Sumter County GaArchives News.....Lamar, Peter - How he Secured and Used David P. Bond's Funds . ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Thomas Lamar Farnum, Jr. tepcotom@netzero.com April 6, 2010, 7:21 pm "The National Republican" . Washington, District of Columbia Wednesday Morning July 21, 1886 OBTAINING MONEY BY FRAUD HOW PETER LAMAR SECURED AND USED DAVID P. BOND'S FUNDS. HE CONFISCATES A $1,000 CERTIFICATE WHICH HE WAS TO SEND TO BOND'S SISTER. REPRESENTS THAT HE RECEIVED IT AS A QUIT CLAIM. On April 12 a neatly dressed man, apparently a foreigner, called at Mr. Henry Heil's boarding house, 315 Pennsylvania avenue, and desired to register. He accepted the terms of the proprietor, and signed himself in a good round hand "COOK FARNUM, Rome, GA." Mrs. Heil, who was present at the time, felt some interest in her guest, and laughingly said that at first she took him for a foreigner. Farnum, who accepted the situation, told the lady that he was a seafaring man. "I have just come from China," said Farnum, "where I left my ship, on board of which I was master-at-arms. I have seen a good deal of the world. My object in coming here is to get the government to pay me my transportation money to this country. I had to pay my passage home, which the government should have done for me." Mrs. Heil who is interested in foreign missions, found Farnum filled with missionary facts. He did not hesitate to tell her interesting stories about China, the Chinese, and the missionaries there. He, however, told further about himself, and that the name he registered was fictitious. He said that he entered the United States navy under that name, but that his proper name was PETER LAMAR, and claimed that he was a first cousin to Secretary Lamar. This claim he made known to several inmates in the house during his eight weeks stay there. His pleasant and agreeable manners brought him into confidential relationship with a few of the boarders. Among those who reposed much confidence in him was Mr. David P. Bond, of Lawrence, Kan. The friendship that seemed to exist between the men made Mr. and Mrs. Heil bestow considerable favors upon Farnum alias Lamar, as Mr. Bond was much liked by them. On May 25 Mr. Bond being sick was sent to Providence Hospital. Lamar visited him there two or three times. The last visit Lamar made to Bond, on his return, he stated that the sisters in charge deemed it best that Mr. Bond should be sent to the insane asylum. About the same time he announced that he was daily expecting a position in one of the departments which he had applied for on arriving here. Coupled with this expected good fortune was a statement that his brother, Frank Lamar, had sent to the bank of Bateman & Co. a quit claim title that had been left him (Peter) in the family estate, and in signing which he would receive $1,000. This happy news made him the hero among his friends, who showered congratulations upon him. Soon afterward he met his friends, and had in his possession considerable money. He told them that when he signed the deed the money was payed over to him by the bank. He bought two expensive suits of clothes, a silk hat, a first class cane, and other accessories to a gentleman's outfit. For a few days he was the lion among his friends, whom he kindly remembered with little favors and treats of champagne. A night or so before leaving his boarding house he deposited $800 with Mr. Heil for safekeeping. He remarked at the time that a Col. Brown, who had aided him in getting his transportation money, had suggested to him to turn over to him (Brown) $400 for investment. Lamar said that he would not do anything of the kind. The following day (June 12) Lamar left for his home at Rome, GA. He was greatly missed by Mr. and Mrs. Heil, to whom he paid his board and extras promptly. He was not expected to be heard from again by the Heils or his friends. Last Saturday Mr. David P. Bond was released from the insane asylum cured, the insanity being only temporary. He called at his boarding house and was cordially received. "I want to see Lamar", said he. "He has left the City," was the reply. "Where did he go?" "To Rome, GA." "I was anxious to see him before he left, as I wanted to find out if he had done what he promised to do for me". "What was the promise that he made?" "I gave him a certificate for $1,000 to be forwarded to my sister in Kansas." Mr. Bond was then informed of Mr. Lamar's splurge and the story of his getting $1,000 from his brother in Georgia, at Bateman & Co.'s bank, for signing a quit claim. Mr. Bond learned that there never had been a quit title deed or papers of any description received by the bank for P. Lamar, but that they had received from Lamar a $1,000 certificate signed by Bond, which they had forwarded to New York, found to be good, and cashed the same to P. Lamar. Monday afternoon P. Lamar arrived in the city, and registered at the Metropolitan Hotel. Col. Brown, by accident, found the name a few minutes later on the register, and recognized it as an old friend who owed him a bill. He had also been informed of Lamar's treatment to Bond. While considering what would be the best way to proceed against Lamar, that individual showed up in the corridor. "Lamar, when do you intend to pay me what you owe?" "Now." "Do so then." "Sit down for a few minutes until I go to my room and get it". Col. Brown took a seat, but he hardly did so when a thought occurred to him that he could run across the avenue for a minute and get back before Lamar returned. Lamar was evidently watching him, for as Brown went out of the door, Lamar went to the clerk, paid his bill, and left orders for the porter to bring his baggage to the Baltimore and Potomac depot instantly. Lamar darted out of the ladies' entrance, and as he did so Col. Brown returned through the main doorway. Col. Brown spied Lamar's trunk on the porter's shoulder. "Where are you going to take that trunk?" Said he. "To the Baltimore and Potomac depot". Col. Brown lost no time in taking himself to the depot. Lamar was astonished to see him, but did not lose his cool and level headedness. Col. Brown became very angry, and threatened to turn Lamar over to a policeman. He relented, however, as Lamar begged piteously, as it would disgrace his family. Pending the controversy the train started, Lamar ran after and caught it and went to New York, and Col. Brown to police headquarters to tell what a bold, bad man Lamar was. Bond, who is now at his home in Kansas, has not been heard from, and it is not known what he intends to do. END Additional Comments: From: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov This is one of the documents found that show that my Great-grandfather, Cook Farnum, is the same person as Peter Lamar, son of Thomas Cato Lamar, MD and Mary Elizabeth R. (Smith) Lamar Andrews. Cook/Peter died in Santa Barbara Co., California on November 11, 1916. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/sumter/newspapers/lamarpet2684gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 7.5 Kb