The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-20

TAKEN IN BY THOMAS H. PARKER,
THE GOLD BRICK NAN.
A Chicago Drummer, Who Made Himself
Very Pleasant In Richmond. 10 Believed
10 be the Man Now In jail.

II In probable that Polk Miller. Rich
monds famous humorist and deiineator
OF the plantation negro. was taken IN Dy
Thomas II. Parker. the gold brick swind-
ler now I'm the city jail, long before MS
later victims.
Eighteen years ago a nice young man,
whose name has been forgotten with the
lapse OF time. came 10 Richmond ana
represented himself TO be drummer
from Chicago. He was ell dressed, en-
gaging In manner. and made many ac-
.quaintances during the two weeks ne
staid AT Ford's Hotel. One day he drop
ped into the store OF II. T. Miller q CO..
where he bought some collars and cuhs'
He entered into conversation, ana maue
himself very agreeable. He came next
day and bought some silk handkerchieis'
and so called again ana again, pu!ns
some small article.
He made himself very agreeable. ana
WAS introduced 10 some OF Mr.. Miner
friends He pretended TO take much inter-
est in Virginia politics, ana ATTENDED, one
or more political meetings In MT. Miller
company.
LIKE TO HUNT.
one day when MIR. Miller had just re-
turned from partridge hunt, the gay
young drummer stepped, into the store
ac.d expressed great desire 10 take
aunt himself, saying that he was very
fond of the sport and expressed great re-
gret that Mr.. Miller had not Invited hin
10 gos
Mr. Miller who was favorably impress
ed with the young drummer told him ne
would arrange to take him out. The next
day he called and asked Mr.. Miller Tor
the loan OF his gun, which was granted
10 him.
He left with the gun and accoutI ements.
but returned in few minutes ana sald
he had "a friend at the hotel. who wanted
10 90. too. and asked Mr.. Miller to loan
him another gun. promising to return
both the next day.
FOLK MILLRR's GUN.
Mr.. Miller told him he had only one
gun, but that he would try ana borrow
his brothers. He then went 10 MI. rom
Miller. whose reputation as sportsman
is widely known. and borrowed his me
bird gun. costing several hundred dollars
and gave that also to his pleasant man
nered friend from Chicago.
The next day arrived, but neither lne
guns nor the Chicago drummer came u
hand. After two days the suspicion Oh
the Messrs Miller was aroueed. ana an
effort was made TO find the ardent Sports
man from the Windy City.
Jack Wrenn, the then-noted detective
took the case in hand. and 1t cost POLK
Miller Just $40 TO get il back from i.altl-
more, where it had been pawned. the
other gun was found in pawn shop In
Richmond.
PARKER THE MAN.
When Thomas II. Parker was taken
from the Police Court to the city jail MI.
Henry II. Miller was standing on the
steps outside of the city Hall. and
looked into his face as he passed. He
turned TO a friend and said. 81 have
seen that man before, and his face is
very familiar TO me-"
He studied over the matter. and all at
once he recalled him as being the man
from Chicago who made himself so
pleasant. and borrowed his and Polk Mil
ler's guns.
Mr.. Henry Miller said last evening That
he felt sure that Thomas II. Parker ana
the young Chicago drummer of eighteen
years ago are one and the same man, but
that he cannot see as well now as he
could a few years ago, and that 1t Is
possible that he may have made mis-
take Mr.. Miller will seek the first con-
venient opportunity TO renew his acquain-
tance with Gis friend n,m Chicago, lr no
is certainly the man.
A close watch is being kept over Par
ker at the city Jail, and Granger Detec-
tive Norris, who has taken up his abode
at the city jail. rs flooding the mails with
correspondence with which he is trying
10 tighten the web of evidence around
the clever gold brick swindler. The pub
lie seems never to tire of talking OF TINS
case. and many theories are advanced IN
regard to all that has occurred In con-
nectioh with the case.