The Mysterious Stranger

The Mysterious Stranger by Walter Bates is a true crime non-fiction work first published in 1817, now presented in a scholarly edition by Universitas Press, released on February 20, 2023. This edition spans 190 pages and offers a detailed account of a notorious confidence man who successfully evaded law enforcement in both Canada and the United States. Bates, who was the sheriff of King’s County, New Brunswick, provides insights from interviews with the criminal and eyewitnesses, making this memoir a significant piece of Canadian writing.

Readers will find a wealth of contextual material accompanying the original text, including letters, newspaper articles, and notes that enhance the understanding of this historical account. The edition aims to shed light on the life of con artists and the deceptions they employed, while also providing a comprehensive look at Bates’s research, which is particularly valuable for those interested in biography and personal memoirs. This unique presentation allows for a deeper appreciation of a classic work that has remained relevant in the study of true crime and historical narratives.