The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-14
" Ira Mcbride Has Many Victims
In Boston and Lynn.
MANY CASHED CHECKS FOR HIN.
They AnerwArd Found That the Paper
Was WORTHLESS, but lie lived Like
High-k Roller Belongs 10 n Good
Family, and L. Its Black sheep.

BosroN. Nov. 14-There are large
number Of people in this city aud Lynn
besides the police who would like to learn
the present whereabouts of young man
who little while ego successfully
swindled them out OF large sums OF money.
This young mans right name is Talbot ID.
Gadd, but he was better known in this
city as Ira Mcbride, for 1t was under tina,
name that he parsed here.
For year and a half be worked for
Superintendent Burgher of the Watkins
Automatic Fire Alarm and Exiingusher
company. in the capSeity Of special agent
While there be was an especially good
employe, and It Is said brought good
deal OF business into the concern. Nc.
Bride always dressed well and went in the
very best of society. He is about % or 80
years of are. He made friends with every.
body, aud until he hastily left the city an
enemy of his would have been hard TO
find But within week after his depart
ure there were dozens looking for his
scalp.
He always made his lodgings at the
Grand hotel on Columbus avenue, and
there used 10 entertain his friends In
most lavish manner. He was a great
lover of wine, and this together with
certain woman he adored, are thought "a
have caused his downfall, although there
is but little doubt but that he has swindled
people in like manner in other cities,
and this is looked upon as the reason for
his going under an assumed name.
A Grand swoop.
When he came 10 Boston about two
years ago he was practically a stranger In
this city for his home is ia the far west.
With him, however, be brought several
recommendations of most complimentary
nature. and he hal but little trouble In
getting position from Superintendent
Burghcr. Everything went along well
until shortly before his departure from
Boston, and then he "worked" his friends
and acquaintances, securing in different
sums before he left money amounting To
5000 TO $4,000
Shortly before his departure from Bos-
ton, say five or six weeks, there appeared
on the scene a woman who claimed to be
bis wife, aud who was formerly an actress
connected with the McCaull Opera com
pany. She lived with him at the hotel
until his disappearance. She is now known
to be i'm New York
Soon after he came to Boston he made
the acquaintance Of youag man on Boyl-
SION street, anu Tue tltr DSC.lne kTSdtly
interested in Mcbride. and for some
time "chummed" with him. Often Nc.
Bride would ask the young man to dis
count paper and cash checks for him.
which he would do. lie always found
them good until the fellow left town, and
then he discovered that he cashed paper
for him to the extent of about 500 which
was abso utely worthless.
This is the fact in great many cases,
and among his victims are Superintendent
Burgher of the automatic company, who
endorsed a draft fer si5e which WIS worth
less; w. IL. Richardson q Co., gents
furnishers; Tailor harrington, Proprietor
Reynolds OF the Hotel Grand; Jeweler
Cohen; r. III. White g. Co.; Louden g.
Wilson, tailors; Shoe DeIler Graham;
Tailor friedman ann many others.
Took Trip to Lynn.
just before his departure he went to
Lynn and there swindled three firms on
the repre- sent alton that his employers had
sent him to collect money. when IN reality
he had no authority to DO this. From j.
q. Marshall he obtained s20O; Dearborn
Bros, 800. and from NJ. Butman he also
secured Quitea sum Others are anxious
to find him.
When Mcbride went 70 Superintendent
Burgher and told the latter that he had
decided TO go with his wife for few days
70 the White mountains there was no OBJ
lection offered ,nd he start i on his sup.
posed journey, but he never came hack.
Ii was not until some time afterward that
the Office di'c ,vcred that he had left be
hind his BADGE aud other thin IS belong
ing TO the Office, which frat made them
suspicious lt was thCn that his oihef
crookedness came to light and the chief
inspector was consulted. Sincs then his
whereabouts have hc.n unknown.
Mcbride came 4 ON good family, aud
his father. Il IT. Gadd. OF the firm OF Il. Il
Gadd s. Co, wealthy real estate dealers OF
Lincoln, Neb has often been called upon
to clear the son OF trouble and settle his
debts This time he refused To aid the
young man.
When quite young he left home and
went 10 the south, where he became q
Texas ranger He nftcrward went into
the real estate business, where he made
quite n lot e money, but squiudel ell il all
on women. He afterward became treas.
rrer Of the @eCaull Opera company. AT
one time il is said thai he was also ap
actor
He had for an intimate friend while in
this city young man named Scott who
swindled the Bauermiller Piano company
OF New York out OF considerable amount
Of money and for whose arrest reward
has boon offered IL Is thought that both
ofth young swindlers are now together.