Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-02-25

roll of money which he carried on his
person, was made in this city Saturday
afternoon by a dapper young man from
New York, who was foiled in his we'll
laid plans in time TO prevent the victim
nipping at the bait offered him. Find
ing himself beaten in his game the
young man suddenly took his departure
for reasons best known to himself
Edward A. Taylor, is a well-to-do.
merchant of Sussex county, Virginia,
where for a number of years he has
lived and prospered until his worldly
wealth can be reckoned among the thou.
sands. His business is that of local
merchant and the most of his time is
devoted to the overseeing of his storesin
Sussex, of which he has several. The
merchant is married and has family of
children. He is 45 years old, of medium
build and of ordinary appearance. lie
is typical southerner, as shown by his
conversation.
A few days ago Mr.. Taylor was sur.
prised to receive a letter purporting to
come from his son, whom he had not
seen in several years and who was sup.
posed TO be living some where in New
Jersey. The young man had turned his
back upon the parental roof years ago,
1t seems, and since that time like a
"rolling stone" was pursuing his own
sweet will, no one knowing just where.
To say that the old man was ovcrioyed
In receiving letter from his son is but
a mild description of the pleasure he
actually enjoyed. just what the con-
tents of that letter were is not definitely
known, but the. impression is that the
writer advised him to pay short visit
to New York and fetch with him Ger.
tain sum of money, which he was ~
double and probably treble by an in
vestment such as is seldom found in u
lifetime.
The old man at once wired the writer
that he would take steps to come to
New York Immediately, but his knowl-
edge Of the metropolis not being very
extensive he was at loss to know how
to reach that great city and find his way
about after he arrived there. The per-
son whom he supposed to be his son re-
piled by telegraph that he would meet
him in Wilmington, Del, on Sunday
afternoon. The place of meeting was to
be the Clayton House. With this as
surance, Merchant Taylor left his family
in Virginia and with Il small grip in
hand started for this city. He arrived
here ON Thursday evening and going to
the Clayton House was assigned to room
50, where he spent the night He re-
manned in this city until shortly after
noon Friday, when he began to get UNI
easy at the non-appearance of his son.
The merchant decided to return home,
and inquired at the Baltimore & Ohio
station, foot of Market street, concern
I'M hn 1ar ~ ra sNft ha tra i've fNr Do1t
more. He was given the desired infor-
nation and returned to the hotel to
await the time when his train should
leave the depot. About this time there
appeared at the hotel young man, APP
parently about 20 years old, with clean
shaven face and wearing long dark
ulster and stylish trousers. The young
mans dress was perfect. His appear
ance was good and his address was
pleasing. The "nice young man"
and asked for Il. A. Taylor. He was
'hered into the presence of the mer-
ant and the pair were soon engaged
earnest conversation.
The young man informed the mer.
chant that his son had become suddenly
ill since the letter had been written, and
had entreatcd him to come to this
city and conduct his parent to New
York. Mr.. Taylor had the utmost con
fidence in the young man from that
moment and the pair at once took step:
to go to New York. They proceeded
to the Market street station of the b. 4
o. railroad, where they were informed
that they could make the best time by
taking the Royal Blue line at the Della
ware avenue station at 5.33 p. m. Having
obtained this information the two mel
left the station together. There wa
something in the actions of the "nic,
young man" that impressed close OBJ
server that all was not right, but still
very little attention was paid to the pal
at the depot. The young man thrust hi
arm through that Of the merchant, anC
they proceeded up Market street t,
Second. Here the pair attracted the at
tention of policeman, who, afte
scrutinizing them closely, permitted
them to depart without molestation. Tn
merchant and the stranger then boarde,
~ car for the Delaware avenue station o
the b. Il o. 1t SO happened that re
porter CHANGED along at this momen
and his destination was the Delawar
Bvenue station also. The reporter, tn
merchant and the stranger were al
landed at the station in due time, tn
newspaper man taking an opportunit.
to size up the merchants companion Of
the journey.
When all arrived at the depot the re
porter asked for an interview with tn
merchant and the request was granted
A few minutes conversation with til
merchant only further convinced til
scribe that his suspicious concerning Til
young mans object in getting the mel
chant to Gotham were only too we
founded and the guileless merchant wa
informed of these fears. He scoute
the idea that his friend had any inter
ton of relieving him of the roll {
bank notes he had in his wallet. TIL
young man purchased two tickets fl
New York city, the merchant payin
for them.
1t lacked few minutes of train tim
and the couple were soon in earnest cor
versation again, concerning their trip I
New York The two did not renal
engaged in conversation long, howeve
when the merchant left his companio
on some pretext or other. The reporte
again approached him and asked wheI
the two proposed staying in New Yor
and what the name of the young ma
was. The merchant stated that he di
not know his companions name nc
where he resided in New York. |
fact, he had never seen him until fe'
hours before. Tho merchant then dc
scribed the circumstances connecte
with the meeting of the young man an
when informed again that he was prot
ably the victim of an imposter who ha