Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-05-11

| CnlOn, addressed the society, urging INC socaet
to become member of the State society; also in
vted them to assist in the Worlds Temperance
Fair, to be holden At Philadelphia, during the
month Of June. 1t is desired that each State shall
furnish one table, or aid the enterprise in some
other way.
| She also expressed desire to have the history
Of the rise and progress of this society, and any
facts concerning its influence and usefulness, and
thinks it will help other societies less favored.
A Rad situation for a Young Man-Sale OF
the "Queer."
Many of our readers may remember fine ap-
pearing young man of about Thirty years, who was
formerly in the picture business in the gallery now
| occupied by A. w. Kimball over the Eastern Ex-
press office. Several years since he removed from
here to Waterville, from thence to Hallowell, and
afterwards to Gardiner, where he resides, and
is engaged in the picture business. He married
into ono of the prominent famie of Gardiner, his
wife being the daughter Of the late Hon. N y.
Mitchell.
1t seems that Simmons has lately been engaged
in the business of advertising for sale counterfeit
money, Or as it is popularity termed, SHOWING the
queer"
A little more than a week ago, the Postmaster
of Portland received letter from the Postmaster
OF llallowell, enclosing epistle which had been
| handed over to the postmaster. This letter was
mailed at Portland, April 18th, and contained
proposition from gentleman signing himself a.
5. Rutherford, TO put into Gil culatlOn counterfeit
scrip so excelenty executed that it could not be
distinguished from the genuine. He suggested
| that lIallowcll would be good field in which to
put out the money-that twenty five dollars per
week could be distributed there with the greatest
| ease, and without any danger of being detected.
He would like to send a specimen of the fifty cent
cpul0
| oidered. The writer then proceeded to prove that
| the transaction would be perfectly honorable and
legitimate. lie was directed to address his an
swer to box 1923, Portland post Office
The Postmaster of Portland took the matter in
hand and informed Deputy L. S. Marshal, who
proceeded to the task of ascertaining who took the
letters from box 1923. A detective was employed
to work up the case. On the l4th Of last April,
person leased box 1923 for the quarter, paying the
| rent-$l 50,-in advance, under the name of A.
S. Rutherford On the Both of April several let
tiers, post-malked Hallowell, April 26h, were in
the box addressed to Ru herford. At last boy
| was detected in taking letters from the box who
i'd that he was directed to do so by the owner of
the box, A. r. Simmons of Gardiner. Complaint
was made to District Attorney Webb, who OBJ
tanned a warrant for the apprehension Of Alfred K.
Simmons for conspiring fraudulently to obtain
from the post Office at Portland letters belonging
to A. S. Rutherford. This warrant was placed in
the hands of Detective Chapman, who took the
early Monday train for Gardiner. During the lat
ter part OF the al ernoOn he WaueQ upon Mr. OlU-
mons at his Photographic saloon, and found him in
the act of opening the very letters which had been
delivered to the boy the same morning, and who
| remailed them to Simmons 10 the afternoon. In
this way Simmons thought he should escape de-
tection he Of course not appearing in the transac.
ton.
The revelation was then made that Alfred Ruth
erford Simmons and Alfred Simmons Rutherford,
were one and the same person. Simmons was ar
rested, taken to Portland, and on Tuesday, he was
| ariaigned before Commissioner Rand charged
with pervertng the United States mail into .
| channel for fraudulent operations on the citizens
of Haowell. and pleaded not guilty A. A. Strout,
Esq. appearing as his counsel, and was bound
| over in the sum of $500 to answer at the June
term of the United States District Court, to be
holden at Bangor, the second Tuesday in June.
The penalty for the offence is Imprisonment not
| exceeding eighteen months and fine not exceed
ing $500.
Simmons says he did not realize the full extent
| of the crime he was committing. Those who had
sent for specimen of the counterfeit scrip be had
sent back genuine one, and they being pleased
| with it, would send for supply. when they would
receive box of nicely cut pieces of paper packed
in sawdust, on the plan inaugurated by the New
York cut-throsts. The extent of his operations
has not been developed.