When reading of the achievements of a giant of scientific thought such as Einstein, Feynman or Darwin, it is far too easy to envision the person, and scientists in general, as some sort of being above the worries of daily life. The reality, of course, is that scientists are subject to the same emotions and problems as the rest of humanity: they can be irrational at times, angry at others. Scientists can be fleeced by a clever con-man — and can even become the con-man themselves.

In the 1880s, a fascinating chain of letters appeared in the magazine Science and in other publications, including the New York Times. The scientific community was being victimized by a clever confidence man, who was working his way into members’ trust and then stealing from them. The exploits span at least 7 years and stretch over much of the United States. Most surprising about it, however, is that the con artist was so successful because he was apparently trained as one of their own.

In this post we’ll trace the path of this mysterious swindler and the chaos he wreaked upon the scientific community. Along the way, we’ll get a glimpse of the social interactions of scientists at the time and their very human nature, for good and ill.

The story begins in the February 29, 1884 issue of Science. On page 245, we get a letter titled, “A scientific swindler”, written by F.V. Hayden, a geologist and physician who served with the Union army during the Civil War, and led an 1871 geological survey of Yellowstone that was instrumental in turning the region into the first national park.

F.V. Hayden in Wyoming, at far end of table in dark jacket, as part of United States Geological and Geographical Survey, 1870 (source).

Hayden’s letter is as follows:

A few weeks ago a man calling himself N. R. Taggart, and claiming to be a member of the Ohio geological survey, visited Philadelphia. He called on the principal scientific men of this city, and attended one of the regular meetings of the Academy of natural sciences. He seemed to have an extended acquaintance with scientific men all over the country, talked very glibly about fossils, and claimed to be preparing a report on the Productidae for the Ohio survey. He is about five feet eight inches in height, a hundred and sixty pounds in weight, heavy set, heavy featured, with light hair, and rather deep-set eyes, shabbily dressed, and wore an old gray overcoat. He had an adroit way of ingratiating himself into the confidence of his intended victims; and then, if he could not steal, he would, under some plausible pretext, borrow valuable books or specimens to take to his hotel, and forget to return them. His victims are to be found scattered all over the country. In New York he was E. D. Strong of Fort Scott, Kan., and claimed to be employed by the Kansas Pacific railway to collect statistics of coal production. In West Philadelphia he gave his address as E. Douglas, Columbus, O., member of the State survey. In Auburn, N.Y., he was a deaf-mute, under the name of E. D. Whitney, U. S. geologist, Denver, Col. There he obtained a large quantity of valuable books and fossils from the family of Professor Starr, in the absence of the owner. In Harrisburg, Chambersburg, Columbus, and Indianapolis he was a deaf-mute. He swindled the state geologist of Indiana out of over a hundred dollars’ worth of scientific books. From the Cleveland historical society’s rooms he obtained Indian relics of great value, and in Cincinnati, minerals and fossils which he converted into cash. He has been permitted access to several museums, public and private, from which he has succeeded in abstracting valuable specimens, and sold them. Any information in regard to the real name and residence of this man is much to be desired.

The value of items swindled is quite impressive; if I’ve done my conversions correctly, a hundred dollars of scientific books in 1884 would be roughly $2400 worth in today’s dollars.

The modus operandi of our thief is already clear. He would visit and collaborate with geologists under the guise of a colleague, and work his way into their trust. He would then borrow (or simply steal if the opportunity presented itself) books from these researchers and make a prompt departure, converting the possessions into cash. Often, for reasons that are unclear, he would pass himself off as a deaf-mute.

Even this short letter gives quite a bit of insight into the nature of science in the late 1800s. In the absence of the internet, television, radio, or even telephones (AT&T would be founded in 1885), there was no real way to identify other scientists other than their scientific ability, letters of referral — and a high degree of trust. As we will see, the swindler was equipped with all three.

So, leaving off his previous exploits as listed, our trail of the swindler begins in Philadelphia:

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney

The next report of the swindler comes from the October 28th, 1885 issue of the New York Times, and would seem to suggest that the swindler’s career had come to a quick end:

Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 27 — Last evening the police made a most important arrest in the person of Leo Lesquereaux, a geologist, who is alleged to have been conducting a series of swindling operations in various parts of the country. Lesquereaux came to Milwaukee about a week ago, and straightway proceeded to dispose of some books of which he claimed the ownership. He represented himself as employed upon the United States Government survey for the Northwest, and as such sought the acquaintance of scientific men in various localities wherever he might happen to be. He turned up in Whitewater about two weeks ago, and by his glib talk and immense self-assurance obtained the confidence of W.F. Bundy, Professor of Sciences at the Whitewater Normal School. His leaving Whitewater and the disappearances of a lot of valuable scientific books were so closely allied that it was concluded that the man and the books had departed together. Prof. Bundy came to Milwaukee and reported to the police the loss. In Milwaukee Prof. Bundy obtained track of Lesquereaux through Prof. Peckham, of the High School, to whom he had sold two or three of the stolen books. It was also learned that he had sold some books to Thomas A. Greene and others to Prof. Rogers. Prosecuting his inquiries still further, Prof. Bundy learned that a man answering Lequereaux’s description was working at the Public Museum, and the police being notified, his arrest was easily affected. The charge lodged against him at the station was that of receiving stolen property.

Emphasis mine! So Professor Bundy, having been swindled, went all CSI on the con-man and tracked him down himself!

Prof. Peckham called at the police station and had an interview with the prisoner. He was greatly surprised at his arrest, and was convinced that he was a very learned man, a skilled scientist, and felt complimented at acquiring his acquaintance. Lesquereaux had become quite intimate with Prof. Peckham, at whose house he had taken dinner. He had also spent evenings at the house of Mr. Greene, and entertained the family with stories of his travels and scientific achievements.

Here were have the strong indication that the prisoner is no ordinary swindler; it is hard to imagine that he could have so snookered the scientists without having a good knowledge of geology himself.

He said he expected to clear himself as soon as he could have a preliminary examination. He mentioned the names of several prominent scientists and geologists in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New-York, and other States with whom he was intimately acquainted, and with whom he had at various times been professionally associated. It was suggested to him that those persons be telegraphed to and that a message be sent to Secretary Lamar, in whose department he claimed to be engaged. The prisoner declined to do this, saying he did not wish to be humiliated by so doing.

It is hard to say for certain, but note that the scientists whose names he refers to herald from states that he had swindled people in! Was he giving the names of his victims as a half-hearted alibi?

He said that numerous cases of swindling charged to him were the work of another impostor, who had assumed his (the prisoner’s) name. When brought to the station the prisoner gave his name as Leo Lesquereaux, and stated that he was 46 years old and a native of France. His left hand is missing, and in place thereof is an artificial hand. He is of medium height, with blonde mustache, wears eyeglasses, and is shabbily dressed. He did not appear like a drinking man.

Emphasis mine! Oh, this just gets better — a criminal mastermind, wandering the States preying on scientists, missing his left hand! It is especially cheeky of him to claim that he was being impersonated by Leo Lesquereaux, as in fact the swindler himself had taken the name of a famous Swiss paleobotanist, Charles Leo Lesquereux (1806-1889)!

Leo Lesquereux, c. 1864 (source)

It is somewhat striking that the police had no choice but to incarcerate the swindler under the name of Lesquereux, even though it was clearly an assumed name. In the 1880s, there was no certain way to identify a prisoner if the prisoner didn’t want to be identified.

The NYT account continues:

The swindling operations in which Leo Lesquereaux has been engaged in various parts of the country entitle him to be classed as one of the most skillful of educated crooks. Lesquereaux was traced in his wanderings over the country for three years past by the audacious and clever schemes he has resorted to in order to obtain money. He assumes a number of names, and always claims to be the son or brother of some geologist known personally, or by reputation, to other geologists. His specialty is paleontology, and in January, 1884, he completely deceived Prof. R.P. Whitfield, of the American Museum of Natural History, probably the best paleontology in the country. He then passed as E.P. Strong, of Wisconsin, who was drowned while descending the Flambeau Rapids some years ago in prosecuting the Wisconsin Geological Survey.

Classy!

He next turned up in Philadelphia as W.R. Taggart, and wormed himself into the hospitalities of Prof. Hayden, of the United States Geological Survey. He carried off one of Prof. Hayden’s most valuable books, besides borrowing $20. Prof. Hayden afterward learned that the same fellow had been to see him on a former occasion and then borrowed $20. He then wore black whiskers and gave his name as Prof. T.S. Holmes, of Charleston, S.C. Under the name of Lee, in Connecticut, he is said to have swindled one man out of $300 and another out of $100. He once called at the Surveyor’s office, in Washington, and was invited to call again when it was intended to arrest him, but he did not call a second time.

Professor Hayden, who wrote our first letter, had in fact been swindled twice by the same man, in disguise!

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes

The incarceration of the swindler was noted in the November 6, 1885 issue of Science, p. 408, but it has a tone of despair to it:

A thief representing himself as Leo Lesquereux, jun., and also as one Strong, son of the geologist who was drowned in this state some years since, has been doing this part of the country of late, making way with geological reports, instruments, and specimens. He has been apprehended, and is now in the jail at Elkhorn, Walworth county, Wis. His term will expire January 28, or within a day or two of that time. He is the same man who has carried on extensive swindling operations of a similar nature in the east. Would it not be well to have him ‘sent up’ as many times as possible ? I send you this information, hoping that it may seem wise to you to make his whereabouts known through your widely-circulated columns, and to encourage all interested to make it as warm as possible for this impostor. He very probably assumes other names than those I have given. He is rather short, of light complexion, has a cynical expression, wears eye-glasses, talks with the greatest freedom of geologists, finding few worthy of recognition or favor. He looks to be thirty years, but represented himself here as forty six. He told in many places about here, but did not say it here, that he was distributing specimens from the Smithsonian institution. He imposed upon many in that way. He is conversant with geology and geological work, and is certainly well posted on fossil plants.

(My emphasis.) Darn liberal justice system of 1885! There is quite a bit of frustration in this letter, as the swindler seems to have had an imprisonment of only a handful of months. Here we have a good indication that the swindler is a disgruntled academic of some sort, as he “talks with the greatest freedom of geologists, finding few worthy of recognition or favor.”

The author of the letter was R.D. Salisbury (1858-1922), a prominent midwestern geologist who was one of the early faculty of the University of Chicago, founded 1891.

Rollin D. Salisbury (source)

A November 20, 1885 letter to Science, p. 453, titled, “The Swindling Geologist”, adds to the outrage felt by Salisbury:

PROFESSOR SALISBURY’S letter in Science for Nov. 6 gives the present location of a miscreant who has been plundering cabinets and libraries throughout the country for the last two or three years, and who has been making decent people even more unhappy by assuming their names than by stealing their books. His present address is County Jail, Elkhorn, Wis. Esto perpetua. This is the address; but as to the name, who knows ? For the last six months he has dragged through the mire the honored name of Leo Lesquereux, to the great annoyance of the venerable owner. Before this he was Prof. F. A. Arendel of the Pennsylvania survey. Other names under which he has stolen and swindled are N. U. Taggart, E. Douglass, E. D. Whitney, E. D. Strong, etc. Three of these names have the initials E. D., in which fact there may be some significance. The Milwaukee police record says of him that he has but one hand, wearing a false hand on one arm. This fact may help to identify him. He seems to have a remarkable amount of geological knowledge, and especially on fossil botany. Where did he get this knowledge ? Who trained him? Who was his father ? Who was his mother ? Has he a sister ? Has he a brother ? These are questions that many victims desire to have answered, in whole or in part.

Apparently the real Prof. Lesquereux was aware of the impostor, and none too pleased! Especially noteworthy in this correspondence, however, is the exasperation of the author regarding the swindler’s education: “Where did he get this knowledge? Who trained him?” Education is supposed to be an ennobling process, and yet a villain was lurking amongst the academics. We nevertheless learn of another alias:

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes, F. A. Arendel

Soon after his release from prison, the swindler got back to work. A letter titled, “A swindler abroad again” appeared in the March 26, 1886 issue of Science, p. 286:

A person has been operating in Illinois and Iowa, representing himself to be Prof. H. S. Williams at some points, and Professor Oelrich at others; in all cases, so far as heard from, assuming to be connected with the faculty of Cornell university. His modus operandi is to borrow scientific works, money, and paleontological specimens, and contract with colleges to furnish series of fossils illustrative of American geology. He is an expert in classifying fossils, and his method of work is strongly suggestive of the individual who duped many scientific workers last year under the alias of Lesquereux. He has worked his games at Galesburg, Ill., Burlington, Mount Pleasant, Ottumwa, and Oskaloosa, Io., being at the latter place March 8 last. He is undersized, a man of from thirty to thirty-five years of age, light hair, beard, and mustache, and apparently having no use of his right arm, though this defect may have been simulated.

The description of the swindler has solidified, and the story of his missing hand has changed to a crippled right arm, “though this defect may have been simulated.”

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes, F. A. Arendel, H. S. Williams, Professor Oelrich

On April 2nd, 1886, a letter appeared in Science directly from Oskaloosa on p. 308, written by Erasmus Haworth (1855-1932), another geologist of note:

Please give place to an advertisement of a fraud who has just left Oskaloosa. He came on the 6th, remained six days, and left without having caused sufficient suspicion for any one to say any thing. He professes to be Prof. Henry S. Williams of Cornell University, N. Y., a captain on the retired list of the U. S. army, – retired for disabilities resulting received from the Indians three days after General Custer fell. He is now representing the Smithsonian institution as a sort of an examiner, looking after books and specimens deposited at different places. He also represents that Cornell has a fund which makes it possible for them to sell for fifty dollars a set of fossils equal to sets sold by Ward for eight hundred and fifty dollars, and that they only want five dollars cash to pay for boxing and labelling, the remainder to be paid from time to time in local fossils, for which reasonable prices will be allowed. He contracted two sets here, but received the five dollars on but one of them. He is about five feet eight inches high, weighs about one hundred and forty pounds, carries his right arm as though stiff, wears a glove on that hand, has light-brown straight hair, mustache, blue eyes, a large head with prominent forehead, so that his eyes seem a little sunken, and uses tobacco and whiskey tolerably freely for a professional man. We know he has a whole right arm and hand, and it is quite possible nothing is the matter with it. He talks very freely and accurately of fossils, books, and men, can give minute details of events in Indian warfare of ten and more years ago, which some of our citizens know to be literally true. He spends his money very freely, and seems to have plenty of it. There is a general feeling that he worked someone for one hundred and eighty dollars, but, if so,whoever it was will not tell it. The amount is indicated,because it is rumored he draws one hundred and eighty dollars per month from the army. I cannot find who started it. If he has not done so, he certainly missed a good chance. A despatch from Humboldt to the Des Moines Register says he has been there and got about one hundred dollars.

Though it is pure speculation, the connection of the possibly crippled right arm and knowledge of Indian warfare suggests that the swindler may have been in the military.

Regardless, it looks like we may add Humboldt, IA to the list of locations:

The next letter appeared in the May 7, 1886 issue of Science, p. 418, and was written by I.C. White, who seems to have taken the swindler’s actions a little personally, with some justification:

It has just come to my knowledge that the ‘tramp ‘geologist who has been ‘ wandering up and down the earth’ for the last three years, the man of many accomplishments and aliases, is now in the vicinity of St. Cloud, Minn., posing as ‘Capt.’ I. C. White of the West Virginia university. I would say, in my own defence, that the title of ‘captain’ is not worn by me, and that in this case I can establish an alibi, with the help of my friends. Cannot something be done to throttle this nuisance before he scandalizes every geologist in the country? Probably a committee from those whom he has swindled and misrepresented would hunt him down most successfully, and I am sure such a committee could be trusted to squelch him effectually.

Here we have an 1886 case of identity theft! Clearly I.C. White is rather angry about the abuse of his name, considering he is essentially suggesting to organize a posse (committee) to hunt the swindler down.

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes, F. A. Arendel, H. S. Williams, Professor Oelrich, I.C. White

From the image of Israel C. White (1848-1927), he looks like the sort of fellow who might run a posse:

Israel C. White, c. 1898 (source).

White undertook explorations to study coal deposits in South America, and his observation of similar rock strata in South America and Africa was an important contribution to the development of Alfred Wegener‘s 1912 theory of continental drift.

White’s posse — ahem — committee never seems to have formed, but fortunately the swindler ended up being caught again nevertheless. A letter titled “The swindling naturalist caught” appeared in the August 6th, 1886 issue of Science, p. 124:

The geological swindler described in Science, p.308, No. 165 (April 2, 1886), has finally been entrapped and captured here, and is now in jail at Kankakee, Illinois, for the sale of books which he borrowed from a gentleman in that town. He passed here as ‘Captain Lindley ‘ of the U. S. army, detailed as ‘instructor in geology’ at West Point. I need not say that there is no such name in the Army register nor on the roster of instructors at the military academy. As he will undoubtedly be sentenced for at least a term in jail, it is much to be desired that those who have heretofore been swindled by him may communicate promptly with the sheriff of Kankakee county. If he is not vigorously prosecuted, it will soon become necessary for the naturalist to carry a passport in travelling through this region.

This letter was written from Champaign, Illinois; it therefore seems that we have two more stops on the trail, and a new alias:

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes, F. A. Arendel, H. S. Williams, Professor Oelrich, I.C. White, Captain Lindley

Any relief that the scientific community felt was short-lived, alas; within short order the swindler was at work again. He did, however, seem to have learned some caution from his two incarcerations, and an alternate scam. In the November 26th, 1886 issue of Science, p. 482, we get a report titled, “The swindler at work again”:

I ENCLOSE for the benefit of others a letter from a swindler in the west, addressed to me, over the very well forged signature of Charles D. Walcott, U. S. N. M. (national museum at Washington), dated simply ‘ Cook co. Normal, Nov. 7, 1886.’ Chicago is in Cook county, Ill. It requested the immediate despatch of a set of geological reports to Prof. George Wells Litz. of the Cook county (Ill.) normal school, and his colleague, Professor Parker. Prof. JOHN P. LESLEY.Dear Sir,- Will you kindly send to Prof. George Wells Litz, of the Cook county(Il.) normal school, a complete set of the reports of the second geological survey of Pennsylvania. I am indebted to him, and to his colleague Professor Parker, for a most delightful Sunday, and wish to place him and his friend in the way of getting literature at present inaccessible to them. An early compliance with this request will be considered a great favor, and one to be soon repaid by your friend, CHARLES D. WALCOTT, U.S.N.M. Mr. Walcott informs me by letter, after seeing the above letter, that he had tried to trace the rascal, but thus far without success. The fellow has obtained, under various false pretences, quantities of specimens, books, and sometimes money, from eastern geologists.

John Peter Lesley (1819-1903) was another prominent geologist who performed extensive researches into the coal, oil and iron of the U.S. and Canada. In 1874 he was made state geologist of Pennsylvania, and was a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania; he presumably got the letter from the swindler while in Philadelphia.

J.P. Lesley, c. 1877 (source).

The scheme seems to have been a simple one: the swindler pretended in writing to be C.D. Walcott, and tried to use Walcott’s authority to get documents sent directly to him in the Chicago area.

Charles Doolittle Walcott (1850-1927) was a good choice for a fake identity. A respected paleontologist specializing in invertebrates he would later in life become famous for the discovery of fossils in the Burgess Shale of British Columbia.

The swindler’s plan failed, but it was an audacious one — he clearly hadn’t gone very far from Kankakee before trying a con again! In one letter, he also presumably took on three new identities — Walcott, and the two Professors who were supposed to receive the documents.

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes, F. A. Arendel, H. S. Williams, Professor Oelrich, I.C. White, Captain Lindley, George Wells Litz, Professor Parker, C.D. Walcott

We next hear of the swindler in the January 14th, 1887 issue of Science, p. 34:

The swindling geologist was this week in Springfield, Mass., where he passed himself off as Capt. C.E. Dutton. I cannot learn that he succeeded in victimizing any one except the hotel-keeper of the house where he stopped, owing to the fact that he was early exposed by the commanding officer of the armory, who luckily happened to know Captain Dutton. He later inflicted himself on me, playing the deaf mute, calling himself Ivan C. Vassile of the Russian museum, and offering to sell me odd volumes of Hall’s ‘Geology of New York state.’ Suspecting that they were stolen, I declined to buy. He is a square-faced, smooth-shaven, light-complexioned fellow, of rather short stature, and wore a white felt hat and an army cape. His names and clothes, however, would perhaps hardly serve to identify him, as he probably has a variety of both. He claimed to be on his way to Albany. Perhaps if he can be exposed all along the line, he may soon be rendered harmless.

Perhaps it is simply because the swindler failed in his attempts, but this letter seems to take a softer tone towards the man, particularly in the last sentence.

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes, F. A. Arendel, H. S. Williams, Professor Oelrich, I.C. White, Captain Lindley, George Wells Litz, Professor Parker, C.D. Walcott, C.E. Dutton, Ivan C. Vassile

His next stop was Syracuse, N.Y., as a June 17, 1887 letter to Science, p. 592 relates:

The following from one of the local papers here will show that the peculiar person who has repeatedly been shown up in Science is still at large and at work: at least, I presume he is the same person, since it is unlikely that there is more than one such perverse genius abroad. This time he turns up as a deaf-mute, attached to the Smithsonian, and named ‘ R. M. Vasile.’ “The Syracuse (N. Y.) Herald says, ‘A highly educated man, who appeared to be deaf and dumb, and who represented himself to be an attache of the Smithsonian institution at Washington, came here eight or ten days ago, and succeeded in ingratiating himself into the confidence of Prof. W. A. Brownell of the high school, and of other scientific gentlemen. He gave his name as R. M. Vasile. It took him but a short time to prove himself a master of geology, mineralogy, and chemistry, and his proficiency in those sciences lent color to his representation that he had come here to investigate the rocks and minerals of Onondaga county, and also to get together material for a report on its fishes. Professor Brownell obtained from him for a mere trifle a rare and valuable scientific work, and for one dollar and twenty-five cents got a promise from him, that, upon his return to Washington, he would send on a set of trilobites. Having thus won the confidence of the professor, he began to talk of exchanging specimens with his new-made friend; but his offers excited suspicion, and an inquiry sent by telegraph to Washington brought back the information that Vasile was not in the government’s employ. Soon afterward the man disappeared, and he has not been heard from since. He left a board-bill at the Kingsley House, and the impression prevails there that he only pretended to be deaf and dumb. His scheme is apparently to borrow books and scientific specimens in one town, and dispose of them in another.'”

The constant reports in Science seem to have had an effect; the swindler seems to be getting diminishing returns for his efforts. The attitude towards him seems to have changed subtly, as well; he is now referred to as a “genius”, albeit a “perverse” one.

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes, F. A. Arendel, H. S. Williams, Professor Oelrich, I.C. White, Captain Lindley, George Wells Litz, Professor Parker, C.D. Walcott, C.E. Dutton, Ivan C. Vassile, R.M. Vasile

Heading off from Syracuse, the swindler ended up back in Pennsylvania (Science, June 24, 1887, p. 614):

About six weeks ago a delightfully intelligent and amiable deaf-and-dumb man appeared in Pottsville, and was entertained hospitably by Mr. Bard Wells, late of the geological survey of Pennsylvania, to whom he gave some valuable books, and from whom he took some, also a compass. He left Pottsville suddenly without paying his hotel-bill. About two weeks afterward he called at the office of the survey, in Philadelphia, after office-hours, and represented himself to the janitress as an assistant on the survey, sent by the assistant in charge of the office to get certain survey reports. Having no written order to show, he was refused admittance, and went away very angry. I see that he has turned up at Syracuse. It is astonishing that the fellow can have managed to escape capture so long.

There seems to me to be a bit of desperation in the swindler’s actions at this point: showing up after office hours at the office of the geological survey seems very irregular and certain to draw more attention than he would like.

Whew! We’ve worked our way through a lot of swindling! Let’s take a short commercial break:

Okay, back to the swindler’s saga! In October 21st, 1887 issue of Science, p. 203, we find that the swindler appeared in Boston:

A MAN answering the description of the impostor given in previous numbers of Science, appeared at the rooms of the Boston Society of Natural History on Saturday last, having in his possession a microscope, which he offered for sale at a very low price. We suspected his character, but, having no charge against him, were unable to do any thing, and were in hopes he would return on Monday with his microscope, as he engaged to do. He did not return, and we could therefore do nothing.

By 1888, we find that the swindler has targeted New York, though with apparently little success (Science, Feb 17, 1888, p. 86):

A YOUNG man of gentlemanly bearing, who calls himself Dr. S. M. Gutmann, and claims membership in the American Chemical Society, has been lately imposing on various members of the scientific fraternity in New York and vicinity. He claims to be a pupil and son-in-law of Professor Hofmann of Berlin, and shows letters purporting to come from some well-known persons, who recommend him as an expert in the manufacture and analysis of coal-gas. He is familiar with the names of chemists and physicists in this country, and uses them with freedom by way of introduction to strangers. He represents himself to be in pecuniary straits, as the result of long and fruitless efforts to obtain employment since his arrival in this country. Since there are many readers of Science whom he will attempt to victimize, it may be well to warn them against this plausible and mendacious vagabond.

We now have some indications that the swindler is having trouble; his own admission that he is in bad financial shape, and his shift to targeting chemists.

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes, F. A. Arendel, H. S. Williams, Professor Oelrich, I.C. White, Captain Lindley, George Wells Litz, Professor Parker, C.D. Walcott, C.E. Dutton, Ivan C. Vassile, R.M. Vasile, S. M. Gutmann

This reign of swindling couldn’t last forever; at last, in March 1888, we get two letters describing his recapture:

The Scientific Swindler Again (Science, Mar 9, 1888, p. 119)

The following from the Indianapolis Journal of Feb. 24 may be of interest to those who have been the victims of the swindler so extensively advertised by your own and other journals: “The book-thief who has, under the names of W.R. Taggart, Professor Cameron, Professor Douglass, and various aliases, travelled over the country, representing himself as a scientific student, and borrowing valuable books, has been arrested in Cincinnati, where he gave the name of Otto Syrski. He was recognized yesterday by Professor Collett of this city, who was one of his victims. Professor Collet learned where his books has been sold, and will probably recover them.” It is to be hoped that this will stop his operations, at least for a time.

End of the Swindler (Science, Mar 23, 1888, p. 144)

IT will give undoubted satisfaction to his many victims to learn that the ‘swindling geologist,’ whose depredations have been so frequently noted in your columns, has been lately convicted of stealing a number of microscopic objectives from the University of Cincinnati, and sentenced to spend five years at hard labor in the Ohio Penitentiary. He was sentenced under the name of O. L. Syrski, but admitted having pursued his calling under a variety of aliases, such as Taggart, Vasile, Ellison, Cameron, Douglas, Strong, Lee, Arundal, and Lesquereux. A valuable microscopic objective, found in his possession, awaits identification by the owner.

Five years of hard labor! It looks like the swindler’s crime wave had finally been brought to an end:

Aliases used: N.R. Taggart, E.D. Strong, E. Douglas, E.D. Whitney, Leo Lesquereux, T.S. Holmes, F. A. Arendel, H. S. Williams, Professor Oelrich, I.C. White, Captain Lindley, George Wells Litz, Professor Parker, C.D. Walcott, C.E. Dutton, Ivan C. Vassile, R.M. Vasile, S. M. Gutmann, O.L. Syrski

The alias O.L. Syrski was almost certainly another alias, and not his real name. One Simon Syrski (1829-1882) was an accomplished zoologist who did extensive studies on eels.

With “Syrski” sentenced to hard labor, it seemed that the saga of the scientific swindler had come to an end. While researching this post, I did one final Google search to see if I’d missed any of his exploits, and — oh, FFS:

The “geological swindler” again abroad (The American Geologist, Vol. 8, 1891, after p. 64):

Readers of the Geologist will recall several references in the early numbers, Vol. I ( 1888), to an adept thief who had for several years practiced upon the geologists and other scientists of America with a good degree of success. This fellow was apprehended and served six months’ imprisonment in the Elkhorn jail, in Wisconsin, but on release resumed his nefarious tricks. In January, 1888, he stole some microscopic objectives from the University of Cincinnati, and under the instigation of Prof. Chas. H. Gilbert, the police of the city were put upon his trail. After a pursuit of some weeks, tracing him in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, he was apprehended at Nashville, and on trial was convicted and sentenced for five years for grand larceny, to the State penitentiary at Columbus, O. Ho pleaded guilty and admitted that he was the “swindling geologist” of numerous aliases.

Okay, that catches us up to where we had last left our swindler, but there is more:

In confinement he made a good record for himself and was put in charge of the night-school. He would have been released, on account of good behavior, at the expiration of three years and nine months under the rules of the Ohio penitentiary, in the fall of 1891, but under special protestations of reform he was given a degree of freedom at Columbus, which allowed of his release finally “on parole” for the remainder of the term that he had to serve. He remained for a time quietly at Columbus, as reporter for the Columbus Sunday World. Suddenly he appeared at Saginaw, Michigan, in violation of his parole, where he attached himself to the High school principal and addressed the pupils of the High school, claiming to have been a professor in Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and then connected with Smith College, but preferring his present occupation of dealing in fossils, as more remunerative. He sold the High school ten dollars worth of fossils. He said he was a Russian, descended from an eminent Russian geologist, and acquainted with the most distinguished geologists of our country—(his usual story, the latter part, alas, too true! ), also that he is the brother of the celebrated nihilist martyr Vera Sussulich, that he had fought in the Franco-Prussian war, and had been made a captain, 3tc., etc. Thence he went to Lansing, Mich., and the speeches he made there were reported in the Detroit Tribune under the title—”A man with a history.” At Lansing, he claimed to be a mining engineer, and betook himself to the Agricultural College, whore he ” named the fossils” in the collection of that institution.