Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-08
ALL THINGS ARE COMING
TOWARD TAILOR FLAA.
MONKEYS, WHITE MICE, PIANOS,
COFFINS, TYPEwRITERS,
ETCETERA
FOR A MYTHICAL MErCALFE.
bogus CHECK swINDLER WHO HAS
BEEN BUSY FOR TWO
YEARS.

NEW 1O1NtNs bSN6LuHSI 1--we MOH-
keys. parrots. pianos. white mice, cans
of ice cream, books, baskets of wine,
carboys OF vitrol, dry goods, canary
birds, medicines, artificial legs, suits
of clothes, neckties. trained dogs, beef,
jewelry and vegetables have been sent
TO the dwelling house at No 100 West
Seventyninth street in the past two
years Ito be delivered to Mr.. w. p.
Metcalfe." the name given by a man
who has been swindling and annoying
shop keepers all that time. No Met
calfe lives in the house. but the people
who do live there would like to get
their hands on this Metcalfe.
The swindler is described as tau.
thin, about 35 years old, consumptive y
looking and poorly dressed. He has
brown mustache. Sometimes he rep
resents himself to be broker, some-
times physician, and often news
paper reporter. If he is purchasing
law books he is a lawyer, If dental in
struments a dentist. II was as q
newspaper reporter that he called at
George d. Smiths book store Monday
night. He wanted TO see some OF the
books that had been purchased at the
Daily sale. He picked out two books,
and when told they would cost him
$3.50, he asked to have them sent to
his home to be paid for on delivery.
Then he kept the clerks in the store
busy showing curios and listening TO
his talk. He told one OF the clerks
that he was a reporter for the sun.
which was untrue, and he added that
he would bring around an artist to
take sketch Of cigar box formerly
owned by Charles Dickens, so that a
story of the curio might be printed.
Then he said:
AS for those books l Just bought.
I'll pay for them now II you don't
mind my paying for them by check"
He produced a check which was
signed Amos J. Cummings" and
drawn to the order OF w. Metcalfe.
The check was for $3.50 and was
drawn upon Washington bank.
why not send the books around TO
No 100 West Seyenty-nInth street and
collect on delivery" suggested tho
clerk
We'll" said Metcalfe. you might az
well take the check and give me the
change, 81. However, II you don't care
to do that, send the books up 70 the
house"
Wen send them up" said the
clerk, handing back the check.
Metcalfe went out. A boy from
the book store who went to the Sew
enty-nlnth street house found half .
dozen boys on the stoop with bundles.
They were arguing with a little Ger
man and telling the little man that he
must take the goods they brought.
saying that the goods had been ORDER
ed by 'Mr. Metcalfe."
Il got a box Of ladies' underwear"
said one boy. "Mr. Metcahe bought
the goods in our store. The goods were
ordered sent here, and you can't bluR
me Take en-"
Get away" said the little man. Il
am he that lets the rooms Of this
house, and no such man lives here.
Take away the goods. or I'll call the
police"
Another boy who brought floral
horseshoe, and said that It had been
made to order By an Amsterdam ave-
nue. florist, VINO had been paid BY Met
calfe with a check. for which he re-
ceived IS in change.
Take it away" yelled the little
man. ''MetcaIfe don't live here. !
would know when ne did, for l am tbs
letter"
WAY, you're only postal card, ="
said another boy. III you don't take
the goods brought, I'll trow dem In:
gee?"
please go away" pleaded the littis
man Tell your bosses that I am Mr.
". ]. Flam. I am the letter" He bolted
and locked the front door, so that
they could not drop the goods in the
hall
Half an hour later three coal carts
lined up at the corner The driver of
the first cart got down and rang the
door bell Of No. 100. Mr.. Flam. WIS
has tailor shop on the second floor.
refused to answer the bell Then ali
three drivers rang the bell and klckea
the door.
Mrs. Flam. who had toothachs, re-
moved handkerchief from her gwoII.
en- face and leaning out Of > window on
the second floor, shouted: IL you dump
that coal in front OF our door. III have
you arrested"
Mr. Metczlse ordered II" shouted