Evening journal., 1901-09-19
SLICK STRANGER
WORKED GAME
Business Men and WOrkmoR
Want Frank Stewart
SEVERAL PARTIES SWTNDLRD
Posed as a Member Of The A. 0. U. ".
and Collected Several Sums
Of Money

Several business men and members
of the local lodges OF the A. o. y. W.,
are anxious to ascertain the where
ahouts OF Frank Stewart, alias Peter
son, who spent several, weeks in this
city and swindled a number Of per-
sons.
From what can be learned Stewart,
or Peterson. came 20 this city the lat
ter part Of August and engaged board
for himself and wife at the restaurant
of George II. Lewis. No 2O5 Market
street. He said his name was Frank
Lewis. and that he had come from
Seaford. Del, and had obtained work
lat the Jackson and Sharp Company.
That the man had friends OF confeder-
ates in that place is evident from the
fact that he received q number OF LETT
ters postmarked Seaford.
Stewart had been here but a few days
when he began his game of swindling
the Workmen. On August 2S Stewart
called at the Office of Grand Recorder
lC. b. Woods. In the A. o. T. w. Hall,
at Ninth and Market streets. Mr..
Woods was out at the time. but Miss
HammelA clerk to Mr.. Woods. waited
on the man. who said his name was
Peterson. He desired TO learn the
names and addresses of a number of
/ Workmen in the city. saying he was a
member OF the order. After receiving
/ information he left. thanking Miss
lHammell for her kindness.
4 On the same day he called upon
Charles NJ. Banks. acting recorder Of
Wilmington Lodge, No L. and told his
tale of woe The man said he was
from Seaford. and was a member Of
Seaford Lodge. He said he and his
wife had gone to Atlantic City on an
excursion and had got of here to get
.la cup Of coffee when the train pulled
D. ont and eft them, and he had not the
o. money TO get home. He exhibited two
/ return tickets 10 Seaford and when
{ asked by Mr. Banks why he did not
see the railroad officials he replied
e that he had done so. but that they re-
fused to do anything for him. Mr..
r Banks then referred him to Mr.. Woods
G for assistance.
; The next seen OF Stewart Peterson
u was at the A. o. U. w. picnic in Bran.
9 dywlne Springs, on August 81. He was
accompanied by his wife and told q
number of those present that he was q
\ Workman and destitute. and that he
= and his wife had walked to the Springs
In order TO obtain money for some
= thing TO eat A camp town" was
taken up by the members and the man
/, was given SO or s4
4 The next move the man made was Ia
D. In L. l.. Il.
b nee. Here he said that his name was
b Peterson. and that he was a member
X OF Quaker City Lodge, No. 116 In
q Philadelphia. and requested aid. Mr.
e Woods informed him II that was tho
p case he would have to write to the re-
corder Of his lodge and obtain an order
e for the semi-annual password before
any help could be given him. The
man cheerfuLly agreed TO do as sung.
gested and departed. That was the
last Mr.. Woods saw Of him.
A short time after Stewart called
, upon A. b. Jones and told the same
story, also adding that he boarded
! with Mr.. Lewis. Mr.. Jones became
+ suspicious, and notified Past Master
3 Workman Bishop Of the Quaker Cit,
, Lodge who came TO this city. Mr.
j Bishop knew Of no such party. and Z
Z week ago Mr. Jones and Mr.. Bishor
called upon Mr. Lewis and informed
him of the mans actions. Whether
their conversation was overheard OF
[ not is not known. but at any rate
Stewart who had been working at ths
Jackson and Sharp Company while hs
was working his game. drew his tim,
and he and his wife decamped fol
Chester. leaving a S1140 board bill be-
hind
AS soon as it was learned that thu
swindler had left the city the recorder
OF Chester Lodge, No. 275. was notified
to be on the lookout for him. It is no
known how many people he swindlet
while in the city. but when he left n,
! wore a pair of shoes, kindly donated
by Leslie V. Christy The man is de,
. scribed as about 20 years of age. 5 fee
s inches in height, slim build. lighr
hair and small mustache.
1iswl Ttshmsi. nsrd