The Washington times., 1894-08-29
BELDING WAS A HIGHFLYER
Escapades of Gay and Dashing
Washington Hotel Steward.
HH is WANTED IN TWO CITIES
At the Normandie and By a Prominent Fur
niture Dealer in This City He Is Only
Too Well Remembered Wide swath
in Philadelphia-Detectiv After Him.

William T. Beldng, whose father is clerk In
the Treasury Department, and who will be re-
membered by many as the gay and dashing
young steward at the Normandie and Riggs
House, has recently created decided sensation
in Philadelphia by pursuing the same course
that led 10 his departure from Washington about
ear ago, and which has caused detectives in
every section of the country to be looking for
him
Belding was only employed at the Normandie
about a month, but in that short period he sue
ceeded in creating the impression that he had
no idea of the difference between right and
wrong, or that he knew what belonged to others
and what was his own. He had, it is said, hardly
secured the appointment Of steward before he
began to swindle the proprietor. He presented
and collected fictitious bills from the cashier,
required the persons who furnished supplies
to the hotel TO pay him commission, bought
marketing for his family In the name OF the
hotel, and the proprietor was soon convinced
that Belding was utterly dishonest and dis
charged him.
Before going to the Normandie Belding WAS
for time steward at the Riggs House, but so
far as is known he committed no swindle there.
He was fond of the best wines, etc. but that was
not regarded particularly Objectionable, and
he left the Riggs of his own volition
While in Washington Belding purchased about
$1,000 worth of furniture from the firm OF Mr.
Julius Lansburgh, for which Mr.. lansburgh has
not yet been paid.
IN THE QUAKER CITY.
When Belding was dismissed from the Nor
mandie he asked the proprietor for q letter Of
recommendation, but it was refused. He then
went TO Chicago, where he soon afterward Sc
cured position at the Lakota, whence he went
10 the Hotel MetropoIe, Philadelphia His esca-
pades in the latter city are stated in local
paper follows:
"Belding's entree In this city was of the most
lurid style. He came with lots of recommended
tions from hotel proprietors and prominent
persons. Many of these letters were purely
fictitious, as the management of the Hotel
Metropole has found out He has progresses
ing appearance. over six feet tall, with
smooth face, dark eyes and hair, well and taste
fully clothed, of courteous address, he a
hotel clerk to be desired. When Manager Will
lam 5. Doughty, of the Metropole, saw him last
November he was rather taken with the young
mans appearance, and engaged him ss n
front" clerk at once. Belding is twenty-eight
years old, and knows more about the tricks OF
the hotel business than the average clerk he
won his way into the friendship of many persons,
and in a remarkably brief time was hail fellow
well met in poker games.
LOST MONEY AT GAMBLING.
"His luck was none too good at gam bling, and
he lost money. He borrowed on all sides, and
the lenders are now sorry that they were so gen.
erous to the courteous clerk. Belding also looked
around among the fashionable tailors and or
0ercd suit after suit. lie fond OF dress, and
IL was remarked at the hotel what line clothes
the young man wore. He was loaded with dia-
mond5 and all sorts of precious stones He
bought furniture, and his room was filled with
rare bric-a-brac, none of which he ever paid for
Recently he was trapped. Manager Doughty
found that there was n 6 bill missing, and that
the disappearance of the money could only have
occurred through Belding. The clerk was called
into the private Office aud after heated discus
sion received his dismissal At that time the
manager was not aware of the extent OF Beld-
ings thefts AS soon as he realized that his job
was gone, Belding packed his traps and inside oi
an hour was on his way to New York. Several
days later Mr.. Doughty learned that several
guests had paid their bills 10 Belding before the
latter left and that the money had never been
turned over. Belding took this money with him.
DETECTIVES ON HIS TRAIL.
IAN examination of the books showed that II
was not the first offense of this kind committed
| by the handsome clerk A guest staying there
a week would be charged for only two or three
| days stay The difference between what was
credited on the books ana the real amount paid
| was pocketed by Belding
when this was discovered Mr. Doughty was
| indignant. He consulted Supt Linden and the
| news of Belongs thefts sent 20 the police
of various cities Ii is believed that the clerk is
now in Chicago or therea5outs Mr. Doughty
| was seen by a reporter and he stated thai
Belding had not been caught yet, although
| detectives we're close on his trail Requis
| tion papers have been prepared, and as
soon as he is arrested BedinC will be on his way
| here. Mr. Doughty declined TO say what was the
| total amount of the young mans thefts A state
ment is made, however, that IL reaches into
thousands of dollars, probably between 500
| and $4,000. Mr. Doughty is thankful that the
| clerk was detected soon as he Was, for in
| few more weeks the thefts would have amounted
| to much larger sum-
"Belding is aid TO be connected with wealthy
/ Ohio family. Ills parents live at Toledo. He
has a wife and child, VINO are somewhere il
| the West His father is an eX-Offcer of The