Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 119, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1912 — Police Nab Oldest Known “Con” Man [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Police Nab Oldest Known “Con” Man

CIICAGO. —Shaking with palsy and totally blind, “Jerry” McLean, 84 years old, “the oldest con man” in the world, slept on an iron bed in the Central station the other night. “Jerry” had turned one too many “tricks.” This time it was “blpeding” suckers who answered the aged nook’s lurid advertisements of “traveling companion wanted by blind gentleman who Intends spending a few months’ in California. Salary $25 a week.” “Jerry” got a “guarantee” of from S6O to S9O from each of them. “I guess I might as well tell yon my right ‘monacher,’" he told Captain Hatpin after Detectives Aldenhovel and Bishop had arrested' him. “I’m •Jerry* McLean. I guess you know me. Thev do in lots of other cities I could "name. “Tte lived on ‘Comfortable avenue’ ever since I was a kid. I’ve did a couple of ‘bits* in the New York penitentiaries, but nothing that was very long. I’ll get ont of this all right.” “Jerry's” accusers are Darrington Evans it 7351 Coles avenue. Joseph Willed of 739 North Clark street. Frank Widsber of Stronghurst, UL. and E. Saras of 1891 South Michigan

avenue. Willet gave “Jerry” SSO as a "guarantee” and Evans S9O. They had been "hired” after visiting the aged confidence man in his rooms at the Jackson Hotel, West Jackson boulevard and South Halsted streets. “Jerry” talked volubly of bis career in hla~ce&. He looks like a “southern colonel” and would pass anywhere as a highly respectable old man. "1 was born in Castle Bar,- County Mayo, Ireland, eighty-four years ago,” Jerry Mid. > “I came to America when I was a kid and was in New Orleans when the civil war broke out I Joined General Beauregard’s army. I was captured and taken to Fort McHenry. “It was Fort McHenry that my •easy money* career began. With another prisoner named Bliss I stole $20,000 of yankee greenbacks and we sawed our way to fredeom."