Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-14
Wife of Man Known as A. H.
Crawford Identifies Body.
FUNERAL TO BE HELD HERE
Kills Self When About to Be Ar
rested Near Catonsville.
VERY MUCH IN PUBLIC EYE
Embarrasses Department of State by
Posing as One Of Its
Agents Abroad.

Agents Abroad.
Orlan Clyde Cullen. globe trotter and
adventurer with record said to reach
all around the world, killed himself while
near Gainesville. outside Of Baltimore. last
Saturday evening. as he was being taken
into custody by Deputy United States
Marshal Patrick Seery on the charge OF
fraudulent use of the mails. Cullen At
the time of. his arrest was using the
name A. II. Crawford. His wife saw a
newspaper account of the suicide and 60
ing to Catonsville identified the body.
Mrs. Cullen resides at :sO7 B street north
east. this city. and has a daughter four
teen years old. She is now in Baltimore.
Cullen's room. where he was arrested.
reSembled an arsenal, the walls being dec
GRATED with guns and revolvers
Mrs. Cullen intends to bring the body
here. when arrangements will be made for
the funeral.
Figures in Holt Will Case.
The authorities with whom Cullen was
In frequent contact explain that he first
became promina mt during the famous Holt
VIII trial. although only incidentally con-
nected with the case. He asserted that
ne had mailed the mysterious will to the
register. saying he found it in an old
trunk at his home in Virginia. He told
stories Of attempts to bribe him and to
kidnap his wife and hold her to prevent
his appea -ance at the trial.
Next II was reported that he had taken
q number of Greek or Italian immigran ts
to his place near Red Sulphur Springs.
against all corners.
Post office inspectors investigated Cullen
more than once in the complaint of mer-
chants who had sent goods to his address
on alleged bogus references. and never
received the money for them Indictments
were reported against him.
Appears in Japan.
Cullen also appeared in Japan with what
he claimed to be marvellous gun ne want
ed to sell to the Japanese government. He
caused the State Department a great deal
OF trouble In 1904 by appearing in Con-
stantinOple as an alleged accredited agent
of the department. inspecting consulates
or some such leisurely occupatfon Later
he turned up as IAN agent Of the State
Department" in Central and South Amer
lea and undertook to furnish arms to
revolutionists. When he returned to this
country he operated in gold mines and
orange groves.
Mrs. Cullen was not communicative
about his business when she identified the
body outside OF Baltimore. saying she did
not know much about her husbands az
fairs. She is reported to have remarked
that he had been connected with the sec
ret service for about twenty years.
Chief Wilkie of the secret service said
today that he knew about Cullen. but that
the latter had never been connected with
the service In any way and that the only
communication the Office had had with him
was on one occasion when Cullen sent
three counterfeit nickles which he said
had been put out by a band Of counter
letters IN his part OF the country.
Action by Postal Authorities.
The postal authorities say Cullen has
been indicted for fraudulent use Of the
mails In the western district Of vir-
ginia, in the District OF Columbia, St.
Paul. New York city. the district OF
New Jersey and Phiiadelphia. One or
his latest projects was to advertise that
he wanted to purchase gold mines. asking
prospective sellers to send specimens OF
the ore to him at 914 Spruce street. Phila
delphia. where he operated under the
name Of Charles w. Lord.
When the specimens arrived he had
them forwarded to 307 B street northeast,
this city. his home address, where he also
operated under the name of H. p. At
him in his operations are Charles A. Cur
tbs, 81 Bank street, Princeton. N. J., and
George M. Morris, 81 Jefferson street,
Elizabeth, N J.
Recently he advertised to buy orange
groves and required those who had them
for sale to send him a remittance to
cover his expenses in visiting and inspect
ing them.
He was arrested at Water Lick, Va,
September II. 1903. by Inspector Sharon.
but was released on bail and got away.
About a year ago he was apprehended
and was placed in the Government Hos
pital for the Insane, but escaped shortly
afterward
On Record at Headquarters.
The name of Orlan Clyde Cullen appears
on the blotter at police headquarters here
under date OF December 20, 1894. Inspec-
tor Boardman says he remembers Cullen
we'll The evening before the date men
toned Cullen entered the Ebbitt House.
according to the inspector, and induced
Robert Wilson to cash a check for
$50 The next day lookout was sent
for him and he was placed In arrest on a
charge Of false pretenses. He was given
a hearing before Judge Miller. who was
then on the bench Of the Police Court.
and held to await the action of the grand
Jury, but he was not convicted.