The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-12
HIS CHECKS DIDN'T GO.
"GEN. MAXLEY" TRIED TO VIC
TIMIzE PRIESTS AND SISTERS.

The swiudler's Attempt to Rob the
Sisters of st. Vincent's Academy.
Afterwsrd Re Attempts His Game
Unsuccessfully on the Pastor OF
Sacred Heart Church and is Finally
Frightened Out of the City by
Father Quinlsn of st. Patrick's.
A professional and systematic swindlsr
is making the rounds Of the south working
educational institutions and clergyman
with bogus checks. He deserves the garb
of a convict and no doubt will secure it il
he remains long in this section of the coun-
try.
He tried bis hand in Savannah few
days ago, but failed to victimize anybody
and is supposed TO have gone to soms of
the neighboring cities to try his swindling
racket.
About week ago the sisters of st. Vim
cents Academy received letter from
Charleston signed "Gen. w. E. Maxley."
The writer desired to put his daughter
under the sisters care in the academy, and
announcing that he would be in Savannah
in few days to make arrangements.
Monday morning "Gen. Maxley" rang the
uOCEDGll Oh luC6ubh AChubllY anu BetlG
in his card. The sisters were prepared to
meet him, and he needed no further intro
duction.
AN INTERESTING TALKER.
The man was dressed in shabby genteel
style. but his plausible address overbalauced
his personal appearance. He talked TO the
sisters interestingly about his daughter,
whom, he said, had been a student at Mount
de Sales Academy near Baltimore but was
not satisfied there and preferred to come 20
Savannah. She was IN the city and would
be az the academy the next day, not being
able to accompany him at the time on ac-
count OF having some dental operations
performed.
Then Gen. Maxlsy turned his conversa-
ton TO topics relating to things familiar TO
SavGnnahians. He claimed to have been
an enthusiastic confederate and said he was
with Gen. Barlow when be was killed.
After entertaining the sisters on war his
tory 1.-The general turned to politics He
said he was a great admirer of Mr.. Cleve-
land and had held a government position
under him when he was President and ex-
pected TO become an auditor in the treasury
department when Mr.. Cleveland became
President again.
EXPENSE NOT CONSIDERATION.
The sisters did not care TO talk politics or
war "Reminiscences, and drew Gen. MaxleY
back to the subject of the education Of bis
daughter. He had asked nothing about
the cost of tuition and board, and the sis
tiers volunteered him the information that
it would be 1921.
20, don't mind that, a" said Gen. Maxley,
adding that he would pay in advance
at once. He pulled out a pocket
book from which he extracted
check on the First National Bank of New
York for 5000 in favor of "Hop. W. E.
Maxley." signed Ceiling & Co., Charles
ton, s. c." He asked the sisters to give him
the difference In change, and at the same
time added that his references were Col.
w. W. Gordon and Gen. MoLaws.
The sisters did not like to insult "Gen.
Maxley," but they did not care to take any
chance on the check and told him 1t was in
convenient for them to cash it. He was
very anxious, however, TO get the differ
ence. but finally decided to leave the check
with the sisters and call next
day with his daughter. He did not
call Though, and the sisters have not seen
either him or his daughter since. They
took the check TO the Southern Bank aud ii
was discovered at once that the paper was
worthless, as no such firm as that signed to
ID existed in Charleston.
A GENEROUS LEGACY.
The sisters were happy at having escaped
the swindler's scheme, and fearing he might
try his game on some other converts iu the
state sent kilograms Of warning to them.
After leaving the convent Gen. Marley
went to the Sacred Heart church and pre-
sented Father Mayer with check for g., 0OO
ON the Chatham Bank. He gave his name
to the priest as Sheridan. and said he was
acting as agent for a man who lived in
Savannah thirteen years ago, but who died
recently in another city and
left bequest to the Sacred
Heart church. He added, how
ever. that a commission was due him
and asked Father Mayer to advance 1t TO
him. The priest, however, feared some-
thing was wrong, and told the swindler
that when he cashed the check he would pay
the commission. Fooled in this attempt
Zen. Maxley" tried his game on Father
Quinlan at st. PatricKs. but was quickly
run away from that point, the priest oharg
ing him at once with being a crook whom be
had read about in the newspapers of an
other city.
Gen. Maxley" is aman about SO years Of
age, feet inches tall, of spare build,
with thin hair and beard. He is an edu-
GATED man, but a first-class thief. 1t is sup