Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-29
BEATING THE BROoKLYNITfs
A Georgia Confidence Man
Claiming Kinship TO Gov.
i COIquitt.

Brooklyn Superintendent of Police
Campbell was notified Thursday of a
peculiar transaction, in which Mr.,
Freeborn G. Smith, a piano manufac
turer Of Brooklyn, appears to have
been the victim of misplaced conf
denOe in an individual who claimed to
be brother of Governor A. II. Col
quit, of Georgia. Mr.. Smith has
long been accustomed to entertain
Governor Colquitt during his visits to
Brooklyn. He told his story to a re-
porter in the following words:
Twas sitting in the Office Of my
factory, corner of Raymond and Will
loughby streets, on March IL, when a
gentleman entered the place and In
troduced himself to me as Richard
H. Oolquitt, planter, residing at a
short distance from Atlanta, Ga. He
said he was brother Of the Governor,
who had spoken to him SO frequently
of ME that he was anxious to make my
acquaintance. The man, who was
decidedly Southern in manner and
appearance, was about six feet in
height, had gray hair and moustache
and was between fifty and fifty-fve
years Of age. He weighed, should
judge, about one hundred and fifty
pounds. He had somewhat of mill
tary bearing and was very neatly
dressed. Indeed, he was one of the
most presentable men ever met in
my life, and withal bore a most re.
markable personal resemblance in
features to the Governor. / might
have taken him for the Governor were
| not SO well acquainted with that
gentleman, who, when he comes to
Brooklyn, divides his time between
Rev. DR.. Talmage and myself as a
guest. The Governors relations and
mine being of so intimate character,
| extended an invitation to my visitor
for himself, wife and daughter to take
tea at my house. He excused himself,
however, saying that he had just come
on here from Chicago with his wife
aud daughter; that they were about
returning home, having received a
telegram informing them that mem
Der of the family had been taken
very i'll. He did not wish to leave
The city, however, he said. until he
had paid his respects to me. regretted
his inability to accept the invitation, as
l was most favorably impressed
by my visitor, and | invited him to
look through tho factory. He did So
and expressed a great interest in the
mechanism exhibited. While going
through the place he ordered four
hundred dollar piano from me, saying
he would not be able to pay for it
until next fall unless his cotton crop
should be very good one. He would
pay me, perhaps, half the amount
agreed upon at time if be could do
no better. | told him that that would
be satisfactory. He appeared to be
familiar with the political situation 10
Georgia and spoke Of the probability
Of his brother, the Governor, succeed
ing Senator Ben Hill, who is i'll with
cancer of the mouth, should the NAL
ady prove fatal. He made the remark
that he wanted to use more funds
than, unfortunately he had provided
for himself when he left home, and he
asked me if | would be kind enough
to cash a check for him. Ny
cashier, Mr.. Powell, was on the
eve of going to the bank to make
deposit and | turned to him and
told him to pay Mr.. Colquitt the
amount Of the check. 1t was for $l75
which was paid him in greenbacks.
was so we'll satisfied with his honesty
and representations that | would at tn,
time most certainly have given hin
$500 Just as readily. He asked for {
blank check, which was given him
and he erased the word Mechanics
in the line National Mechanics Bank,
and wrote instead Atlanta, Ca II,
then Endorsed the check. The checl
was sent to the Fulton Bank, anC
since then it has been through Savan
nah banks and trust companies anC
all through the South. Yesterday tn,
check was returned to me as beini
worthless. | searched in vain for thu
drawer, but was unable to find him o.
anything in regard to him"
! Mr.. Smith said he was most de-
sirous of giving publicity to the swim
die, as he feared it might be carried
on to a considerable extent among
people who were acquainted with the
1 Hovernor of Georoia