The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-17
A SLEEK SWINDLER.
a Brilliant Conversationalist, Law
yer and Ripe Scholar.
ais VICTIMS AND OPERATIONS.

a Man Claiming to be on Intimate
Terms with Ex-Secretary Blaine
Arrested for PassinEla Worthless
Draft-His Friends His Victims.
UTICA, N. Y, Dec. 17.-Orin Skinner,
who was arrested here for passing
worthless draft on Syracuse liveryman,
proves TO be one of the 'smoothest"
check swindlers in the country. Skin
ner, who is 81 years old, came of an ex-
cellent family. He has moved in the
best society Of several American cities,
and has spent five years at hard labor in
Portland prison, England. When a
young man be studied in the Columbia
Law school, New York city, and after
graduating carried his law studies still
further in that city. He is a man Of
charming presence. brilliant convers-
tionalist and a ripe scholar.
i. He claims to be on the most intimate
terms with J. G. Blaine, and said to a
travelling man before he was arrested,
he and Blaine have often exchanged
political condolences. He said he had
business relations with Blaine when he
was not worth much money, aud that he
afterwards operated in stocks for him in
Wall street. He adds that Mr. Blaine
owes him $4,000.
His Legal Career.
In 1870 he went to Quincy, Ills, and
began the pratice of law. He won the
love of Emma Browning, daughter of o.
ii. Browning, secretary of the interior
under President johnson and senator
from Illinois to fill the unexpired term
Of Stephen A. Douglass. In 1874 with
his young and beautiful wife he moved
TO Chicago and became partner in the
law firm of Cloudy, Chandler s. Skinner.
In 1870 he was dropped from the firm on
account of questionable financial trans
actions in connection with the allied sill
yer mines OF Colorado.
The furthering of the interests of the
Allied mines brought him in contact
with many Of the leading financiers and
politicians of the country. The com
pany maintained Offices at New York,
and there Skinner spent the winter of
lSsO, gaining much prominence by clever
financial manipulations. He was i'm
prisoned at the Tombs by some persons
whom he had swindled, but meeting
one of the Tweed gang imprisoned there
he persuaded him to go his bail for So,
900, promising to use his efforts in hnv-
ing his bondsman liberated. The day
after his liberation from the Tonlbs
Skinner sailed for Europe.
Ruined His Father-in-Iiaw.
In 1881 SINNERS father in-law died,
and it was found that the old man had
been ruined by his son.in-law Banks
IN Chicago, st. Lonis and Quincy held
his paper to the amount of $4,000,
Browning having issued it at SINNERS
request and supposing that each issue
cancelled the preceding one. Mrs.
Browning and her daughter were re-
duccd TO abiect poverty, and after their
lives of of princely luxury were obliged
to keep boarding house. They died
seven years ago broken in body and
spirit.
Skinner has operated from Europe to
San Francisco. His operations are well
known. 1t is said of him that nearly
every bank in the city of Golden Gate
has been victimized by him. While in
California it is said that Skinner passed
forged paper to the amount OF $25 900 on
son-in-law of Senator Sharon. The he
went to England, uttered more forged
paper and was sentenced to five years at
hard labor. His sentence expired early
lust summer, and he at once returned to
Chicago.
He married his present wife in WASH
lngton short time ago. She is of an
excellent family. being sister-in-law of
Judge A. G. Tenant, of Cooperstown,
N. Y. She was holding a government
position in Washington when she met
Skinner.
The story is told that while in Wash
ington Skinner approached Senator STAN
ford with the pxetense that he was writ
ing book on governmental affairs. 1t
is said he interested the senator with a
description, and so thoroughly won his
confidence that he wrote his check for
$4,000 for necessary expenses in ad-
vnppa