The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-02-21
Both SWindler
And William
currence. the Pension Impostor.
Persuaded a Young Girl from
Home and Ruined her Sad
story, thegirI tells.

' ~ 800 g.
George Wesley Currence, the fellow
In Jail at Parkersburg, charged with
yictimizing old soldiers by represent
ing himself asa son Of Henry Clay
Evans. U. S. Pension Commissioners,
has had romantic career and is vii
lain OF the worst type. He ruined
Delphia Harris, IA years of age Sep
tember l0th last. She is a mere child
and very frail, in fact. she looks asif
she were just entering her teens. She
is a daughter Of Charles Harris, re-
siciing'at Audra, Barbour county, l.
miles north OF Belington. The father
is an employee at Strobe's mills.
About O'Clock the afternoon of
January 8, Currence went to John
Harris home, where the girl
worked and passed himself Off TO the
girl US pension examiner and detec-
tive. lie told her that her parents
were about to make trouble for her
and asked her To 20 away with him
that he mightprotect her from the de-
signs of her parents. He finally per-
suaded her to 90. They left at 10
O'Clock at night without the knowl-
edge or consent Of her parents. They
walked miles during the night and
sat up the remainder of the night at a
railway station waiting for Il train.
Next morning they boarded a train
and went to Moatrose beyond Elkins.
They stopped there at the home OF
Joshua Ward, where she h d worked
a year. They staid there two days as
man and wife, although they were not
married. Then they went to Pied
mont and stopped one day at Daniel
WatSon's. He seemed to have plenty
of money, and he told her all about
his manner Of obtaining 1t from old
soldiers, by victimizing them. From
Piedmont they went to Cumberland,
where they attended the theater.
From Cumberland they went to WASH
ington and staid few days, after
which they went TO Pittsburg. thence
to Wheeling, thence To Moundsville on
the street car line, thence TO Grafton,
Philippi, and back home, living as
man and wife in all their travels
When they arrived at the girls home
they informed her parents they were
married. After remaining at home a
few days, they went To Grafton and
then came to Clarksburg week before
last, stopping at the Stotler apartment
house in Glen Elk as man and wife.
After attempts to victimiZe Union
veterans here and no doubt becoming
frightened on account OF exposure
through Il notice sent To Washington,
he took the girl TO Parkcrsburg. They
arrived there last Sunday week ago
and boarded at BY. Hamilton's place,
until the day before his arrest, when
he purchased her railroad ticket and
sent her back To Carksburg. She was
70 remain here until he could join
her.
In response to Information sent by
Squire NJ. s. Riley to Congressman
Dovener at Washington. Special us.
Pension Exami er Albert W. Roome
arrived here Tuesday night of last
week. That night Mr.. Stotler tele-
phoned Squire Riley that the girl bad
returned TO his place and that she
said Currence told her he might Join
her the next night or the night after
or that it might be three weeks before
he came back. Squire Riley went To
the Traders hotel next morning and
told MIR Roome about the girl. Rnome
went over and talked to the girl. She
made detailed statement of her en-
perience and OF the information Cur
renee gave her concerning his methods
in obtaining money from the Onion
veterans and penSiolerS, and was Serv-
ed with "A summons to appear against
him as a witness in parkcrSburg Feb
ruary -.
The girl says She does not love him
and never did, but submitted To his
carresseS and attentions through fear
and with repulSon