The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-28
THAT BOY PREACHER.
He Got His Beard and Bought
Real Estate With Wind.
a MYTHICAL WEALTHY MOTHER.
He Won the People by His Sermons.
bat Always Failed 80 Close His
Real Estate Deals

The pretended boy preacher Of surpass-
ing eloqueBce. who under the name OF
either George T. Pritchari or Twitcheil
won the confidence OF manv Of the people
OF Des Moines and then left the town in
another mans buggy. which he left with
the horse 81 livery stable, has quite an
interesting record in the neighborhood of
Port Townsend: in fact. his adventures
about Des Moines make mild reading conn
pared with those around the port of entry.
Pritchard, as he called himself there.
made his first appearance in that locality
last June, when he introduced himself TO
Daniel Andrews. = raneher in the Leland
valley. at the head of Discovery bay. and
said he wanted 20 bay . tract of land.
This induced Mr. Andrews to take him in
and entertain him. as he had some land 70
sell. Pritehzrd struck q bargain with Mr..
Andrews and agreed to go with him 70
Port Toxnsend on certain day. get the
papers drawn up and pay the purchase
money. Mr.. Andrews got on the train,
thinking the preacher was there also. but
on reaching Port Townsend found he had
been given the slip.
Pritchard had gone to Sequim bay, and
no sooner reached there than he went 10
the house OF John Brown and introduced
himself as the woridrenowned boy
preacher from New York city. Rev. Mr..
Pritchard. He got Mr.. Brown 10 gather
an audience at the hail for him that even
ing and delivered fine sermon which de-
lighted his hearers.
But the demon of detraction was already
abroad. A resident of Discovery warned a
friend AZ Se9uim 10 beware Of Pritchard.
as he might not be what he represented
himselff TO be. On hearing Of this report. the
preacher went to meeting of the literary
society in Sequim hall. and, obtaining
leave 20 make a few remarks in reply 20 il,
made such an eloquent and convincing de-
Tense as 10 thoroughly win over bis hearers.
He gave references TO a number of leading
people in New York city and threatened
10 seek redress in the courts from any per-
son who dared 10 breathe q word against
him. This iulied suspicion and he con-
tinued TO board with Mr. Brown. who,
like Mr.. Andrews, had land to sell He
said his mother was wealthy widow in
New York and had instructed him to pre-
pare home for her on this Coast. He
bought eighty acres from Mr. Brown. on
which be said he proposed to put a. 900
house. He actually hired a man to clear
q site and dig foundations and we'll. and
put him to work with one or two men to
help. He also engaged local architect
and builder to draw plans and prepare for
building and went TO the saxmill to order
lumber.
But Mr.. Brown was anxious to close the
sale of the land and get the money for it.
He pressed for settlement and Pritchard
said he had written to his agents in Vic
toria to draw the papers in complete Brit
ish iron clad style. This satisfied Mr..
Brown for time. but at last, tired of wait
ing. he proposed that on a certain day
they should drive to Port Angeles and get
the papers drawn and that then Pritchard
should pay over the money. which, he
said, was in the bank there. They went to
Port Angeles and arrived at the bank be-
fore it was open in the morning. Pritchard
said he would like TO go on the hill and
bring down clerical brother to witness
his signature and Mr.. Brown agreed to
await his return. He went and Mr., Brown
has not seen HIM since. His board bill as
not yet been paid.