Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-29
BOSTON'S BANCO STEERER.
How Charles Francis Adams wac
EnIIced into a Den and Made
Victim

A special dispatch from Boston, Mass. ,
on the 25th, says: "The Superior Crlml-
nal Court room was crowded to-day
when James Fitzgerald, alias The Kid,
alias Morrison, was brought to trial be-
fore Chief Justice Bingham on a charge
of obtaining money from the Hon.
Charles Francis Adams at a game called
banco on March %"
The most interesting portion of the
trial was the recital of Fitzgeralds story
or confession. He went to the Office of
the Hon. Richard Olney, counsel for Mr.
Adams, on April g. in company with a
private detective, under promise that he
should not be arrested there, nor on his
way to and from there. Mr.. Olney and
Mr.. John Quincy Adams described the
interview. Fitzgerald was smiling gaily,
and seemed to be enjoying himself. He
tipped his chair against the wall and
remarked:
"This is disagreeable business, Mr.
Adams / am a banco steerer, and
don't suppose there is a man in the
United States who has done so much or
knows the business as well as l. When
we 90 to a city we find out all we can
about our intended victim, his character.
acquaintances, habits and resorts, and
watch an opportunity to get into coz
versation with him. ] knew Mr. Adams
and watched for him. When he came
out I let him get in advance, and then
went up, told him l was the son of an
old friend, and that it would be a
great favor to let me walk by
such gentleman as he. Mr..
Adams had the reputation of
being unsocial, but | did not find it diff
cult to get down into him. When |
once get into conversation the rest is
easy. / drew him along to our rendez-
vous, and then, pulling out this lottery
ticket. told him there was 81, 500 due on
it, and asked him to go in and identify
me. There was no difficulty in persuad-
ing him to 90 into his Office, where the
ticket was presented and nearly 81 500
in bills handed to me- objected it was
not right, and the man explained that
they always deducted percentage, but
that we might have for that some tickets
to play on board or table.
Fitzgerald described the game with
great gustO, turning frequently to the
detective with the remark: "You know,
Heath you know how it is. " He con.
tinued:
81 permitted Mr. Adams to play for
me. He drew $500, and it was ex-
planned TO him that he must give a check
to the bank for ten per cent, and he
drew one for $3.50 and shortly after
another for $3.50 ty the same method
Finally he got into the dilemma of
drawing a blank. which subjected him
to a loss of $4,000. We then charged
him with gambling, when the poor
old man threw up his hands and said
that no such charge was ever made
against him before, that he had repre-
sented this country in England, and
never did anything to be ashamed of,
and exclaimed: oh, what would my
boys say if they should hear of such a
thing as this?' l pitied the old man, for
l had a great respect for him, but acted
as his friend, told him / had lost the
same as he, and begged him to pay the
money and save me from ruin. We in
duced him to sign the check, and left
with him weeping bitterly and telling him
how grieved | was that I had been the
innocent means of his trouble. ! went
home with him, soothing him all the
way. l have roped in forty men as
smart as Mr.. Adams. They all paid the
checks. This check will be paid. They
always pay. They kick as you are kick
ing, but they pay. The Adamses would
not let this story get into court for twice
the amount We always have the regu
lar check of every bank in the city
where we are. 1t is part Of our bust
ness"
Mr. Adams testified that his fathers
mental condition was not very bad ex-
cept his memory. He has, however,
been unable to do any business of late
except to take memoranda of orders
from the house TO the grocery store.