The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-16
, nnuARKABLE FRAUD


T,prr!guCC with Joseph 'IH"''''
,..-,' gspsiet to Die iR!sli1mesf
H srrnrNullr, O., Feb, l5.-EN'siSth
,',,;,or Daniel McConyille has compro-
n ni.o5 n sai. which recalls one OF the
' 'D',, .rcee,siul ana phenomenal human
, ,I1 and confidence men that the
nnrtove state ever boosted OIL
Dr %ro .,ory begins back in 1877? when
r,'onh Hunter q resident OF tins Guy
D ',s suddenly deprived OF his speech
wa W. ,,os an intelligent man to a remark
ne w." J,gree SO he concluded, in spite oil
S9'g ouSirEmity TO be candidate for re-
Ms ,j i" Az no was Democrat MS
egi '"oos nj being elected in this county
v ,sitb 800 Republican majority were
var" var" slight. But the nerve whlSh emu,
Ey'3 KIM to play the "dumb" racket
plv" oi him through and he won the
t Lnn '' the people OF this county onthe
m..gy,S',n,Inotby" racket. His opponent was
y ,,,ry popular Republican, Tut Hunter
, ,v' the county u thorough canvas,
Going from person to person IN every
T,IIn9e in the county anu to each Iarh
y" ansc he wandered on loot with a slate
M .ioJ oround his neck on which he would
,,,;te 81 am a candidate for record er,
Wi, Wiz Won vote for meY His racket
,"'a,ei 80 well that he was elected by q
ppo ,o1I majority. While on his canvass OF
country towns his lavorIto place was N
rant Of country stores, where he would
.it an the upping block and hail passers-
5s shortly alter his election he was
listed one night by an angel, so he
cia,med who laid finger on his tongue,
,a,,aripp his speech and he talked
nIihiv oiterward, as his record will show:
While in tho recorders office he studied
law and rs people had not fully learned
how he lad fooled them, as his
r nD of speech was spread
iarapd wide as a wonderful miracle
which everybody believed, when he left
,ha ofIice and opened u law office, the
Clients locked to him, entrusting to
him the care OF their money which he
claimed TO be placing to q good adyant-
o%s Their interest was paid regularly
r until he skipped, leaving clients and
friends in the lurCh to the tune OF $780,
G00 While he was still in the law busl-
g nesa Mr. McConyille endorsed note
nrssented him by Hunter who claimedto
be borrowing $1,000 from his brother,
lanes Hunter. He gave Mr.. McCon-
villa collateral security, A yearlater Mr..
McConyilleasked about the note and was
,aIi hv Hunter that he had paid the
no,e and destroyed it. On this declara-
,ioD Mr. McConyille returned the col
literal security held by him.
Alter hunters disappearance four
wears later, in 1881, James Hunter, his
brother appeared and claimed pay
mcnt for the note. AS McConville
feared collision between the two Hun
ter he refused payment Hunter
brought suit and recovered the entire
amount about s., 100. McConvilIe paid
the costs and interest, and gave two
note, for tho original amount, $1,000,
which were placed in the bank for col
lection. While sixth auditor, through
the assistance OF the postolliCe depart
mcnt Mr. McConville located Hunter
and his brother out at Goldendale.
Washington. lie visited the place and
found Joseph Hunter going by the
name Of Hunt and a school teacher,
while his brother was peaceful
herder OF cattle. He had them
arrested and they at fret claimed
that they did not know MGConville.
Iletried 10 get . requisition, when they
wilted and gave McConville mortgage
out Of which he realized $3.50, and they
verbally agreed to release the notes
lying here in bank, which was never
done. Several months ago James Hun
ter came hero and brought suit for the
recovery OF the notes. AS McConville
only had verbal statement to the effect
that they would release the notes, he
was forced to compromise and make
the very best terms he could, which he
did.