The record-union., 1897-10-08
A SWlhDLER IN CUSTODY.
EMMETT C. GIBSON A PRISONER
AT NEW YORK.
Many Leading Hotels and Several
Prominent and Wealthy Men
His Victims.

! NEW YORK, Oct THE police say
that Emmett c. Gibson, also known as
I George A. Sherfn, who was arrested to-
day and is now a 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 forgery, bogus
checks and dealings in stocks and bonds
and plying his wiles upon first-class
hotel keepers during the last four years,
in getting and spending in the neigh
borhood of 100000. Among his vic
Tins, according TO Police Captain Nc
Cluskey, are Henry Clews and John
| Wanamaker.
The police had been getting COM
plants from different first-class hotels
in this city for many days back Bo-
gus checks We're laid down by Gibson
| in payment of board bills The checks
We're honored in almost every case.
their worthlessness only coming to light
when he had made himself scarce.
Complaints reached headquarters of the
police officials both in the East and
West, and the police recognized Glib
sons handiwork. Detectives were put
on the case, and they located Gibson
at The Hotel Bartholdi- They did not
find him in when they went to the hotel
yestarday TO bag the game He was.
however, found in the Grand Hotel. The
detectives saw a tall, slim, sharp fea,-
tured man, with blue eyes. a. high
forehead and blonde whiskers. He was
Well dressed, and very cool when the
officers invited him to take a. stroll to
police headquarters, protesting that the
police had made a mistake.
At police headquarters he described
himself as Emmet C. Gibson, 80 years
of age, of the Bartholdi Hotel. and a.
native of this country He said he
was Vice President of the Akron Street
Railway Company of Akron. O.. a law
yer, and once upon time Judge in an
Ohio town
The specific complaint entered on the
blotter against him was made by the
| auditor of the Imperial Hotel. He AL
leges that Gibson was a guest at the
hotel On August 9th of last year. and
presented a worthless check for $500
in payment of a S265 board bill. Glib
son put down" the check and went
away with the balance in cash. He
was seen no more at the Imperial
Gibson had an Office in the Mills
huiliing not long ago. said Captain
McCluskey. TT was Handsomely an
pointed. He talked about his connec-
tion with the Akron Street Railway
Company as a winning card to gain.
confidence. He won over even Eenrv
Clews In fact. his Office was next
that of Mr.. Clews. When he had
worned himself into Mr.. Clews' good
graeas, he calmly laid down with him
| a Sl,O00 check. Mr.. Clews casbed If
only TO discover how worthless it was
out Gibson had gone. A paddock was
put on his office door.
Gibson met Mr.. Wanamaker in. Phil
aoeiphla some time ago. and the dry
goods man was attracted by him cih-
son suggested that a paper be started
ana run by him in the interest of Mr.
Waaamaker's store Good idea an
sWered Mr.. Wanamaker, and a. r,1an+
was purchased. The next thing Mr
! Waaamaker knew Gibson had sold +bs
pant Tor several thousand dollars and
! PhiIadelphia has not known him sinca
/ so Tar as is known