The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-18

UTICA N l., Uec l1.-Orln Skinner,
who was arrested here Monday night
for passing worthless check on a Syr-
acuse liveryman. proves to be one of the
cleverest check swindlers In the coun-
try. Skinner is 81 years old and comes
OF an excellent family. He has moved
in the best society of several American
cities, and spent five years at hard la
Dor in Portland prison, England
When young man he studied in tho
Co,u nbia Law School, Now York CITY,,
and after graduating continued his law
studies in that city. He is man Of
charming presence, brilliant CONVEX
sationalist and fine scholar.
In 1870 he went to Quincy, ILL.,, and
began the practice Of law. He won the
love Of Emma Browning, daughter Of o.
IL. Browning, Secretary OF the Interior
under President Johnson, and Senator
from Illinois to ill the unexpired term
Of Stephen a Douglas.
| In 1874 with his young and beautiful
wife. he renewed to Chicago, and be-
came partner in tho law firm Of Gcudy,
| Chanilcr N Skinner. In 1870 no was
dropped from tho firm on acc ount of
| questionable financial transact tons in
conn csion with the allied silver mines
of Colorado, visionary and not too
reputable scheme, Of which he vas the
| chief promoter.
The fIrthering Of the interests OF the
allied mines brought him in contact
with many OF the leading financiers and
politicians OF tho country. Tho stock
was given and sold with the understand
ing that If tho holders ware dissatisfied
with the investment they could receive
n percentage on it from n New York
bank.
Tho company maintained Offices at
| New York, and there Skinner spent tho
winter OF 1850, gaining much prominence
by clover financial manipulations. He
was imprisoned at the Tombs by some.
persons whom no had swindled but
meeting one of the Tweed gang i'm
prisoned there, he persuaded him to go
his bail for 5000, promising to use his
efforts in having his bondsman liber-
ated. Tho day after his liberation
from the Tombs, Skinner sailed for
Europe.
Skinner has operated from Europe to
San Francisco. His operations are we'll
known. 1t is said of MIN that nearly
every bank in tho city of the Golden
Gate has been victimiZed by him. His
methods are the same wher .ver no goes.
He succeeds in getting himself intro
ducod to the wealthiest people, and then
proceeds to float the fraudulent paper.
While in California it is said that
Skinner passed forged paper to the
amount of S25. 900 on son.in law OF
Senator Sharon. Then he went to Eng
land, uttered moro forged paper, and
was sentenced to five years al hard la
Dor. His sentence expired early last
summer, and he at once returned 20 Chi
cago and attempted to borrow money
from old friends, but was unsuccessful.
He claims to have once been on init
mato terms with James G. Blaine, and
that he and Blaine have often exchanged
personal condolences. Furthermore he
boasts that when the Burchard speech
came out he wont to Mr.. Blaine at the
Fifth avenue hotel and tried to induce
him to writo card to the American
public denouncing Burchard's reference
to the three RS" He says also that
he formerly had busine SO rotations with
Mr.. Blaine, and operated in stocks for
him In Wall street.
While in Syracuse lately Skinner
professed to DO busily engaged on
book called Tho Progressive Cod
He employed an amanuensis in law
office there to copy some OF mis- manu-
script