New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-28
A SWINDLER BY CABLE.
DUPING AN ENGLISH CLERGYMAN.

One of the boldest, and, at the same time one
of the cumsest swinders who ever entered the
cells of Police Headquarters is the TALL hand
some young lrishman who at present occupies a
temporary lodging in the white stone building in
Mulberry-st. About the man generally there is
still considerable doubt The story of lis life
told to Inspector Mclaughlin yesterday is in all
probability lie 1t is likely that his real name
is John Mciallgot, and that he comes from
Castle Island County Mayo But as Edgar j.
Vernel] he is entered the books at Police Head
quarters, and as Edgar J. Verncll he committed
the frauds for which he now awaits punishment.
At present he is nothing better than an en-
ceptonally able amateur in the arts of roguery,
but certain of his methods reveal an intultive
genius which should eventually land him in the
highest professional rank. "Vernell' says that
he came TO this country about eight years ago :;
that he was a graduate of the Naval Scnool at
Portsmouth, England, and had travelled over
every water in the world, and that at wenty-
one years old he inherited about $4,000 from a
grandfather. On this lie gave up his profession
and, arriving in this country, started 'anch III
Minnesota His partner robbed him, and finally
he found himself adrift and pcnniless. Then he
travelled all over the country, working In dill
ferent cities until the fall Of the preent year,
when he was employed in a box factory at North
Forks, Cal.
Up TO this time he had given no evidence of
ability or willingness to swndle Others. But
fate threw in his way Thomas Aubrey Peart,
young Englishman, and son of the Rev. I. A.
Peart who for many years has been tie chaplain
of the big city prison in Birmingham, England
Mr. Peart, accomplished, stalwart ano handsome.
left his fathers home twelve months ago TO seek
his fortune in America. Apparently he sought
1..%Ix matt m
the box factory at North Forks he was working
hard for little money. The letter in his pocket
from the Rev John R. Worthineton NJ ster of
King Edward vi Grammar School, Birmingham
and curatc of Yardley, Warwick, had il served
him. Vernel however saw just how Afr Worth
ington's letter might be made TO serve hin-and
to good purpose. This is how the letter was
worded
No 81 Iinwood Road. Iandsworth,
birmingham. May IL, 392
Peart for many years 1t IS with great pleasure thni
testify TO his many admirable qualities. lie IS wen
born ard well educated. and a man endowen VIII VIII,
much more energy. common sense and physica streth
than the se1'T Of Of Tn or re as Is the
of a firm OF 'ncchants and l am confident that IN
wnT 70 the utmost Of his ability He has Courteous
manner and gentlemanly address, and his moral car-
acter is irrcproachable
Vernell seized the first opportunity to steal
disappeared from North Forks, arriving at Fresno,
200 miles from San Francisco, two days later
Edgar Vernell now vanished, and Thomas Aubrey
Peart took his place With Mr.. Worthingtons s
letter and Peart's history, confded to him in
friendly talk the transformation was easy. But
he required money. and one man in Fresno would
lend it 10 him. This was George knight, who
had known him in other days To knight he
unfolded the details of his plan, and knight falling
in with the idea, furnished $40 II for cable
messages The first shot fired IN October
Is. when the elder Mr.. Peart at his home in
England. was astOurdcd to rece We this
dispatch, dated at Fresno:
cable Hu 10 'iS' -'''''''' i. AUBREY PEART.
Now y. Aubrey Pcart only few days ear
lier had written 10 his father hopeful letter, In
which he spoke checrlully of his progress abroad.
Remembering this, the Rev. Mr.. Peart teleeraphed
back When we hear from you by letter, money
shall be sent"
In ali probability r. Aubrey Pcart had talked
TO VcrncI of his intention to 90 TO Fresno and
start a vineyard there and this circumstance led
10 the following reply
on writing by this mall cable money at once.
Have a land bargain.
Convinced that his son was engagci In
transaction which demanded prompt action, Mr.
Pcart at once sent the 600, through Iloyds
in Fresno. and Verncl received it. To Knight
he returned the rest Of the cable dispatches, and
ravc him a bonus Of $50. Then, armed with
Mr. Worthrgton's letter and Mr.. Pearts
money, he came TO New-lork
About eight days after sendr2 the money Mr..
Peart ST.. received a letter bearing his son
signature This letter. clumsy imitation OF
his sons handwriting, Mr.. Pcart at once rec
ognzed to be a forgery. This was the letter
No. 1873 Morrlsfor-st., Fresno csl
NY Dearest Peter: Just received Your eablegram nm
write you from North Fork telling S ySu o me1e ne
70 o into farnIng for it is splendid place here for
vineyard There is good mo1sy IN mich IT. "d1 Down Snd s
the rest time mean TO get forty acres ana P'h,s ,hi
the with vines Hont vDn %Hni 70 I,,ter re f5@ S
NJ Brombdec, YOU can see what he SAYS a about
fruit farming. In regard to me working fr wssGs GSy
for the farmer. 1t was getting very cold snn In ,ae
mountains and was glad TO get down % 70 TO- tfesng ,s,sh
Now. Iater scrd me The money hy cabc, ior %s M,rn
settle down here and want 10 get the place naoe
been oohne fof and don't want 10 oSe ,onev lnS viii
BE- glad 70 receive It, never asked for much money
yon viii send the money at once by cable so tlIat !
get the place have No. more news =" mater M n1d and
same to your'eh' ever 'O"' T. +. .AAitBREY PEAET
This letter i'll written ard indiilerently
spelled. caused Mr. Pcart TO visit the chief con
stable and the United States Consul at Birinlh8-
ham. Superintendent Byrnes and inspector Me-
Iauglln made their first acquaintance WIN tre
case in letters received from the ofhcIalS III Eh&
land. In his hurry 10 catch the mail the .onsul
had somehow lost the last page Of his letter.
Il write" he says, " briefly to get tie mail ana
advise you | told that Il certain s"ihdier
from Fres~O, California. is personatirg young
man: T. Aubrey Teart. son of a clergyman IN this
city, TO Brown Brothers, bankers in NcY-iork ana
has sent several cablegrams to his father IN MS
AUBREY Pcart's) name, requesting an advance oi
money This unsatisfactory ccw may possibly en-
able You TO secure Or" here tie letter, Tor
,.a.. ~ q. l.s. ,o,o .hruntlv ended The chef