Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1898-11-24

The Colonel and His "sistss" Lived
At the windsor Hotel, About
Fifteen Years ago.

following letter from Joseph specht,
formerly proprietor OF the Famous, =
the big business house OF Sc. Louis,
making inquiries OF man who was
temporarily located In this city some
fifteen years ago, but whose identity
has almost been forgotten by those
who knew him at that time. The
man went by the name OF Col. Rich
mond here, and be and a comely
woman, whom the ''Colonel'' claimed
was his sister, were guests for several
months at the Windsor Hotel about
the time Mr.. specht mentions in his
letter, which is as follows:
TO the Editor OF the Ledger.
NATIONAL HOTEL, WASHINGTON,
d. O., Nov. is, 1ses.-Dear Sir:
Herewith enclosed picture of one DR..
G. s. Howard and wife. Howard,
am told, was In your city in 1ss3-4, as
one Col. Richmond, posing as q
Mason, Hindoo priest, English army
officer, etc. He swindled me out of
e1O,0 900 and broke up my family, and
he is now fugitive from justice In
Canada, where be is again in trouble.
/ have a criminal indictment against
him 10 Fairfax Court House, Va,
brought by the grand jury on my evil
dence OF his being an imposter and
thief under the cloak OF religion and
charity. want to connect perfect
chain OF evidence OF bis rascality
from 1858 to the present time, and I
want you to help me by giving me
such information as you can obtain
about him while he was in your city.
! enclose you his picture for identif-
cation. This man Is one OF the smart
est scodndrels In the world, and 1
have gone to the trouble of getting
his record at an expense OF many
thousands Of dollars ip order to bring
him to Justice. slst me ell
you can to rid Il Of this un-
prlncipled breah 4 families and
dsceiver OF W, 4 have many
evidences Of hi lscality when he
passed under th( dases Of Richmond,
Howard, NormAd, Wilson, Bingham.
This man originally came from Can
ada; bis name is Stanley. He left
Canada and came TO this country In
's2, leaving a wife and several chill
oren IN Canada In very destitute cir
oumsiances' Very Trnly Yours: ,..I.
National Hotel, Washington, d. O.
H. jacobson was proprietor OF The
Windsor at that time, Dus does MOI
remember Richmond However,
there are several others who recall
the man as pompous parsonage, Of
clerical appearance, given to boaating
OF his achievements as British army
officer in service in India, where he
acquired the title OF Colonel and did
valiant service for the Grown. Rich-
mond was weIl-informed man upon
must all subjects, more especially
that Of theology, upon which be
seemed to be a crank. While here
the man and woman lived quiet life
at the hotel, occupying separate
apartments, and deporting themselves
in iecorous manner. He did moth
ing out Of the way ii, this city, SO far
as is known, outside of running few
petty bills which he left unpaid.
The picture which accompanied
Mr.. Specht's letter is fair likeness
OF the man who was known here as
Richmond and who, from develop
ments in the last two or three years,
has become one Of Americas greatest
criminals. It wac this same Richmond
who, through the establishment of a
peculiar Oriental religious cult IN VIr-
ginia, near Washington, exercised
such wonderful power over the wife
of Joseph Specht and broke up his
home, Mrs. Specht expendilg thous-
ands OF dollars in buying grounds
and erecting suitable and costly
buildings thereon for the enhance
ment OF this ssscience.n And this de-
luded woman was not alone, for hum
dreds OF others, men and women,
suffered at the hands OF this merciless
swinuler.
Richmond and the woman left Mex
leo between two days and the man
was not heard Of again until the expose
of his nefarious schemes through the
daily metropolitan press some years
ago. But Joseph speeht has never
lost sight of him, nor will be cease TO
camn on hla trail until the man of
many aliases is landed where he be-
longs behind prison bars.
The report that Richmendia related
to the Price family, Of this county, Is
erroneous. CELSIUS Price, Of st. Louis,
became infatuated with the teachings
Of the cult and went dsft, but none Of
the Prices hereabouts.
Rufus 8. Pearson called at the LED
GER office to-day and said be knew
"Ool. RIchmond' quite well.
Mr.. Pearson, when he knew Rich
mond, was in business In Vandalia,
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