The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-05
PAPER COLLAR JOE BUSco MAN AND
PICTURE swINDLBR.

fAPkk COLLAR JOE bUNSo MAN AMI
PICTURE swINDLRR.
selyes not less than for the real Mr.. Gray
II he exists.
The Sun told on Friday of some OF the
visits mado by the slick stranger TO art
collectors, TO whom lee said that no had
been recommended 10 them by Mr. Kirby
Of the American Art Association, and that
he desired to sell them some choice MASTER
pieces OF painting that he had stored with
the Bank OF New Amsterdam. He eI-
planned that he was forced to get rid Of the
pictures owing to unsuccessful speculation,
end he told the people, ii they seemed in
terested, that his secretary would call on
them and negotiate the details OF the mere
matter Of trade
George 4. Dlwden OF Newark and New
York, who has been we'll known for many
years a. buyer OF paintings both for him
self and for eome collectors. said Yesterday
that he also had been a recipient Of the
attentions Of man who presents himself
as Mr.. John Gray London within the last
few days Mr.. G ay' had written him
twice, and invited him to call at his hotel,
which he wrote was the Martin House. at
Fortieth street and Broadway, and look
over some Of the masterpieces that Wall
Streets bad turns had forced upon the altar
II sacrifice. Mr., Gray also mentioned TO
Mr. Dowden that his secretary would he
ready to continue the negotiations.
Mr. Dowden set inquiries under way and
learned. he said last evening, that mis- corre-
spondent Mr. Gray was none other than
the notorious Paper Collar joe pick
rocket and bunoo steerer-who has feeced
rnen and women in many places since the
days Of the Philadelphia Centennial and
that his secretary who writes the letters
for him. Is one Billy Wild. who has long
& teen known as a ticket Spectator when
= not otherwise engaged
Mr.. powdon sold that he had been for
tunate enough TO learn by direct evidence
that Paper Collar joe had picked him,
rs picture buyer whose name appeared
from time TO time In the newspapers, ns one
10 turn trick upon; but having experience,
Mr.. DcwGen YVES not 70 lie caught with
such oters SIS MIR Gray" made
II also became known last evening that
'Mr Gray had called upon j. B. Haggin
1T his once. ma King his way easily into
Mr. Higgins rroserce by biz address,
his card and his general snloothress Mr,
Haggln also, however, not having spent
hls life o. a lamb. was not ready 10 fall
n Flctlm 20 the proAered taI gains. Mr.
iaggin was, however, all hut amazed
by the glibness and assurance If his odd
caller. One piece Of mischief MIR. Gray
az enabled 10 accomplish apparently, !
reason cf his call on Mr.. Hnggin. He
some Wa obtained one Of Mr., Haggiu'-
tards watch lie has since shown, hut IN
what way b" got Il Mr.. HaRgin SAYS he |
hes not the slightest notion.
Inspector Byr cs in his hook "CT:Tirnls !
81 America gives this descfiT ton 81 Paper I
'olar Joe, otherwise Joseph Bond:
lmrtv-six years old IN 1853 T. Mr. |
Gray IS described az about 60 with sandy
gray mutton chop whiskers Bonn In
United States; married; no trade; medium
.nld height feet ~ inches; weight about
d ~ poulds; dark hair hazel eyes. light
cQmpeNon generally wears sandy aide
Vhisker' and mustache high forehead
iooks somewhat like jew. a well known
,1unco man. He formerly hailed from
rhliudcIpn,a but il well known in New
loTS and other large cities. he Is con-
tldered one Of tho smartest men In the
III llnoo business
NJ Bono was arrested in Philadelphia dur
~ Ilg the Centennial and sentenced TO one
;ear IN Cherry Hill Prison on Aug, l. 1879
,or plying his vocation on stranger He
uns ueen arrested time and again, but like
,n men IN that line Of business, IA seldom
punished. He IL credited with iieecing a
ihan out Of 5000 in Pennsylvania in Octo-
osl 10 and IN 1885 took trip 10 Europe.
30 he mas had plenty Of tine 10 develop
su thglsh accent, and as may be seen
tuln the picture Of him here printed he
n19tII readliy pass for Britisher by reason
al ais large features The accounts given
~ ~ Mr, Gray's' appearance coincide with
ne published descriptions Of Paper Col
nSoe IN the points Of the bald head. the
81 tr..li udfk eyes, the mutton chop whiskers-
80 sandy, now sandy-gray-and the
s11'la an round smoothness OF manner
~. lS-ch The picture here published
~ Aken about nineteen years ago, and the
arc csn os N years IN Mr.. Gray's' appear
I''@ corresponds with the usual o,hnnges
i nan Of Joe Bonds type. Mr.. Gray
Cbist 'pnoN muStache at present, but
~ byrnes in the revised edition OF his
CoTAHu aWs attention 10 the fact that Paper
iache W" iAi' u''''
., ferhaps now that With the cooperation /
III nrby. Mr. Dowden aud others, !
-,tuoyN mas brought MIR. Gray into the
-n"lght. the Detective Bureau Tnnv take [
eh Interest in his OPERATIONS. although /
N,r1.uue that for months past Inspector
NHGlusAy and his spectacular pals from /
vs,hjsrry Street have hung out nightly |
tI 'ci,i couple OF blocks Of the hotel where.
III, ing 70 his letters 10 Mr.. Dowden. /
u NJ. John Cray Of the Constitution Club, |
tsintincs Ts "P' "''H '''S
soap Steve o'Bricn. the new head OF
% pa,eotive Bureau. however. knows /
8, r. Codar Joe we'll Joe's last arrest /
ORR as recorded, was in 1890 when /
srJ ~ was N charge Il the Bureau before; !
- WArii Joe. vi'h his usual good luck /
u on lisehargtd by Magistrate Mott Capt
~ ~ * pressed his disgust very plainly, !
80 go lalked about Joe's record. he |
no -Oth az that time not only as one Of |
IN ~ a.ost successful all around swindlers ,
- ne country. hut as one who had DO |
rsiyi,r1la iad for dipping people with fake |
t.iii.E'' Amid exploits in many lines Of |
some Of which have been do |