Is still another dealer
IN horss flesh. Swan owes him 50 for
trotter which he had one day. About
the worst of Swans depredatiops are
still 70 come. Schotield, Shurman II
Teagle, proprie,ors of the Grand Rapids
Tank Line OA Company, short time
ago advertised for saiesmen. Swan
showed up and said he was out of
work and wanted JOB. Frank Barnes,
the business manager, was disposed to
give him q situation. Swan assured Mr..
Barnes that be was good man at the
business. and would experience no diff
ficulty in selling large quantity. of oil,
but that before he could go out on the
road it would be necessary TO have is
expenses. advanced. Mr.. Barnes was
won by swans honest appearance and
did not hesitate 20 extend Sl25 on the
strength OF the business TO be done.
Swan pocketct the money, went out on
the road. so.d oil. turned the orders
over TO his own house, drew his conn.,
mission on the sales and
Let Mr. Harness whistle.
for the sl25. There is another party
vho does not want his name mentioned
40 got dropped for 500. E. Il. Wright
iss victim, aud now come the lawyers,
Sybrant Wesselius, Of the firm of Wes-
selus 4 Maynard, % and 81 new
Houseman block. bit as easy "a any OF
them and is trying to ferret out way
10 get even. There are many other
victims, but the two to follow will cap
the climax and cause Swan 10 i,o re-
gardcd n the prince of swindlers. Oscar
n. Wells, the local agent for the Adams
Express Co., who has reputation for
always being ready TO accommodate a
friend, and his head clerk. r. +,
Kent, were soon spotted by Swan,
and the manner in winch they were
yictimized is novel m the extreme. lie
came into the express office, said he
was going on trip. and wanted tn
leave eome money with his wife; th al
Ie had money on deposit IN Manistee
and If Mr. Wells would kindly advance
him money on a draft, he would honor
IA when no reached Manistec. Mr..
Wells did this several times, and in each
instance the drafts were sent back pro-
tested. Swan, by borrowing from Peter
20 pay Paul. succeeded in strengthening
them sll out but one. This ran along
for several weeks and at last Mr.. Wells
got an order for a warrant for the ar
rest Of Swan for obtaining money under
false Dretenses. Swan heard OF it and
came in and paid up. Mr.. Kent. the
clerk. csshed draft for $40. Mr.. Pal
mer. of the Postal Telegraph Company
~ ont on swan. The Western Union
Telegraph Company, WAS done up for
SIS. Prosecuting Attorney Mcknight
il slso SAID to be- on the list The Old Ma
tousl Bank has received notice, ss has
the other hanks, from the Manistee
hank 10 the effect that Is was useless 10
send drafts there as Swan had never
had cent on deposit there. The
names Of many othere are IN hand who
have fsller. prey TO this artist, but a
snfficient number has been given to ex.
pose the william and his methods, 40
sli persons may be guarded against
him.
0e