Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1908-12-17
GAVE
TEXANS DREAM.
Promoter Arrives at Abilene In Lux
stranger Interested Merchants
i'm $4,000, 900 Plan.
100 ACRES OF TEA PLANTS.
Promoter Arrives at Tbilene i'm Lux
urious Private Car With Many
Mysterious Plans.

Abilene. Texas. Nov. 29-Visions
OF stream OF gold pouring into
this part OF Texas from British cof-
fers. dream of an empire directed
by one man. where Utopian social
experience would be carried out.
with one hundred thousand acres set
apart for tea culture and packing in
dustries. faded to-day with the sud
IN departure OF Sir Thomas Lip
ton. Paronet Of Aberdeen, Eng
land" His exit and subsequent in
yestigations reveal that one of the
boldest impersonators has been lay
ing wires for the biggest swindle
in the history OF the state.
His plan. in brief. was TO buy up
all the western part OF Texas and
colonize IL with English yeomanry.
The deal involved 100000. "Sir
Thomas" gave IL out that he was
backed in his plan by C. w. Post. a
well known manufacturer OF Battle
Creek. Mich
The entrance OF Sir Thomas"
suave and with a rich Irish orogue.
and his departure have mystified the
prominent citizens OF several coun-
ties. Incidentally private car.
tudl NtItu ny tue uldE, Is Ou n ltNHS
Pacific siding here. well stocked with
champagne and choice steaks on ice.
awaiting an occupant
Now that the fact that this Sir
Thomas" is an imposter. is estab-
lished. bankers. business men. rail-
road officials and land spectators
are wondering how they were de-
ceived and are computing the money
paid out on his lavish promises OF
financial reward.
Saturday morning q tall. well
dressed stranger. whose mustache
fairly bristled with business, left his
private car and registered at the
Windsor hotel. and Abilene, which
has outlived several boom exper-
fences. rubbed fits eyes and welcomed
the stranger "Sir Thomas" got
along splendidly with all he met.
When leading citizens. Interested
In the news that they were enter
tanning a nobleman unawares. clam
ored for an introduction to him. "Sir
Thomas" sent down word that he
was not receiving visitors. but later
he would see them and interest them
in his plan of putting Abilene on an
equal footing with Chicago in the
matter OF beef packing plants and
other Industries. Later he conferred
with many business men singly. All
refuse 10 tell their experiences with
him to-day.
He left Abilene for Post CITY after
his first days stay here. At Post
City he was more communicative.
and announced without reserve his
intention to go in with c. W. Post
q u M h..
county 10 include in his tract. He
explained that he and Mr.. Post
were closely associated in business
and both were members OF a syndi-
cate that was composed largely OF
British nobility Millions we~ 30
be spent in developing tho country.
He talked slibly OF the people he
had met al Dallas. Fort Worth AMI
other Texas cities and represented
himself 10 be q friend Of ~ CLAY
Pierce. whom. he said. had enter
'ained him on his steam Yacht i'm
New York and Boston two years ago.
Two business men became suspi-
c'ous and went 20 Post City 10 in
voStiCatc. When they reached that
town they found that the supposed
haronct stories did not tally. and
after a conference with Post civ
bankers decided 20 return to Ali
l"ne and have p heart 20 heart talk
with the prospective owner OF all
the western half Of Texas
When they reached Abilene Sir
Thomas was gone. evidently having
GOT wind of their plan on "a sid
ing stood his private ear. freshly
stocked the day before for a trip OF
inspection across the state on which
ne had Invited a number Of business
men 10 accompany him.
The visitor left overland for Dal-
las' presumably a few hours before
the investigating committee return
"a from Post CITY The police OF
Dallas, Fort Worth and other cities