Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-08
A SWINDLER CAUGHT
ACCOMPLISHED BOGUS CHECK 0PE-
RATOR IN THE TOLLS.
HAS BEEN DEFRAUDIEG HOTELS.
Has succeeded I'm Getting and spend
ing About 100000 In the Last Four
Years-Clews and Wanamaker
Among His Victims.

Years-CleWS anu Wnhum"@cr
Among His Victims.
NEW YORK, October THE police say
that Ammet c. Gibson, also known as
George A. Sherin, who was arrested to-
day. and is now prisoner at police
Headquarters, is the most accomplished
bogus-check and hotel swindler in the
country. Gibson, according to the police,
has succeeded by means of forgeries,
bogus checks, and dealing In stocks ana
bonds. and playing his wies upon first
class hotel-keepers in the past four years,
in getting and spending in the neighbor-
hood of 100000 Among his victims are
Henry Clews and Jonh Wanamaker
The police had heard many complaints
from different first-class hotels in this
city for many days back. Bogus checks
were laid down by Gibson in payment
of board bills. The checks were honored
in almost every case, their worthlessness
only coming to light when he had made
himself scarce. Complaints were made
to Headquarters from cities in the East
and West, and the police recognized Glib
sons handiwork Detectives were put
on the clues, and they located Gibson at
the Hotel BartholdA They did not find
him in when they went to the hotel yes
terday TO bag their game. He was,
however, found in the Grand Hotel. The
detectives saw tall, slim, snarp-fea-
tured man, with blue eyes, high fore
head, and blonde whiskers He was well
dressed and very cool when the Off
GERS invited him to take a stroll to police
headquarters, protesting that the police
had made a mistake.
At police headquarters he described
himself as Ammet Gibson, 80 years old,
Bartholdi Hotel, and a native OF this
country. He said he was president OF
the Akron Street-Railway Company, oil
Akron o., a lawyer, and once judge
in an Ohio town.
A specific complaint was made against
him of swindling the Imperial Hotel or
| August 9th of last year, when he pre-
sented a worthless check for $500 in pay
ment of a board bill. Gibson put down
| the check, and went away with balance
| in cash. He was seen no more at the
| Imperial.
CLEWS AND WANAMAKER.
"Gibson had an office in the Mills build
| ing. not long ago. said Captain Nc
| Clusky ut was handsomely appointed
| He talked about his connection with th'
| Akron Street Railway Company as
winning card to gain confidence. He wof
| over even Mr. Henry Clews. In fact IN;
| office was next to Mr.. Clews's. When hi
| had wormed himself into Mr.. Clews'
| good graces, he calmly laid down VIII
| him s1.O00 check. Mr. Clews cashed IL
| only to discover it worthless, but GlDsor
| had gone. A paddock was put on his once
| door.
"Gibson met Mr.. Wanamaker in Phila
| delphia some time ago, and the dry-good'
| man was attracted by him. Gibson sug
| gested a paper to be started and run pS
| him i'm the interest OF Mr.. Wanamaker
| store. Good idea Mr.. Wanamaker salC
| to Gibson, and a plant was pJrchased
| The next thing Mr.. Wanamaker knew
| Gibson had sold the plant for severa
| thousand dollars, and Philadelphia ma
| not known him since, so Tar as KNOW
| | have not got a definite ldea OF ti'
| amount of Gibson's swindles l am ,oi'
| that they will foot up more than $UO'
| o00 and he ouerated in both the East anC
| the West. On.
| "Among the hotels here at which GID
| son STONED and presented his bogus
| checks were the Netherland, the f1tth
| Avenue. and the Imperial. He beat I'M
| Hotel Netherland out OF an $50 Doard OIL
on July 9th last. He stopped one DAY
| the Fifth-Ayenue, and a check was cash
| ed for him. When he presented his pll
he managed to get a 50 rebate. and th'
| Fifth-Avenue saw him no more"
CAPTAIN McClusky enumerateS amOhi
the hotels which suffered from gibson
patronage the Parker House. Boston; th'
| IL. 10 GfraffOF1 phil
| adelnhia: the Bristol, Akron, o.; the "a
| dt,Iac Detroit and the Lincoln, Pitts
| burg. -
| A widow I'm Cleveland Is said TO have
heen defrauded Of 5000 by Gibson.
| Among the papers found on him wer'
| naners I'm a suit Instituted against hin
| bv the German-American Bank of PITTS
| burg.
cTRSON'S CAREER IN AKRON.
| AKRON. o., october 7.-Ammet Gibsoi
| orgo pized the Akron Street Railway an,
| Illuminating Company, of this city. abou
| .ro wears ago. At a meeting OF tn
| directors last June he was removed al
| president and became vice-president o
| The company. He was formerly located
| AT Chicago. where he had an Office, AM
| was known as a speculator. Later n
| moved 10 New York, and opened an otiic
| ON Broad street. in the Mills building.
| w. b. Chapman. general manager o
| the Akron Street Railway and lllumlnat
| ing Company, was seen tonight ant
| when told of the reported arrest OF Mr.
Gibson. confessed that he knew nothin
of it. and was greatly surprised. H'
| said that Gibson's removal as presiden
Of the Akron Street Railway and Iliu
mlnating Company was brought about D.
1 81 In tho HnmnlnX. ii
said ne had not met Gibson for five years
| and said that he could not believe tina
| the Gibson arrested in New York was tn
same Gibson that was yice-president o
| the Akron Street Railway and Iuuminat
| ing Company.
| While Gibson has visited the city IRE
| ouently during the past few days. he
yerv little known outside Of street-rail
way circles.
| Gibson was succeeded as president b.
| General Samuel Thomas, OF New York.