Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 129, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 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 eon '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 “bleeding” suckers who answered the aged crook’s lurid advertisements of “trav-s ding companion wanted by blind gentleman who Intends spending a few months In California. Salary 125 a week ” “Jerry” got a “guarantee” of from |SO to |9O from each of them. “I guess I might as well tell you my right ‘monacher,’ ” he told Captain Halpin after Detectives Aldenhovel and Bishop had arrested him. “I’m ‘Jerry’McLean. I guess you know me. They do in lots of other cities I could name. -V . "**re lived on ‘Comfortable avenue* ever since I was a kid. I’ve did acouple of 'bits’ in the New York penitentiaries, but nothing that was very long. Hl get out of this all right” “Jerry’s” accusers are Darrington Evans if 7351 Coles avenue, Joseph TstnXZ’S:

avenue. Willet gave “Jerry” SSO- as a “guarantee” and Evans |W. They had been “hired” after visiting the aged confidence man in his rooms at the Jackson Hotel, West Jackson boulevard and South Hals ted streets. “Jerry” talked volubly of his career in his cell. He looks like a “southern colonel" and would pass anywhere as a highly respectable eld iflan. “I was born in Castle Bar, County Mayo, Ireland, eighty-four years ago,” Jerry said. “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 "It was at Fort McHenry that my ‘easy money’ career began. With another prisoner named Bliss I stole $20,sawed our way