The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-02-22
Confidence Man Traded on
Bankers Name.
CLEVER AND PLAUSIBLE
Petty Swlndisr Talked Gllbly ofTrans-
actions Involving Millions and
Then Decamped.


men has been operating mere for two
weeks, IN large and small way,
though the extent of his deals cannot
be definitely learned at this time. 1t
IL known that he has done" several
individuals out Of sums Of money rang
Ing from $3.50 10 800, and lncidently
defrauded his landlady out Of board
bill
This genius Of cr0okedness came to
the city about February and put up
at one Of the hotels registering as John
+. Morgan. IT,, and representing him
self as the son Of the New York mill
ionaire banker and billion dollar trust
promoter. A strong resemblance to
the pictures Of J. Pierpont Morgan gave
color TO the statement and h. was tax
IN seriously by the few persons to
whom he went so far as TO diyulge his
Identity and his business He gave out
10 these few that he was in the employ
Of the L0ndoE-American Mining and
Investment syndicate. with which con-
cern his father. John Pierpont Morgan.
is heavily interested, as a mineral ex-
pert and financial agent, whose busi-
ness It was to look after the various
mining properties Of the syndicate To-
Gated in North and South America. Eu-
rope. Asia, Africa and Australia. He
acted according to his story as in
spector for new and undevelOped prop
critics. and recommended any mineral
interests to the syndicate, negotiating
these deals himself and handling in
this way between $40. 900 and 10000
600 year.
He was in Astoria ostensIbly with a
view to looking over the coal prospects
In the lower Nehalem country his pur-
pose being in case coal deposits of
value were discovered in that district,
to secure them for the syndicate. His
first concern here was 10 organize
crew Of half a dozen men TO accom-
panv him to the Nehalem on his tour
OF inspection. and this crew, on prom
ises Of liberal salaries. was readily
enough secured. He intimated that the
crew should remain with him perma-
nenuy and 60 with him TO China
shortly after the Nehalem inspection.
To each member Of his crew he stat
ed. "on the quiet" that up in the
Okonagan country of northern Wash
ington he had made some very valua-
BILE mineral discoveries: that he had
filed on several OF these, using fictitious
names: that it was his desire these
properties be secured to the syndicate.
and that he was willing that these
fictitious names should be replaced
with the names Of his crew, provided
each man would agree to act In good
faith with him, and when the time
came transfer his interest to the syndi-
cate for a consideration of $4,000 or
sa5, 900, the probable value Of each prop
erty A further stipulation was that
the men should pay the small fee Of Sc
for filing and as this was only fair
it is probable that every man of the
crew. and probably a score or more of
others about town, came down with the
stuff.
He decamped early yesterday morn
ing. leaving board bill unpaid and a
good many individuals who would like
much to know something of his where
abouts. Mr.. Morgan" as he styled
himself, is a man of medium height.
we'll built, with shapely head, sandy
mustache, and face that shows in
telligence. He dressed in black suit,
double breasted coat, though sometimes
wearing trousers of mixed gray stun.
He was very quiet and retiring in
his demeanor and impressed one as a
man OF culture. He has no bad hab-
its Of the common sort; neither drinks
nor uses profanity or vulgar language.
He is a good conversationalist, an ex-
cellent story teller, and recounts in the
most dramatic and fascinating man
ner his many wonderful experiences in
the cities, mining camps and wilds of
the world, He is well educated, and
ii is evident, has travelled much. for
he appears familiar with almost every
part of the world, and his facile use of