The Topeka state journal., 1897-10-08
The Great Wall Street Financier
is Taken In
To the Extent of $1,000 by E.
c. Gibson,
The Man Who Engineered Our
Oakland Dam Deal.
WANAMAKER SUFFERS
By the Vaccinations of the Same
Individual Who Has
Succeeded in Acquiring $4OO,-
600 by Crooked Methods.

New York, Oct. 8.-The police say that
Emmett c. Gibson, also known as George
A Sheerin. who is now a prisoner at po-
lice headquarters, is the most accomp-
iished bogus check and hotel swindler in
the country.
Gibson. according to the police, has sue
ceeded 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 get
ting and spending in the neighborhood of
100000 Among his victims, according 10
Police Captain McClus1ey, are Henry
Clews and John Wanamaker.
The police had been getting 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 We're honOred il
almost every case. their worthlessness
only coming to light when he had made
himself scarce. Complaints reached head
quarters from the police of cities, both
in the east and in the west and the police
recognized Gibson's handiwork.
Detectives were put on the Clews case
and they located Gibson at the Hotel
Bartholdi. They did not find him when
they went to the hotel yesterday to bag
the game. He was, however, found in
the Grand hotel The detectives saw
tall, slim, dark-featured man. with blue
eyes, a high forehead and blonde whis-
kers. He was well dressed and very cool
when the officers invited him to police
headquarters. protesting that the police
had made a mistake. At the police
headquarters he described himself En-
met c. Gibson, unmarried. 80 years of
age of the Hotel Bartholdi and a native
of this country. He said he was vice
president of the Akron Street Railway
company at Akron, o.. a lawyer and once
upon a time judge in an Ohio town.
The specific complaint entered against
him was made by the auditor of the I'M
periaI House. He alleges that Gibson was
a guest at the hotel on August of last
year. and presented a worthless check for
$3.50 in payment of a $3.50 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 build
ing not long ago said Captain McClus-
key. 1T was handsomely appointed He
talked about his connection with the Ak
ron Street Railway company as a win
ming card to gain confidence. He won over
Mr.. Henry Clews. In fact, his office was
next to Mr.. Clews'. When he had wormed
himself into Mr.. Clews' good graces, he
calmly laid down with him $1,000 check
Mr.. Clews cashed it only to discover it
was worthless but Gibson had gone. a
paddock was put on his office door.
'sGibson met Mr. Wanamaker in Phila-
delphia some time ago and the dry goods
man was attracted by him. Gibson sug-
gested a paper to be started and run by
him in the interest of Mr.. Wanamaker's
store Good idea Mr.. Wanamaker said
to Gibson, and a plant was purchased
The next thing Mr. Wanamaker knew
Gibson had sold the plant for several
thousand dollars, and Philadelphia has
not known him since. so far as 1 know.
Il have not yet got a definite idea of
the amount of Gibsons swindles. I am
told that they viii foot up more than
$4,000 in four years. and he operated in
both the east and west"
widow in Cleveland is said to have
been defrauded of 5000 by Gibson.
Akron. O., Oct. S.-Emmet c. Gibson,
organized the Akron Street Railway and
Illuminating company of this city about
two years ago. At a meeting of the di-
rectors of the company last January he
was removed as president and became
vice president w B. Chapman. general
manager of the Akron Street Railway
and Illuminating company, when told Of
the reported arrest of Mr.. Gibson, con-
fessed that he was greatly surprised
George d. Allen. attorney for the COM
many, when told that man named En-
met c. Gibson had been arrested in New
York on the charge of embezzlement, said
that he could not believe that it was the
same Gibson who is vice president of the
Akron Street Railway and Illuminating
company While Gibson has made many
visits to this city during the last year.
he is known very little outside of street
railway circles.