The herald., 1897-05-28
PRINCE FAKIR
q. Hamilton Griffin'S New
York Trouble
HIS CAREER IN LOS ANGELES
A "GREAT PROMOTER" IN THE
OLD BOOM DAYS
His "Dry Sparkling Champagne"
Fake Which Was the Talk of the
Town-Other Schemes

An Associated Press dispatch from
New York yesterday announced that
DR.. G. H. Griffen had disappeared after
swindling several persons out of consid-
srable sums by means of bogus railroad
and mining enterprises. All of the ap-
pearances indicate that Dr. G. H. Grif-
fen ie the same as DIR. G.. Hamilton
Griffin, formerly of Los Angeles, who
will be remembered by the pioneers of
1886" as one of the smoothest all-round
fakirs and confidence operators Of the
boom period.
Griffin dropped into Los Angeles from
somewhere, no one knows Just exactly
where, though he claimed to be a native
Of England, and to have lived for some
years in London. He was fine looking
man, good dresser and one of the
smoothest takers that ever struck the
coast. Although from his appearance
there was considerable admixture of
African blood in his veins his wife. was a
handsome blonde, as was alec her sister,
who accompanied him. The doctor did
not lose any time, and at once blossomed
out as real estate operator on large
Gcale. He organized company, fitted
up handsome offices, and for a time did
a land office business
He did not last long in real estate, but
he was full of resources, and as "side
line" organized the Dry Sparkling Cham
payne company A cheap barn was
erected down in the river bed, and glow
ing proe'pectuses were issued, in which
1t was stated that there was a fortune
for the investors in the enterprise, as
champagne equal to the best imported
brands could be turned out for 10 cents a
bottle, including the label and bottle.
just how much the doctor got out of this
scheme ie not known, az the stock was
disposed of in blocks of large face value
for a comparatively modest amount of
ready coin. When everything was in
readiness the doctor advertised a ban
quet at the Nadeau hotel, when the new
wine was to be introduced A barrel of
the cheapest white wine was bought on
credit and sent to one of the soda factor
les, where it was heavily charged with
gas. An elaborate lunch was prepared,
and many prominent citizens were in
vited to the feast. 1t was memorable
event, and great accounts appeared in
the daily papers, but no more champagne
was made.
After a number of more or less mar
row escapes from taking up his residence
behind the bars. DR.. Griffin suddenly
left Los Angeles, saying that he was
disgusted with the place. When next
heard from the doctor was in trouble
over fake coal mine and blackmail
scheme in British Columbia in which he
tried to swindle several menlbere of the
government. The British authorities
were not as tolerant of the doctors
idiosyncrasie's as were those of Cali
fornia, and the upshot of the matter was
that he was tried, convicted and sent to
the penitentiary for three of four years
On his release he announced that he
intended to devote himself to legitimate
business, claiming. however, that he
had been prosecuted man.
He then went to Chicago, and 1t was
only short time until he was at his old
tricks. He escaped Jail. with his usual
luck, and nothing has since been heard
Of him in California until the story of
his latest swindle. was received by tel
egraph. The fact that Griffin stands at
the head of his business as confidence
man is shown from the fact that he has
so far as known, never gone under an
alias, and yet with his crooked career
which any one could have aecertained at
the expense of Scent postage stamp
he has never failed to land big game In
every city in which he has operated,