The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-24
WAS A GREAT SWELL.
HOW A SHARPER CUT A WIDE SWATH
IN COLUMBIA.

lin SSLSmolHs
Several Legislators Have Remembrances
in the Shape Of I. o. U's-A Draft for
Board Bill Which Was Worthless.
COLUMBIA. March 19.-During the
session of the Legislature a we'll
dressed man, apparently about 40
years old, came to Columbia and reg
istered at the Grand Central. He had
dark hair, sprinkled with grey, whis-
kers of the same kind, which he part
ed in the middle, wore classes. and on
first sight had quite distinguished
appearance about MIN. His autograph
on the hotel register alleged that his
name was Golp. Mr.. Golp seemed to
have money, in fact he did, for he
smoked good cigars and wined and
dined himself sumptuously, both atths
hotel and restaurants in the city.
That is, he did it for while, but be.
fore he left he wasn't quite so swell,
though he tried his best to keep up ap-
pearauces on the small amounts he
had borro wed from con6ding new
made friends. They and the hotel
would like to renew acquaintance
with Mr.. Golp for brief moment,
long enough at least to INTRODUCES him
to some policeman or other officer OF
of the law whom he failed to meet
during his sojourn here. Mr.. Golpi
went away leaving sad remembrance:
es, a two weeks unpaid board bill and
sundry small amounts he had touch
ed" various people for, he forgot to,
return.
As the gentleman had apparently
nothing to 90 but loaf around and en-
JOY himself, it soon became noised
about among legislators that he was q
man Of wealth and position. Mr..
Golp helped along this delusion by
telling about the confidential relations
which existed between himself and
George W. Vanderbilt and let out q
gentle hint that the millionaire's purse
strings were right in his hands. he;
spoke knowingly of the wonders OF
Vandsrbilt's palace at. Asheville, and
his description of the luxurious furn-
ishings and equipment of the mansion
and the lavish way in which money
had been spent on it, made his hear.
ers' eyes bulge out in amazement and
they held their mouths open in utter
astonishment, for his auditors, as g
rule, counted themselves mighty
lucky to have three or four room,
common, ordinary plank house. In
which to live and rear their families.
Having thus established himself as
being about the only pebble lying
about on the beach, Mr.. Golp proceed
ed to inform everybody who cared TO
listen that he was in Columbia for
recreation and that one OF his princt.
pal ways of getting little change out
of the monotony of living was to
write for the newspapers. He repre-
sented two or three big Northern pa.
pers and several European journals,
he said, though as far as anybody can
remember he never happened to men
ton the name of any of them. In the
excess of his con6denceI he informed
people about the hotel lobby that he
had been an officer in the German
army, cavalry service, and spoke very
intelligently and correctly, it Is SAID,
about the Emperor's war machine.
That he spoke with a German accent
lent some color to his statement with
those who didn't suspect him OF being
a sharper.
Finally he became very intimare
with legislators and others about the
hotel. 1t was Hello, Jim, or "How
is it, old man9" with his new made
friends, in a very short time. His
familiarity at last bscame unbeara5le
| to some legisla ators, and they called
him down." Some remarks he made
to others, with no intention OF Of
Tending anybody, caused them, how
ever, to threaten to knock his head Oh.
Little things like that didn't pnaSe
him a bit, and he continued to WALK
| into members rooms and engage 10
their conversations often to their dls.
gust and late into the night, but tney
were too considerate to ask him OUT.
1t was during these meetings that ne
touched" several members Tor smah
amounts, explaining that he had ne
elected to draw enough out OF the
bank during the day to last MIN. y
all he got this way was a2gfegapeaa
into a single sum " would mol anounl
to much, but it was not his 1auis'
Legislators don't carry wads OF green
backs around with them at any time,
but to the extent of their ability ns
got them. He told them what grea,
| Legislature South Carolina had, anc
how he was going to write glow
ing accounts of it in those oomes
tic and foreign journals he represent
. ed. This was a bait he threw out u
order to catch suckers but few Dlt
, and those who did have severa! week.
; since realized that they had peen
duped.
Golp stayed around Columbia soms
time after the Legislature adlournea
and finally left, supposedly for ASH
Vile. He owed two weeks board ano
. gave draft on the Battery Bank q
. Asheyille for the amount. IL was 80
turned as no good, and since Una
time an effort has been made to locaE
MIR. Golp. He was heard OF In seyera
towns in the upper part OF the State
, but before he could be arrested ne hae
, skipped, for he is a very slick fellow
and will not come back to Columon
{ if ne can help it.-Register.