The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-23
LOOK OUT FOR THIS EPPS.
HE'S NOT BPPs, AND LITERARY
FOLKS ARE HIS PREY.

They Know Him mt the Century once ana
at Appietou's, ana Charles Dudley Warner
Remembers Him ne n Son or Canon Farrar-
Southern Cities Have Helped support Hin.
Somewhere in this vicinity there is n young
mar with fair hair and engaging British man.
ners who will cndoar himself to various men,
bers Of the Appleton Publishing Company, tho
Century Company and some few others by
kindly getting himself arrested. His name is
not Epps. Edward Epps, though that Is the
namo he goes by, and that's about oil that Is
known about him.. Two or three years ago he
made several valuable acquaintances and
loans, almost simultaneously, In this city, and
disappeared in time to escape arrest. Now no
Is around again working the same game which
no found profitable before. Members Of tho
firm Of ID. Appleton g. Co. were the sufferers
this time.
About two weeks ago this young man called
at the Appleton publishing house and asked to
sec one OF tho members of the firm.
(which one did you wish to sect" asked the
man at the desk.
"Oh, any ono will do replied the visitor.
Its merely q call OF courtesy, a custom we
have in England. It's really expected In the
literary and artistic set. I'm Mr.. Epps. brother
in-law of Alma Tadema and Edmund Gosse.'
Thereupon Mr.. Epps was shown in and warm
1 ~ W. W INV "a thS ~ ="
he showed an apparent familiarity with the
literary and artistic people of London, and OK
pressed pleasure and surprise that the Ameri-
can should be so we'll informed on the subject.
"But. of course. you would be likely to know
my people" he added. You publish some of
Edmund's works I believe"
His new.found frie nd invited Mr.. Epps to
luncheon with him.. and MS they ate and drank
tho conversation turned upon the young Eng
lishman's visit to this country.
and are On a tour OF Observation. Don't treat
us too harshly in your notes"
ALL, lN sSid III the n S.he ever e oaiio fG aiff thss Pu + Sssap ns
you. My father, as you know. is very wealthy;
at least we call him 50 in England. Oyer here,
where a fortune Of five millions sterling Is q
a mere nothing. l suppose he'd be considered
only moderately prosperous. But he has al
ways said that must earn my own Hv-
ing; so he has sent me here on my way to Can
ada, where he starts me In on a new stock farm.
Know anything about southdown sheep,i".
The, American said that he didn't, which was
DEHo&RSs sls' 3 f miiiia 1s'if IF to ea MFi Ep ggsathaown. ia
Canada" he continued. fright climate. right
pasturage, right market. right everything. Just
they.re delayed, and those hotel beasts are be-
There was a pause. The host hesitated, but
the confident. easy manner OF, Mr.. Epps was
man his Willingness to help out. Mr.. Epps
thanked him. extracted $40, and departed, say
i Ms. th Rsse he Tq ST ot 1ssrTn at IL the & day PSb 81 81; HE bo dia;
get more money from them. and referred them
to certain friends of his in the Century Publish
%tractive English RI failed to return. the APP.
pleton people communicated with tho Century
people, only to find that they had been swindled,
and by tho same man who had swindled the
Century people some years ago..
In his former tour the swindler called to see
Richard Watson Glider, editor of the Century,
both at his house and at his office. but failed to
| Fra n nf the TpnfnrV'g art 6nnArtmnnt- IN
whom no told his tale Of being, Alma Tademe's
brother-in.law He spoke Of his father as Mr.;
rescentiy given 100000 to Mrs. Alma Tadema.
thought the father of Mrs; Alma TAaeme
always spoken Of as DR.. Epps.,"
Hes a manufacturer, Too said the young
man.. HE gave up his practice to 60 into bust
This and some other minor points made Mr..
Fraser a little suspicious, but n his s, listers
celebrities SO familiar that the suspicion was
allayed. He went home to dine with Mr.. Fraser.
voiious tales Of exploits on the hunting and polo
field. Ono thing he proposed to do was to bring
told about his 100000 farm In Canada which
Then he borrowed money, and went away.
{AtterWard Mr.. Fraser found that his brother,in;
t beeni s svSiasdh df by tho spurious Steps ps. A'''s "aD
Other mon in Boston had also been taken in,
and had entertained the young man. informa,
country. AS n son of Canon Farrar he had got
money from Charles Dudley Warner. In Bir-
mingham, Ala. he had represented himself as
the son Of a millionaire iron manufactures in
England, and in Pittsburg. Pa. n reward was
offered for his arrest on charges of swindlinR.
Various Southern cities entertained him. A
peculiar point Of his career is that the sums Of
money he borrowed were small. and he seemed
to care more for the social success gained by his
imposture than for the money.
He is described as being about 80 years old.
complexion. small eyes. talks with n great deal
of manner. and has a nervous cough. He is
ultra English in dress and speech. and suggests
in his dress the sporting En~glishman. The Cen
tury people conjecture that he may have been a
groom or O valet in some good English family,
and 80 has learned how to carry himself as an
acquaintance Of the people whom he claims to
know. The Charity Organization Society does
| not know Of him under the name of Epps.