Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-29
NEARS END OF CAREER
"COt." SWALLOW OF MANY
ALIASES IN CUSTODY.
Alleged to Have Been a Confidence
Man for Many Years-operated
in Washington.

"Col." William H. Swallow, said to be
the Oldest confidence man in the United
States Is again in custody. He has served
a number of terms in prison, having been
sentenced in this city upon two occasions.
The police believe his career before the
public will be brought to a close this time.
The colonel Is more than seventy years
Of age, and the police in all sections Of the
country know him. Several times during
the past year Inspector Boardman has had
him identified as the man who worked con-
f1dence games in other localities.
A short time ago, when message was
received from Baltimore giving the de-
scription of a confidence operator, 1nspec-
tor Boardman concluded that the descrip-
ton fitted Swallow. He sent a photograph
identified Last night the Philadelphia
police informed Inspector Boardman of the
arrest Of an elderly man and gave his de-
scripton.
That description fits Swallow" said the
inspector as soon as he had finished read
ing it.
1t was stated by the Philadelphia police
that the man arrested was being held on
suspicion, and that he had on his person
several checks that were made out on
banks in this city. He had given his name
as Harold Morgan of this city and later he
said his name was John Winship and that
Made Payable at Local Banks.
The checks taken from him were made
payable at the Farmers and Mechanics
and the Traders national banks of Wash
ington. They were made payable to fic-
titious persons, and bore the signatures of
others whose names did not appear in the
local directory. photograph of Swallow
was sent to Philadelphia last night and
lnSDeCtOr received this
morning stating that the photograph is a
good likeness of the man in custody. The
Baltimore authorities were told Of the ar
rest and they have sent papers to Philadel-
phia asking for the custody of the prisoner
1t is likely that he will be sent to Baltimore
and If he is sentenced to the Maryland
penitentiary. as the police think, he will
never be able to operate again.
Col Swallow, the man of many aliases.
has been in the habit of getting most of
his money from the proprietors of schools
and colleges, but the amounts be obtained
were not large. His custom, it is said, was
to write to institutions with the expressed
purpose of having his children entered, and
later he would call in person. He invaria-
bly, presented check to pay for their
tuition in advance, the check representing
a sum about $25 or $50 larger than he knew
he would be called upon to pay. In Janu-
airy, 1892, he communicated with Prof. P. J..
des Garennes of 1923 street northwest.
writing from Rockville, Md. under the
name of DR. Merfield.
At that time he made arrangements with
the professor to teach his two daughters
When he had perfected the arrangements
by mail he called in person and presented
a check for $3.50, receiving $50 change.
DR. Merfield. he signed his name upon
that occasion, was arrested at Wheeling.
w. Va, and brought here for trial. He
was sentenced for term of one year and
a day in the penitentiary His first arrest
In this city was made by Policeman Golway
in 1886.
Under Many Names.
In Baltimore, where he is alleged to have
operated recently, he was known as the
Hon w. r. Alexander and also as Robert
E. Sadlier. Some of his other aliases were
A. M. Lynch, VIM. NJ. Law, Co.. w. ].
Ford and William H. McGrain. His last
appearance in this city was few months
ago, when he called at the Catholic Univer-
sty with check for 81 900 saying 1t was
from the estate of a person who had left
that amount to the institution. incidentally
he needed a little ready cash while he was
in the city, and the priest who accepted the
check handed him over $40 bill.
Inspector Boardman was greatly pleased
over the capture and identification of the
man.
This trip will probably end his criminal
career. the inspector said, land with the
old man out of the way there is certain to
be a reduction in the number of complaints
of the work of confidence man"
1t is said the Baltimore authorities have
already sent their papers to Philadel phia,
turned there in time to be tried next week