The herald., 1895-07-19
OLD UNCLE JIMMY SYKES
The Man With the Big Fortune Coming
Soon
He Was the Old Swindler Who Buncoed
Detective Moffatt and Wore
His Pants

Some time ago the Pomona papera told
the story of J. f. Sykes, an old bum,
coming into a fortune. The Herald eA-
posed the man, who was well-knowh
fraud. Now the Pomona Progress tells
few more things about Uncle Jimmy
which show that he was just the same
old adyenturer who made things livery
here three years ago. The Progress says:
Recent developments tend to show that
J. Z. Sykes or whatever the name may
be of tae man who posed in Pomona re-
Gently as the recipient OF big fortune
from deceased uncle in England, was a
dead beat of the first water. For two or
three weeks the officers have been prose-
cutting a diigent but vain search to DIS
cover the whereabouts of Sykes and his
alleged attorney, who seem to have van
ished off the face OF the earth-though
such q desirable event has probably not
come to pass. The investigation was
William Sykes, in the northern part OF
.he state. to City Marshal Lorbeer, inquir,
ing the address of J. +. Sykes. Several
communications from other parts OF the
country followed in quick succession, OF
which the following is a fair sample:
"Gavillon Valley: Riverside County, Cal,
July A. 1s95.-Chief of Police. Pomona:
"Dear Sir-I have been shown an article
in the Pomona Progress Zone of the 70
mona papers) few days ago about a man
by the name of Sykes, which claimed that
the said person had just come into pos
session of large fortune and that ne
had been in the poor house previous TO
his good luck: all of which is false. James
SYKES lis a very clever confidence man. as
q good many people in this valley can
testify. His scheme is to go among poor
people and get into their confidence, and
with the pretensions that he is immense
ly rich and will give tt em big lit, he
gets good board and cigars and WHISKY
for some time; then. instead OF giving
them anything he slips out to parts un-
known. He was in this valley two years
ago last winter and got about four weeks
board and skipped out witt what good
clothing he could get onto his person
from members OF the family with whom
he stayed; also leaving them with store
debt OF $40 to pay.
"Said Sykes is about so years old, blind
in one eye. stoutly built and about feet
6 inches hight. He told the people with
whom he STAYED here that his income was
S35. Is a day that he had no use or it and
wished to bestow a bonus on poor worthy
people who were struggling for living;
He also claims to be an old soldier and
an ODD Fellow, but as l belong to that
order he kept shy of me while mere.
According to what the paper stated, ne
has partner in your place. He does not
stir about much when he gets located, SO
you will have to look for him in seclud-
ed spot. Respectfully yours.
JOHN NJ. GREGORY"
The description fits exactly the j. D..
Sykes who was in Pomona, and the
stories tally to dot with those he told
William Goodrich, with whom he stayed
and to whom he still owes an account, and
others here. The letter explains. also,
how Sykes came into possession OF the
good clothes he wore, which he claimed
were given HIM by the authorities of the
county farm for his good work and con-
duct there. But the smooth old fraud
seems to have given Southern California
farewell wink with his lone eye and
decamped for greener pastures in some
other part of the country.