The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-02
A REVEREND SCOUNDREL.
THE sTORY OF MS KSAvERY, As TOLD
BY THE OEFICIILS.
Methodist Preacher. Roman Catholic, IIieh-
wnyman, swindicr, and Forver.


wnyman, swiudicr. and Forner.
f,~n N, Boston Herald
John r. Smith who was arrested at Bath,
No. by state Detectives Pinkham and phlbrcli
Of the state police, on Wednesday. If guilty OF
all the msdeeds laid TO his charge. is IA rogue
deserving Of the scvcrcst punishment The
story Of his knavery ms told by the officers is in
tcresung., II appears that some time in July.
1873. word was sent to the Office Of the State
police that a man giving The name Of John X.
Smith obtained from Mr. Coffin, now Stat,
$1,000 by means OF forged discharge
Philbrick were detailed to work up tho
sentcd but Smith had dccampod. In follow
ing up the case other similar transactions
were brought 10 light. and it was learned that
tor q long time. On tho Occasion Of the fraud
on Mr.. Coffin it WIS found that Smith had made
William Deyine OF orchcstcr, for which he
was to pay $4,000. Smith bought this property,
mn " cPc y s the sSR and
stating that he wished 10 borrow money TO build
2 stable. He presented q warranty decd from
Devinc to one Joseph Hnines and also q dis
charge OF amortgagc in the name Of John b.
Eastman, the latter sergeant of police at sta
ton 3. The lawyer examined the records and
everything being apparently all right. he loaned
smith $1,000 hut shortly attcrward discovered
that the deed and the discharge Of tho mortgage
were fOrgcrics.
On further investigation the officers found
that Smith had successfully dupcd a man OF
wealth doing business on State street Smith
called ON this gentleman to borrow $1,000
ON property on Brighten street. The State
street man Investigated the matcr. was salts
fled that Smith was all right and dis
charged mortgage purportingtO be- in the naine
o. John Morse and endorsed by Reuben 4
Elisha i. Smith. was presented 10y Smith. and
u" Got th' amount ne wanted. In this operation
lne reverend rogue was assisted by man
named Joseph llaincs.
me next transaction brought to light WIS
where smith dupcd wcll-knoWn mortgage
broker ia Cambridge. disposing Of property
WITH the all Of another forged mortgage for
s5uOO, purpnrtng TO Ice from Peter &. Putnam
81 thnt city. The officers next learned that Smith
ma forged the transfer of policy II tho Norfolk
Mutual Insurance ComTany. Wide engaged in
TINS operation Smith claimed 10 he "A la.wycr.
having opened an office with one Stesens in
JOYS building ON Washington street
The officers further learned that previous 10
thls smith had been extensively engaged in the
stable business. and there are many stable
row. In one instance he went TO a MIR. Ballou.
Interested in u stable with a man named De-
vine. in the Charlestown District. He said he
wanted 10 purchase Mr.. Ballou's interest. Bal
lou. learning something OF smiths character,
charging Ballou with breach Of contrnct.
Smith arranged 10 have himself put into tho
stable rs keeper and IN n little tmc fixed every
thing 10 his own advantage. me extensive
STOCK OF carriages. HARNESSES and horses. val
ucd at $1,000. he run III to Maine where the
whole property WIS scattered and sold As a
.esuii Of this transa, ton Ballou sued the
and got q verdict Tor 5000. Atthc time he was
engaged IN this sob Smith had mn interest in "A
livery stable in Cambridge. and this building
WIS mysteriously destroyed hy fire soon after.
AMI II a. said he ol iliued the insurance money.
lis next loh was at the Highlands. whore he
ran stable. on which there was mortgage
held hy ono J. &. Davis for 500 or $500 He at
tempted lo carry of stock from herr ~ be- did
IN the Charlestown case. and was partially sue
cN-hiul.
>. II" married a young lady member Of tho
h'mHn CuWohr church at tho Highlands. and
managed % swndle her out Of $4,000 in money.
besides omainiug hrec AMOUNTS from her
brothers and other relatives. In this operation
ne III. tended that there was money a. be- made
out 4 buildings on Hcalh street. and lac pro-
posed the erection q an elegant block. Tho
structure. When .sompleted. was ~ and was
cnndcmned 10y tho city. and the Nsnan soon
learned the true character Of her husband. and
that ~" was almost pennilcss. on further in
qulry into the antecrdents of the fellow the OIL
GERS found that during the war he. was engaged
IN the hay business, and that he had extensive
dealings with the Government HIS career OF
success in Maine was sud icnly disturbed by the
ilnilng OF forged check for $1,000 in Bath
bank. the same being traced TO him, This
check was on a party in New York. and no was
indicted for its forgery. But he escaped into
Canada. lie was after while captured but
managed To- escape punishment upon some
Since Detectives Pnkham and philtrick were
put on his track in july, 1873 he has been
ccedinely hard time Il il. The detectJyc- have
followed him 5000 miles through the New Eng
land states and Canada. and about a year ago
Pressed nm 70 close ~ t. force him 10 take "a
hooner at Bremen. Me. Smith bought the
vessel. and IN clearing represented he WAS
there he came direct to Boston. He landed al
Long wharf. disp0s Il Of hls schooner at "a fair
Price 10 an lri-hman, and was out Oi the way
1.-TWO hours before the officers reached the
w9cn arrested at Bath Smith said that he
had b"n 10 the Black Hills since leaving Bos-
ton and that he had had an Internal hard time
Of it, lie oppressed q wllingn. - TO retdrn To-
Boston without a requst.on. and ne arrived
here. Thurs iay night and WIS locked W in
Charles street jail 20 await the action OF the