New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-30
EX-GOV. MOSES'S SWINDLES.
MAKING VICTIMS IN THREE CITIES.

|
| ToN-THE swINDLER AGAIN IN CUSTODY.
| Franklin j. Moses, Ex-Governor of South Caro-
lima, arrested in this city yesterday and locked
up at Police Headquarters on charges Of swndng.
For months he has been at liberty under bail
to answer charge of swindling William l.. Hall.
retired hote-keeper, or No. East Tenth-st. Mr..
Hall cheated out of 81, 500 last summer by
notorious swindler, "Plin White, who now Is
serving a term OF imprisonment in the State Prison
at Sing Sing White was arrested. and
while he was in the Jefferson Market Prison
awaiting trial, Moses visited Mr.. Hall under tho
assumed name of Hassans. He told Mr.. Hall that
he could get back the value Of the money gwen TO
White for $40. Mr.. Hall again allowed himself to
be swindled but as he learned that the sup.
posed Hassans was fraud he applied TO Inspector
Byrnes. The identity of Moses was discovered BY
Detectives Haley and Ruland, and Moses ar
rested on October 3. He kept in prison for .
time, but afterward managed to secure bail.
While Moses was under arrest, however, Inspector
Byrnes learned that he had been living by
swinding operations for q long time. Only
few weeks before he visited Mr.. Hall Moses had
called at the office of John d. Townsend and had
offered TO procure some dispatches and other docu-
ments which ~ould implicate Samuel j. Tilden in
an attempt to buy up the South Carolina delegation
to a Democratic National Convention. Mr.. Town.
and Moses departed. taking an overcoat which hung
in the office. Moses had the impudence to visit Mr..
Townsend again in few days and to ask the loan
of more money. The lawyer convinced Of the
mans treachery by that time and he accused him Of
theft. Moses impored Mr. Townsend not toprosecute
him, and the latter consented the condition. that
Moses should write out and sign account of the
swindle which he had perpetrated. Mr.. Townsend
said to Moses at the time =" shall keep this docu-
ment,and if You ever arrested for another trans
action of this kind will give it up to the officer
who arrests you" Accordingly Mr.. Townsend gave
the paper to Inspector Byrncs when Moses was
arrested for swindling Mr. Hail.
Soon after Moses was released on bail Inspector
Byrnes heard of the swindler again. Alderman
Waite was informed by the agent of one of the Eng
paid sum of money for alleged expenses
in securing evidence against organization of
Fenians in this city, The man had tolI the agent
that movement was on foot to blow up one of tho
vessels Of the companys line he pretended to be
possessed of information by which he could thwart
the plans, of the conspirators and procure their
arrest and punishment The agent was so much
impressed by the mans story that he gave him
money and promises of a large reward. IL was dis
covered later that the man was fraud. The In
spector aScertained that the swindler was Noses
but as Mr. Waite said that the steamship company
was not willing to prosecute him, no effort was made
to arrest Moses at the time.
About week ago the Inspector was visited by
VI. 10
has saesroOms at No. 95 Fifth-aye, and lives in
Brooklyn. Mr.. Smith said that he had cashed a
worthless check for Sl75 drawn by man who rep
resented himself to be ro'her of Governor Col
quitt, of Georgia. The swindle was made public by
Mr.. Smith previous to his visit at Police Head
quarters. The description of the swindler, as given
by Mr. Smith. led the Inspector to believe that tho
man was Ex-Governor Moses, and be instructed
Detectives Frink and Handy to find and arrest him.
in West Twenty -fourth-st.. and they watched his
house for several days without success They saw
him yesterday in Broadway; near Twenty-second;;
ST. and took him into custody at once Moses did
not appear to be disconnected by his arrest He ac-
companled the detectives TO Police Headquarters
cheertully and afterward walked to the Tombs
Police Court, where he was remanded 20 the GUS
tody of the police until to-day at a. Mr. Smith
was summoned to Police Ileadquarters yesterday
looked at Mr. Smith, and said: 81 never saw the
man beforeo
Crowell Of the Phenix Insurance Company. at No.
1875 Broadway Moses went TO Mr.. CrOwelps ofiice
on February 10 E and gave gave hi his pane As Anthony
he had been travelling in New-England and was On
his way home in company with his family, having
received TSst relative telegram ree0v, the effect Ss
point of death. Mr.. Crowell was well acquainted
with White family in Greenvile Moses spoke Of
the family in such way as to misead Mr. Growen
said that he had short of money for his journey.
He asked Mr.. Crowel to cash check for $3.50
learned, after writing to Greenville. that he had
been duped He, read g pg6lishrd. description of
the man who had swindled Mr. Smith. and he do
termined that they had been cheated by the same
man. Less than two weeks after obtaining
money from Mr.. Crowell Moses played 9 similar
represented himself on that occasion az General
Curtis, State Commissioner of North Carolina, and
Mr.. Stuart cashed two worthless checks for $50
each.
Inspector. Byrnes has in his possession o
letter, written to Mr.. Smith by b. Fl.
IN Boston Mr.. Hase had read an account Of the
manner III which Mr.. Smith was swindled ard he
wrote to say that the swindler had been in Boston
also. worthless check for $500 had been cashed by
Mr. Hasell, who was under the impression that the
man who presented it was wealthy Southern
planter.
Flint, the business partIer of Mayor Grace of No.
81 Wall-st. He endeavored TO pass himself off as
Mr. Prince, OF Lynn. Mass. and he nearly succeeded
what suspicious, however, Mr. Flint asked Moses to
wait until another day, and sent a telegram to q
friend whose name Moses had used. The reply to
he telegram proved that the alleged Mr. Prince
was o fraud. ana Moses was hustled without cere-
mony out of Mr.. Flnts office.
Inspector ByInes said yesterday that Moses was q
most accomplished swndler. The to whom he
had applied for money with success were well versed
with business matters, and most of them had repu-
tatiOns for sagacity In their dealings with others.
To swindle such men required mething more than
ordinary tale for cheating Moses Is nearly fifty
years DID, tall and well formed, with gray hair
anu IuOuSldCuc lcBuldl icdlurc. IliS career dS
Governor of South Carolina is well known. He
was born in the South, his father having been a
Judge there. and he had as good education as
could be procured in that part of the country be-
fore the war He fought In the Confederate
Army but after the war closed he professed
20 be friend of the liberated blacks and became
an active leader in the Republican party in South
Carolina. When he ceased TO be Governor of the
State he to this city to escape arrest for mis-
deeds while in office. He arrested q
requisiton signed by one of his successors
IN office and an attempt was made to bring him to
trial for the alleged fraudulent issuing of certain
bonds. Moses managed 10 regain hls liberty, how