Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-12
A BOGUS PYTHIAN HE.
GEouGE MILLER CLAIMS TO DE A
KNIGHT, AND LIVES THEREBY.
lie Presents n Forged Order Pur-
portinr 10 Emanntc from a Geor-
gia Lodge, and Sergeant COSBY
Arrests Him.
Arrests Him.

A seedy-looking white man. probably
about 30 years OF age. who gives MS name
as George Miller. and claiming to be
| Knight OF Pythias and n Royal Arch
| Chapter Mason. occupies a cell at the
Second Police Station for having psrpe-
trated frspd upon Sergeant Junius A.
Cosby.
Miller arrived In Richmond Saturday
afternoon. and at once repaired to the
Second Station and sought out Sergeant
Cosby. WHO IN president OF the Pythian
Relief Board. He presented an order for
the semi-annual password, purporting to
be issued by w. o. Sheppard, chancellor
commander, and a. A. vandel. keeper OF
records and seal Of Artcian city Lodge,
| No. 80. OF Albany. Ga.
The order bore the date OF February
g. 1895, and appeared to be regular. In
I Pythian circles such an order Is evidence
/ Of good standing. and entities the bearer
| to consideration by all fraters, hence
when Miller informed Sergeant Cosby
whose duty IL Is to assist INDECENT
| PythLlns, that he was in need OF assist
ance, the genial police officer at once COM
piled with his request, and gave him an
order on the New Market Hotel for board
and lodging.
EN- ROUTE TO WASHINGTON.
Yesterday morning the Sergeant called
at the hotel. and left word for Miller to
call at his house In a short while he
came, and said he was by trade hotel
caterer, and wanted work. He also wanted
to get 10 Washington. The Sergeant
promised 10 help him II possible and told
| him to come TO the station-house yester-
| day afternoon. He then saw Mr.. Charles
Dodson in reference to securing the man
n position at the Dodson House. and
shortly afterwards met Captain f. T..
| Hulce, who Is past grand chancellor Of
the Pythian order. That gentleman
! handed him letters from the keeper OF
records and seal OF Phoenix Lodge Of
| Pythlans. In Danvlle, which stated that
Miller had imposed upon them TO the
extent of obtaining board and lodging
and had skipped out before 1t had been
discovered. and that he was an impostor
With this Information in his possession.
| Sergeant Cosby waited for Miller's adj
vent at the station-house. lie came at
the appointed hour, and was Immediately
placed under arrest on the charge Of
being a suspicious character. He declined
10 say anything then. and made no protest
against his arrest
Late last night Sergeant Cosby rec lived
a telegram from Huge Robinson, Keeper
OF records and sea! OF Atlanta. pro-
nouncing Miller to be an impostor. and
saying that he had telegraphed the same
information to Lynchburg last week.
ADMITS BEING A FRAUD.
a Dispatch reporter called on Miller
| at the station house last night, and al
though exceedingly retcent at first he
| finally unburdened himself and made a
/ clean breast to the reporter. admitting
that he was fraud and had been using
! the order to prey upon the benevolence
of the Pythians throughout the South.
tramp named McGinty In Baldwin, Fla.
and that McGnty filled It out for him
| and gave him all necessary instructions
| as to using 1t. He claimed, however, that
| he was knight, but declined when
| pressed TO state where he Was from or
| what lodge he was a member OF. He told
a very pathetic story of his life, which
appeared to affect him very visibly. Said
he: Il was not always this way. | once
had a bright, happy home, a loving wife,
| and a pretty boy. Both were taken from
me, and since then / have gone from bad
to worse. / do not drink. but l can find
no employment. and hence am reduced
| 10 desperation"
| Sergeant Cosby who Is also secretary
Of st. Johns Lodge of Masons. said that
| ne had received repeated complaints from
| all over the South or a man representing
/ himself as II. \. Miller, and claiming to
be member of st. Johns Lodge. and
he was Of the opinion that George and
IL. A. were one and the same person.
The case will come up in the Police
|