The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1907-05-24
Old SWINDLER DEAD.
Body at AshevilIe is That OF
"LOrd Beresford."
He Left Trail Of Wivcs-Clover
Australian, Lasccllcs, Hoodwinked

American Ambassador.
The body of Henry Asquith, of
Norfolk, which has been lying at the
undertaking establishment Of holland,
Brown & Co., Of Asheville, N. c.,
waiting for 1t to be claimed by rela-
tives, has been identified as the no.
toriOus bogus Lord Beresford, -
alias Asquith, Hobson. Williams,
Morris, etc. This Identification was
made by w. r. Cheney and Linton
Dean, lawyers, Of Rome, Ga, who
arrived In Ashevllle a few days ago.
Asquith's real name was Sidney Las
| COLES He came to Asheville with
| physicians and nurses, whom he led
to believe would be paid handsome
~. Mr.. CLANCY says:
Sidney LaScelleS was born In Aus
tralia of parents comparatively we'll
to do. He was glven an excellent
education, and when he reached his
majority was sent to England There
he made hit, learned the ms and
outs Of society. He lived fast life
and his funds soon ran out. While
thus financially embarrassed, he con-
ccived plan similar to that follow
ed by the notorious bogus Lord
Douglass for recuperating his for
| tune.
"Lascelles secured an Introduction
to the American ambassador at Lon
don under the name Of Beresford,
posing as q cousin OF the English
lord Of that name. He cultivated the
acquaintance OF the American ambas-
sador and soon gained his confidence.
BercSford then represented to the
ambassador that he was about to take
trip to America and around the
world. The ambassador Immediately
offered him letters Of introduction to
many well known society people OF
America, including members of New
York's 400 Lascelles secured mon
ey and credit enough as member
Of the Beresford family to buy Lon
don wardrobe which was the wonder
OF New York. His clothes were cop
led and he became lionizcd by Goth
am society He was able, with COM
parative little expense, to hold his
own. he was SO constantly entertain
ed in the American metropolis.
after he had obtained entry into
New York society and had obtained
credit Of hundreds Of thousands he
decided to come South on trip,
armed with letters from wel-known
society people and business men. He
went to Rome, Ga, where he repre-
sentcd himself as Lord Bcresford.
come to America rs a representative
of an English syndicate in search of
Investment. The firm Of Hamilton
& Co., then the wealthiest in Rome,
was at the time selling agent for
10000 acres Of land. They tried to
interest the bogus lord In trade.
Lord Beresford became very
much Interested, in the meantime
doing the society stunt and paying
much attention to young society
belle OF that place. Beresford had
the genuine Bercsford cOat-of-arms
on everything 1t could be placed.
This coat-of-arms was on his private
check book on the Bank Of England.
One day he was explaining to Hamil-
ton & Co., the difference between
American and English systems of
banking. He showed his imposing
check book and told how the checks
were numbered in England. Then
in careless sort Of way he said to
Hamilton:
BY the way, 7 have been In
America for some time, and have run
short Of ready cash. would like to
have change. don't YOU know.
Could you led me have a few hun
dreds or so?
Hamilton & Co., mindful of the
English syndicate and prospective
trade, together with Beresford's let
ters, opened the company safe, Civ
ing him the money in large dcnomi-
nations. With a careless thanks.
3ercsford thrust the money into the
pocket Of his trowcrs. and wrote out
check on the Bank Of England for
$2,250.
The society stunt was kept up for
about week aftcrward, when the
Lord Bcrcsford disappeared, having
neglected to pay his hotel and other
bills. 1t was then learned that 3crcs-
ford had forgotten to return dia-
mond rings and other tokens loaned
him by society damscls.
"Bcrcsford Went from place to
place, carrying out his nefarious
schemes, with slcuths close behind
him He married whenever "A wife
would be Of any use to hif In carry
ing out his schemes. 1t is known
chat he had at least sX or eight wives,
and probably many morc times that
number
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