The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-08-04

| returns in tabulated and convenl-
ent form, which will require good
deal of labor as there are no footlngs
or recapitulations. and the mass Of
names must all be tailed off one by
one in order to give the desired re-
suit. We learn that the total popu'
lation of the county in gross is lit.
tie over $4,000. The population Of
Tallahassee is 2,570, exclusive OF
"French Town." and other suburban
settlements Immediately outside the
city limits proper. The addition OF
these will increase the city's true
population over 1000, between 81
900 and $500 in all.-Fzoridiaa.
The population Of St Augustine
according to the recent census, is, in
round numbers 1890. In 1870 1t
was LILY, showing an increase OF 600
or over 30 per cent This is certain
ly very satisfactory increase. The
population OF St. Johns county will
approximate 400. We have no
date from which to ascertain the in
crease in the county precincts, but 1t
is believed to be even larger in pro-
portion than in the city. 1t is pro-
badly that the city loses about fifty
its population, from the fact that
quite that number left here before
the lst of June, and could not under
the census laws be enumerated. The
oldest inhabitant of st. Augustine Is
Peter Hernandez, who is ninety-six
years of age. Next on the list is
Judy Smith, who is ninety.two, and
Jack Smith and Phyllis Fontain are
each ninety. There are seventeen in
the city between eighty and ninety
years of age. Our climate appears
tavorably to longevity.-&. Au9ets'
tine Press.
Last Saturday morning a rumor
reached our ears that heavy forgery
had been discovered in the sanitary
bonds of this city. We at once set
to work to investigate the matter,
but it was thought prudent TO say
nothing of the affair until the forger
could be arrested The information
of the forgery was received here Fri
day through the New York Detec-
tive Agency, and the facts are about
as follows: About the first of July
a young man, while engaged in wash.
ing his hands in Central Park, New
York, was accosted by one armed
man and asked jf- he. Tantad, work
ssssss4' s,ssArcSa
He replied that he did, and was told
to 90 to a certain room in French's
Hotel. On arriving at the room he
was given letter to copy, for which
he was paid 25 cents. When about
to leave the room he was handed a
card, upon which was printed ST.
M. Branscom, 30 West Bay Street,
Jacksonville, Florida" and was told
by Branscom that there would pro-
badly be other work for him in a
few days. In about ten days the
young man received postal card
signed B." requesting him to call
at the same room, and was given the
task of signing the name Of "a. J.
Baldwin" to a lot OF bonds. His
suspicious being aroused he informed
the Detective Agency OF what had
occurred, bud did lot give the nature
of the bonds, save that civilian
Stokes Boyd, Mayor" was on them.
The agency sent a man to the hotel,
who found Branscom's name on the
register. They then communicated
with certain parties in this city. A
meeting of the Council and Board OF
Health was held and active steps de-
cided upon. Accordingly Captain
Cooper, on Saturday started for New
York. To-day Alderman briggs re-
ceived from the Captain telegram
stating that Branscom had been ar
rested, $S5,O0O of bogus bonds cap,
tured, and that $4,000 more would
probably be recovered. 1t has also
come to light that Branscom had
written letters to the American Ex-
change Bank of New York, and the
bank at Hartford where the coupons
are paid, inquiring as to the Jack
sonville Improvement Bonds. This
was probably done in order to get
letters from these institutions that
would be of service to him in dis
posing OF his forged bonds. The
coupons were due on the 18th inst,
but it is not known that Branscom
had disposed OF any Of his stock.
Branscom left here in the early part
OF J une, but before his departure he
purchased a bond OF Alderman
Greedy, which, no doubt. was USED
as copy. He is tall, one armed
man, and has been engaged in the