The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-01
IMPOSED ON PHYSICIANS
''Dr. W. A. Ferguson" Held for
Washington Authorities.
identified I'm New York by DIR. a. II.
Shands-Rclicvcd by Gotham Police
to BE the Notorious Ex-Governor
Moses, Who FlouriShcd in the
Cnrpetbaf. Days of South Carolina.

NEW YORK, Nov. 30.-A man who said
Galveston, Tex, but who. there is strong
reason to believe, is the notorious eX-
Governor Moses of South Carolina. who
has record for crookedness extending
over quarter of century, was held this
morning by United States Commissioner
Shields in 81, 900 bail to await examina-
tion on complaint preferred by DR..
A. r. Stands, of Washington, d. c.,
charging him with obtaining money under
false pretences.
While the identity is not absolutely es-
tablished. Central Office Detectives Davis
and Dunn say that they are practically
certain that Ferguson and the carpet
bagger Governor of South Carolina are
one and the same. Assistant United States
District Attorney Ball, at one time cit
izen OF North Carolina, is also strongly
of the opinion that the prisoner is ex-
Governor Moses. DR.. Stands and Detec-
tive T. B. McNamee. of the Washington
detective office, arrived in the city this
morning. DR.. Stands positively identified
Ferguson as the man who had obtained
the check from him.
DR.. ShaEds, who is well-known physi-
clan in Washington. was secretary of the
Committee of Arrangements of the Ameri-
can Congress of Physicians and Surgeons
which met in Washington last summer
According to his story. man went to him
on the night Of November 3. and repre-
sented himself to be Dr. Walter p Porch
er, prominent physician of Charleston.
S. c. DR.. Stands knew DR.. Porcher by
reputation and took the strangers word
for it that he was DR.. POrcher. The sup
posed Dr. Porcher told DR.. Stands that he
was stranded in Washington and wanted
to get enough money to take him to Rich
nond, whore he had relatives. The man
seemed to know SO many persons of prom
inence that he convinced DR.. Stands of
his identity. DR.. Stands then wrote him
out check for s6, which tn. man endors-
ed with DR.. Porchers' name. and the two
proceeded to drug store, where the
check was cashed. A few days later DR..
Shands found out that he had been swindl-
ed and that several other Washington
physicians had been imposed upon by the
supposed DR.. Porcher in the same way.
DR.. Porcher, on hearing of the matter,
hastened to expose the man, and the mat
ter was taken up by the National Medical
Association, and through publications and
otherwise physicians were notified to
look out for the imposter.
The Central Office here was notified and
was upon the lookout for the swindler
when last week their attention was called
TO case of q man whose procedure was
very similar to that of the man wanted in
Washington. This man was imposing on
New York physicians in the same way, CIV
ing his name as Dr. W. A Ferguson. and
declaring that he had lost all his property
in the Galveston disaster He wanted
money enough to take him to his old home
in Glasgow, Scotland. Complaints were
lodged against the man by Dr. Jarman. OF
"a West Seventy-sixth Street. and DR..
william VI. Polk OF I East Thirty-sixth
Street. Dr. Jarman notified the police that
the man had made an appointment tG>be
at his Office Wednesday night. Fergu on
kept the appointment and Detective Arm
strong arrested him. He was arraigned
yesterday in the West Side Police Court.
but owing to the Information received from
Washington the charges were nc, pressed,
and the prisoner was turned over TO De-
tectives Dunn and Davis TO await the ar
rival of DIR. shsrds.
Ex-Governor Moses. according to
Byrnes' book. was New England nan
and a graduate of Columbia College. who
went South and after the close of the
war identified himself with the Recon-
structionists in South Carolina, finally
becoming Governor of the State. He was
one of the most notorious of the carpet
bagger Governors and his actions finally
led to his removal from Office. Since that
time he has established repula lion as
an all around confidence man ami has
served time in the State prisons of Mass
achusetts and other States.
SO far as known two physicians CT this
city were victirlized by DR.. William A.
Ferguson. now under arrest in New York
for the local authorities. They are DR..
a. r. Stands and DR.. Frye. ard their
losses together amount to only $40. DR..
Sbands left for New York. accompanied
by Detective McNamee, of headquarters,
late Thursday night, and he will remain
there several days.
Ferguson first appeared here about ten
days ago and visited several physicians in
the Northwest section. He represented
himself as DR.. Porcher, of Charleston, S.
c., and complained of being in financial
pending the arrival of funds from
home. He applied ID DR.. Shands. who
knew of DR.. Porcher by reputation. and
asked temporary assistance. Dir. Stands
thought the case Il worthy one. and drew
cashed by Ferguson. Several days later
Ferguson called upon DR.. Frye. and from
him obtained 81 in similar manner. He
then left the city, and was not heard from
until his arrest in New York City. Every
effort will be made to have him brought
here for trial.