The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-10-28

hind and Strikes Out for Canada.
His Girl Wife Completely Under the
Spell oftho Fascinating Rogue. .
Lord .Beresford. alias Sidney Las.
celles, alias Sir Harry .Vane, II. N,
alias Lord Courtenay, has again proved
his right to be called the prince Of
swindlers. This time under the name
OF F. S. Lancaster. New England has
been the clever rogue's latest scene Of
operation, and once more he has dis
appeared, leaving in his wake a trail
of bad debts, but fewer broken hearts
than has characterized This previous
escapades. =. {.
His career has been sketched in the
public prints from time to time, but
his movements since his release from
the Georgia pcnitentiary and his sub
sequcnt marriage to an .estimabe
young woman at Fitzgerald, Ca, are
now for the first time placed on RECORD.
They form another chapter in the life
story OF as fascinating u scamp as over
imposed upon tho innocence of women
and the confidence OF men.
When he disappeared from Georgia
with his young bride, having been
divorced by his former wife, who was
Miss Liltienthal, of New York, it was
thought that he had gone 10 Alaska.
This was last June. Recent develop
ments, however, prove the contrary.
After his release from tho convict
gang his career in Georgia was brief,
but eventful. Going to Fitzgerald, he
pOseG as ~ victim Of circumstances,
and, with the semblance Of good breed
ing and a charm OF manner which have
always characterized his movements,
succeeded in getting an entrce to the
best society Of the place.
The pretty nineteen-year-old daugh-
ter Of Alexander Pelky, one of the
towns wealthiest men, fell head over
heels in love with the smooth tongued
adventurcr. She has $50, 600 in her
own right, but this she cannot touch
until she becomes of age. Beresford,
or Lascelles as he was called in Ftz-
gerald, made desperate love to tho girl
and ingratiated himself into the good
graces Of her father. He married the
one and borrowed $1,000 from the
other.
The money was lost in speculation,
and second $1,000 loan was requested.
This was refused, and he left Fitzger-
aid. There were two warrants for his
arrest one charging him with embez-
element and the other with obtaining
goods under false pretences. 1T was
believed that he left town with q fair
amount OF ready cash in his possessinn
The scene now shifts TO Springfield, ,
Mass, and, as they say on the play
bills, two months c!aptc. Ooo day
during the latter part of August u
young man with q southern accent en-
tored a restaurant and seated himself
at one Of the tables. ne did not notice
the gentleman sitting opposite him un-
til their eyes suddenly met. -.
In11 ~ - Lot, a.
young southerner. "What are You DO
ing here? l thougbt,you were in AL
aska. e
pardon me. 1 think you have made
Il mistake" replied the other coolly.
Nonsense. | met you down at Fitz.
gerald, Georgia. Don't you rcmem'
ber?" -
BY way of reply q card was presented
to the southerner bearing the inscrip-
tion, "F. S. Lancaster, Nos. TlG'and iii
State Mutual Building, Worcester,
Mass The young man, however, re-
fused tc be blutfcd, and Lascelles final
~ admitted his. identity. His &C
quaintancc had no object in exposing
him. and only told Of the circumstance
after >Lascelles had shaken the dust of
Worcester from his feet.
Lascelles or Lancaster, as he should
now be called, inasmuch as that is his
latest alias, went to Worcester about
August as general ageut for the Mer
chants and Manufacturers Life Insur:
ance company, of Westfield, an; assess
mcnt concern rcccntly organized. He
was accompanied by his wife, and they
took rooms at the Bay State house, the
best hotel in the city. They also en-
gagged pew at All Saints Episcopal
one of the ,most: ashiOnable
churches. Here Lancaster made the
acquaintance OF the cashier of one of
the city banks, with which he immodi-
atcly opened q small account.
Having taken rooms in the State
Mutual building he furnished them.on
small amount Of capital as partner.
In consequence Of this young man
named Francis is just $3.50 out OF
pocket.
With his ready wit Lancaster made
friends easily, and told wonderful tales
Of his experiences in India. The wo-
men, as has invariably been the }ulc,
were completely fascinated by hims
He seemed very found Of his wife, :and
gave it out that she was the daughter
of q very wealthy resident Of Hartford;
After opening his account at the
Worcester bank he paid his small bills
in checks, but let his large ones run.
He took house in Cedar street, in q
fashionable neighborhood, signing.a
three years lease. This helped his
credit, and he bought 81 variety of
thugs for himself and wife.
The insurance business was not good,
and Lancaster realized that some des-
perate means were necessary to avoid
crash. 1t was then that he decided
upon.a grand coup and attempted to
raise money on the prospectus of an
embryonic klondike mining company
This document was remarkable in it's
character and read as follows: "The
Worcester Yukon Mining, Develop.
ment and Investment Company. Capt.
tai '$25O,0 in $4,000 shares; So per
share, -asscssablc. .,
"On March the lst, 1898. this COM
pany intends to send from Seattle it's
own steamer with fifty men, under the
direction OF competent m jning engi-"
nccrs. t..*
"The party will be composed entirely
of New England mon, and each and