Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-12
EASY WORK FOR AN ENGL1suMAN.
VIM. II. BAnt Had No Trouble In swindliny
Wealthy Americana


VIM. II. Bant Had No Trouble In Swindliny
Wealthy Americans.
VIM. II. Bant is a young Englishman He
dresses we'll, parts his wsvy blonde hair in the
middle, is well educated and an ACCOMPLISHED
liar and is q swindler and q prisoner at police
headquarters. He was arrested by Detective
Sergcants McClusky and Armstrong of the CEN
trial Office, New York, yesterday morning at
Broadway and Clinton place. He admitted 10
Inspector Mclaughlin that he is q swindler and
that he has lived for months on the proceeds o,
his swindling operations.
For some time complaints have been made at
police headquarters in New York BY many we'll
known persons that they have been swindled of
sums ranging from slo to $50 BY Young En-
glishman. Their stories and descriptions OF the
swindler were. IN ali cases. the same The man
had, in each case, got his victims confidence
then his sympathy and then his money. He
had obtained confidence N himself BY claim
ing 10 be son of some well-known Englishman
or English woman. He had got their sympathy
and money by telling a tale Of DELAYED remit
tances, and, as consequence. temporary fnau-
cial embarrassment.
When Bant was searched q list Of names o.
wealthy persons was found Some he had
already swindled; Others were prospective vic
Tins Two letters of introduction were also
found. They were written by Charles E. Emory,
who has an engineering Office a. 9I5 Bennett
building. One of these was addressed to Com
modore Wilson. chief engineer Of the board Of
construction and repairs of the navy. The other
was addressed to Commodore George W Mel
vile, chief OF the bureau of steam engineering
Both letters introduced Bant under the name of
Mitchell. They we're the same in substance aad
stated that mitchell was a son of Mr.. Mitchell
OF the hrm OF Armstrong, Mitchell 4 Co, the
fav ont,,l1
They also said that he WAS in the United States
on pleasure trip, and was visiting the points
OF interest. He desired, too, ii was said to
gather some facts about the construction Of the
new navy, and, consequently, had sought to be
introduced TO persons who would give him
Opportunities
Bant says he came to New York from Cos
forth, In Northumberland, England, on June
~ last His father is an engineer at Gosforth
and Bant evidently has been educated for tina,
profession: He is gentlemanly fellow, and
talks lntelligenty on the profession of hs
father He first stopped at the Sturtevant
House, but later, when money came easily. be
went to the Fifth Avenue Hotel Soon after he
went to Gloucester, n J., and lost all his money
on the races. Then he went to Philadelphia,
where he swindled two Englishmen out of slO0
by his ingenious story.
He then Travelled TO Chicago and seonred sos
from Sir Henry Wood, secretary Of the British
commission Of the worlds fair He told Sir
Henry that his name was Mitchell, and that he
was son Of the shipbuilder, and claimed to be
a grandson OF Robert Stephenson, the famous
English engineer, now dead.
From Chicago be took trip BIZ easy stnges
to San Francisco, stopping Of at important
cities, and working his game on many persons.
After firing Of The Pacific coast he went back
to New York. On the eastward trip he also LETT
trail OF deludod victims. He reached New
YORK city four weeks ago and soon after called
n re ra.-G 10 II
himself TO her as son of Mrs. Braddon, the
novelist. who, ne said, was in private life plain
Mrs. Maxwell Mrs. Wilde was busy at the
time OF Bant's call and gave him her card, re-
questing him 20 call again
Some time ago he met Mr. Rand, who was
impressed with his story Of "high-toned" rela-
tives, and introduced him into the Engineers
Club, at 10 East 29th street. There he met sew
eral gentlemen, whom he afterward relieved of
various sums Of money.
Recently he called on Chas. Wiley, publisher
OF engineering works at 90 East 10th street He
told Mr.. Wiley the Braddon-Stephenson de-
layed remittance story and got sl0 Mr. Wiley
took Bant to his home at East Orange n. j.
and gave him dinner and lodging and loaned
him an oyercoat. Bant wore the overcoat when
arrested. He also swindled Dick Douglass.
the Ann street publishers
Bant declared that he had been the private
secretary Of Sir Edward Grey, NJ. P. fIe said
he accompanied Sir Edward on a trip TO Spain.
France. Germany. Turkey, China and New
Zealand. The trip lasted ten months, and on
its termination in London Sir Edward pre-
scented him with $3.50 and valuable gold watch
lie also said that he had been a reporter Of the
London Daily Ne,rs. He left Gosforth, he
said. because he had swindled man out of GO.
In reviewing his American career Bant can
did!y told Inspector Mclaughlin that he was
greatly surprised at the ease with which people
gave up" their money. The mere fact that he
was an Englishman seemed TO loosen the purse
strings OF certain class Of citizens. He saws
he was in this country a short time eighteen
months ago and did neat little swindling bus
mess then.
The prisoners picture was taken for the
rogues gallery. In appearance he is rather
imposing. He is five feet ten. inches, slender
His eyes are blue and his couatenance frank
and open.
He had on his list the names Of GRAY Girls
void, s. S. Rowland, H. S. Herbert, Thomas
Hitchcock. Jonathan z. Cowden, Eugene Hig-
gins, W. f. Tiffany, Henry p. Stimson, A. ].
Cassatt, Prescott Lawrence, Pierre Lorillard,
Mime. Rupert, SO Regent street, London; the
Gilsey House and the Hackney Horse Show
Society.