The New York herald., 1879-08-06
LAWYER FISHER CONVICTED.

FOUND GUILTY OF OBTAINING MONEY UNDER
FALSE PRETENcEs AND REMANDED FOR SEN
TENcE.
The trial Of Charles G.. Fisher. ex-United States
Assistant District Attorney for the District of Colum
bia for obtaining money by false pretences, took
place yesterday in the Court of General Sessions 1t
was charged that the 18th of April last he pre-
sented check the West Side Bank for ss2 ~ to
the Superintendent OF the Metropolitan Hotel in
payment Of board. parporting to be signed by
Messrs. Entwistle Co.. produce dealers. in West
street. The accused is bright looking sharp fea-
tured young man ana. when arraigned on Monday.
expressed himself as perfectly able to take care OF
his own case. though Judge Gildersleeve said he
deemed it his duty to assign him counsel
When the trial began yesterday Mr. Edmund L.
Price sat beside tho prisoner. who had prepared
quite lengthy brief on his own behalf. Assistant
District Attorney Bell appeared for the prosecution
and the first witness Superintendent Adams. OF
the Metropolitan Hotel who testified that the prisoner
engaged room there on the 1lth OF April. About
four o'clock the afternoon OF the 18th of April
Fisher asked for his BILL which amounted to S12 50.
In payment thereof Fisher presented the check.
g:-"I am afraid I'll have to trouble you to cash
this check" Witness told Fisher he not well
enough acquainted with him TO do SO. when Fisher
salu ne was known TO Two OF the attaches Oh INC
hotel-Mr. Nolan and Mr.. Florence. At that time
Mr. Nolan was in Saratoga and he called Mr. Flor
Witness asked the latter il he knew the gen.
teman; Florence replied :-"Yes; that's Mr.. Fisher.
of Washington" and turned away He had some
doubts to whether the check good. but relying
on the recognition of Mr. Florence he directed the
cashier to give the money for the check deductng the
amount OF the BILL coupe was then called and
Fisher drove away.
The next witness Edward Entwistle. who said
he engaged in the produce business at No. 14l
West street until the 18th OF January of last year.
His firm never drew the check for $82 r. nor had
he seen Fisher before. The bookkeeper of the
West Side Bank testified that such firm En-
twistle Co. had ever had an account in that insti
tuition.
Mr. Price here moved for the discharge of the
prisoner on the ground that there no evidence
that Fisher obtained the money in change for the
check. the evidence being that it was upon the
declaration of Florence that the money was given
him. The motion was denied.
FISHERS
The prisoner then took the stand in his own be-
half He said he born in Washington; that has
father is ex-Judge Fisher formerly of the Supreme
Court and at one time District Attorney for the Dis
trict of Columbia. In the Year 1868 he resigned his
commission as lieutenant in the Fourth artillery,
United States Army. and went to reside with his
father III Georgetown. The following year he be-
came assistant to his father then District Attor.
ney He married 1870 and three years later went to
Milford Del, to look after estate his mother had
inherited from her father. part of 1t being
fruit drying establishment. He managed it until
1875 when he returned to Washington and was as
signed to duty Assistant District Attorney, from
which post Harrington was dismissed He held that
position until the 4th of September. Of the same
year. when his fathers term expired. On the llth
OF April he came to this city with his mother, who
divided her stay between the houses Of DR.. Tiffany
and DR.. Newman while he went to the Metropolitan
Hotel, where he had boarded several times before.
His mother left the city the afternoon OF the 14th
of April. agreeing to meet him in Philadelphia on
the following evening. The witness then proceeded
to state that he and his mother leaving the
West Philadelphia depot on their way to this city =
Mr. Browning told him that q Colonel r. II. s. Boyd.
Delaware. whom had loaned S6I 1876 at the
Centennial at the Sinclair House and that let
ter addressed there would reach Colonel Boyd. Ac-
cordngly. he to Boyd. and the latter replied.
making appointment for the 18th of April at the
Astor House. There the Colonel. he said gave him
the check and he gave him the difersnce between
the debt the face of the check. Witness did not
know where Boyd was at present.
COOL UNDER CROSS EXAMINATION.
Assistant District Attorney Bell subjected the
prisoner to very rigid cross-examinatior, which
he bore with remarkable GOODNESS. In answer to
the inquiry why he did not tell the foregoing story
when he first arrested and taken before the
magistrate, to Assistant District Attorney Rol-
Inns, whom he claimed he had written, the pris-
oner said lie did not wish to say anything.
"well. SIR asked Mr. Bell, II presume you
highly indignant when you were arrested?'
mot at all" replied the prisoners ~ had had
much experience IN seeing other people arrested
that took it as matter of course
Sylvester L. Wilson. who said he publisher
at No 1l3 Nassau street, swore that Colonel Boyd
came to his Office in Philadelphia in 1876. and he
positively identified letter which the prisoner tes
fed he had received from Boyd acknowledging the
Indebtedness and making the appointment for the
18th OF April
Mr. Bell, in crossexamination, asked the witness
whether he had not arrested at the instance of
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chill
dren the charge of engaging girls under the ago
of sixteen for immoral purpose under the pre-
tence that they would figure in what was known as
"rhe Female Baseball Club?'
"No, sir" indignantly replied Wilson; 81 in
the Tombs aud brought here to this court by an
officer. don't call that being arrested"
MIR. Price--He discharged
Judge Giidersleeve chargel the jury, who, after a
half hours absence, brought in verdict of guilty.
The prisoner remanded for sentence.
1t is alleged that Fisher previously charged
with forgery, but escaped the consequ by be-
ing committed to a lunatic asylum.