The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-18
ORATORY HIS STRONG HOLD.
The Career of Young SwindIer
Who Could Talk Well.
From the Rochester Democrat and Chron-
inln

Who Could Talk Well.
From the Rochester Democrat and Chron-
icle.
Corning, N. Y, Sept 29-The peo-
pie of this city are all agog over the re-
ported arrest and Imprisonment of Will
lam MCNEIL, alias James H. Sloan at
Niagara Falls, last Saturday. MCNEIL
was about Is years old, smooth face, fine
physique and pleasant address. He has
a strong Scotch accent, and made himself
the envied one among Cornings society
people. When he came to Corning no
body knew from whence he came, but
1t was only a short time before he made
himself so very well known, and took
so WELL that everybody of any promi-
nence was counting his friendship He
made himself known as the brother of
John Mcneil of London, England the
evangelist, who spoke at the worlds fair
with such magnetism. So it was as
William Mcneil that he dropped into
Corning. His name became a household
word. The gentler sex was busy in mar
rating his great eloquence, fine demeanor,
pleasing address, and above all his
charming physique.
A short time only elapsed before he
was called upon to deliver a sermon in
the First Presbyterian church. and the
church people eagerly availed themselves
of the opportunity to hear him in the
church pulpit. His sermon was delivered
with such eloquence and magnetism that
he carried the audience by storm, until
all went into ecstacies over him. After
this the people of all denominations
iocked thither in such numbers to hear
him that it was a rare treat to be enabled
to procure standing room, let alone a
| seat. '-'.'5'
1t was not long until he was engaged for
the summer and his name and fame were
! spread wide over the country until neigh
boring cities began to speak Of Cornings
wonderful boy preacher with his rare gift
of eloquence and fine sermons His advent
into Corning was two years ago, and last
year he visited here often and preached
as occasion afforded. He was asked to be-
come the regularly appointed pastor of
the Presbyterian church, but he said he
was DESTROYS of finishing his theological
studies and could not accept. The people
of Corning supplied him with money and
clothing to help him to complete his stu
dies.
From Corning he went to Hamilton Col
lege, when 1t ultimately reached Corning
that he had been dismissed for leading too
speedy life and getting into some crook
ed financial transactions However, the
matter was kept quiet, as it was thought
there might be a mistake in the rumors
But it was not long until he was heard of
in Syracuse where a Corning gentleman
of prominence met him, and the Corning
man, as alleged, was tapped for $40 in cold
cash by the eloquence of the young minis
terial student of the gentle manner.
After all these stories had been told in
quiet it began to dawn upon some of his
Corning admirers that he was not all gold,
and soon stories began to leak out that
here some of his actions were such that
would have caused a corkscrew to turn
straight with envy in learning of their
crookedness
McNeill's escapade at Niagara Falls is
thus told of in a report from there:
Another slick man has been in town.
He has gone and left a bad record behind
him. He came in a drawing room car to
the Central depot, and there he became ac-
quainted with a man who took him to the
Colonnade hotel, where he registered as
James H. Sloan, Glasgow, Scotland and
took the best suite of rooms in the no.
tel.
ain appearance he was wonder both as
regards looks and dress. He was so
smooth in his ways that he soon won the
confidence of everybody about the hotel.
On Monday he appeared in the hotel ONCE
dressed in fine fitting black suit, his feet
encased in patent feathers, and on his
head he had a straw hat with red, white
and blue band.
when the chambermalds and dining
room girls saw him they lost their hearts
at once. While one of the proprietors also
let his heart go out to the slick lad AT
the hotel counter, with the rays OF the
sun lighting up a diamond in his shirt
front Mr. Sloan told his breathess hear
ers Of his Scotch home among the noun
tains He pictured to them castle where
wealth reigned, and then, on the side, told
of the millions of dollars that belonged to
his father. Who was his father? Why,
that was but an off hand matter but
nevertheless, after looking out Of the door
to see that Chief Oman or none of his po-
licemen were within hearing, he said his
father was a lord that owned thousands
of acres OF bonnie Scotland, and that he
was also one of the confdants of the queen
of England. The crowd that listened TO
his story grew larger as his ready words
flowed out. Even the cook become inter-
ested. as well as George Kingsley, who
is the owner of fine team Of horses.
"Sloan, when he saw Kingsley took 10
him at once stopped his story and hired
the rig, and told Kingsley to show him
the sights. He was taken to every nook
and crook about the Falls. Everything
was explained. While explaining, Kings
ley is said to have placed his hat on one
Of the carriage lamps so as not to appear
disrespectful in the eyes Of the son OF
lord OF Scotland. When the day was done
Sloan was driven back to the hotel, where
he told Kingsley he would pay him the
next day. Then the two had a drink, and
the son of lord further advanced himself
with Kingsley and borrowed a $40 bill,
which was to be treturned with the IS car
riage hire the next day. er
"Then Sloan went into the hotel office
and ordered a champagne supper for
Tuesday night. He gave orders for COW
ers to be laid for twenty persons, and 10
,,vo.fTa turkey ovgtQre. and wine enough I
to allow Of an abundance for all his
guests. This done, he sent out invitations
to the feast, the hour set for it being 10 |