The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-05-22
OLD SWINDLER DEAD.
Body at AsheviIle is That of
lord Beresford."
He Left a Trail OF Wives Clever
Australian, Lascelles, Hoodwinked
American Ambassador.

The body Of Henry Asquith, o
Norfolk, which has been lying at tn
undertaking establishment Of Noland
Brown & Co., Of Asheville, n. c.
waiting for it 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. T. Cheney ard Linton
Dean, lawyers. Of Rome, Ga, who
arrived in Asherille few days ago
Asouith's real name was Sidney Las
celles. He came to Asheville with
physicians and nurses. whom he led
to believe would be paid handsome
ly. Mr.. CLANCY says:
Sidney Lascelles was born in Aus
tralia Of parents comparatively well
to do. He was given an excellent
education, and when he reached his
majority was sent to England. There
he made a hit, learned the ms and
outs Of society. He lived fast life
and his funds soon ran out. While
thus financially embarrassed. he con-
ceived plan similar to that follow
ed by the notorious bogus Lord
Douglass for Tecuperating his for
tune.
"Lascelles secured an introduction
to the American ambassador atsLon-
don under the name Of Beresford,
posing as a cousin of the English
lord of that name He cultivated the
acquaintance of the American ambas-
sador and soon gained his confidence.
Beresford then represented to the
am mbassador that he was aboutto take
a 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 ard he became lionized 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 well-knoWn
society people and business men. He
went 10 Rome. Ca, where he repre-
sented himself as Lord Beresford,
come to America as 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 a trade.
lord Beresford became very
much interested, in the meantime
doing the society stunt and paying
much attention to a young socle1S
belle OF that place. Berestord nao
the genuine Beresford coat-of-arms
on everything it could be placeo.
This coat-of-arms was on his private
check book on the Bank Of England.
One day he was explaining to Hamli-
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. Inen
in a careless sort Of way, he SAID 10
Hamilton: -
".Bv the way, I have been IN
America for some time, and have run
short Of ready cash, I would ike 10
have a change, don't you know.
Could YOU led me have fe" nun
dreds or so?'
Hamilton & Co., mindful Of the
English syndicate and prospective
trade. together with Beresford's let
tiers, opened the company SAFE glv-
ing him the money in large aenonll-
nations. With careless thanks'
Beresford thrust the money INTO 1he
nocket of his trowers, and wrote out
a check on the Bank Of England lot
s2,250. eor
The society stunt was kept up Tor
abont a week afterward, when the
Lord Beresford disappeared, havlns
neglected to pay his hotel and olner
Hills. It was then learned that beres-
ford had forgotten to return ola,
nood rings and other tokens loaned
him by society damsels.
"Beresford went from place "
nlace, carrying out his netarlous
schemes, with sleuths close oenlno
him. He married whenever a Wl1e
yonld be of any use to hif in carry
ing out his schemes. 1t is known
hat he had at least SIX or eight wives,
md probably many more times that
number.
SOME GOOD ADVICE.