Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-13
FOUND TO BE. A MUKDEREEs.
The Dark Career Of n Law ssudcn,

ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED TO WORTHY YOUNG
LADY OF PORT JERvIS. WHO WOULD NOT BE-
LIEyE Elm GUILTY-A sMoOTH-ToNGUED VII
LAIN.
From the Philadelphia Times
PORT JERv1S.N. Y, Dec. 11.-On the 10th of
May. 1880, John p. G. Smith was arrested in
this village by Officers Valley and Mclaughlin
on charge Of forgery, preferred by Alfred Gill
man. a wealthy lumber dealer Of Gilman's
Depot, on the Pore Jervis and Monticello rail-
road, twenty miles from this village. At the
time Smith was resident of this village and
law student in Columbia College. New York
CITY, He went to the city on an early train
every morning and returned on the evening
express. Previous to his residence here he had
been book-keeper for Mr.. Gilman. During the
preliminary examination Mr.. Smith was allowed
to remain at his boarding house. under the sur
ve;iiance of two officers, out Of whose sight
Smith was never allowed to go. But one night
the officers slept and Smith made hasty depart
ure and took TO the woods He succeeded in
getting into Pennsylvania. but was discovered
by three men and by main force carried back
into the state.
GIRLS DEVOTION.
Smith was loud in his protestations Of inno-
cence, and popular opinion was greatly in his
favor. He was engaged to be married to Miss
Ida butcher, handsome young lady, and the
daughter of the Rev. Henry butcher, Of this
village. Smith was almost constant In his at
tentions to her and she refused to believe him
guilty even when several New York parties
under oath, identified him as the man who
passed the forged checks. These checks were
for small amounts, ranging from twenty to fifty
dollars. and aggregated nearly fifteen hundred
dollars On the trial, which was held in New
York city. before Judge Cowing, in June, 1880
convicting evidence was introduced and Smith
was sentenced to five years in the state prison
at Sing Sing. He still protested innocence and
Miss butcher remained faithful to him with an
affection that was pitiful to observe.
In April last, through A. c. Butts. of Month
cello, n. T.. a petition was presented to Gov
Cornell. The argument which was prepared by
Smith himself, was a remarkably able document
and was printed. Considerable Of what was
claimed as new evidence was introduced. Mr.
Butts also presented letters of Introduction from
prominent men. who expressed the opinion that
there We're mitigating circumstances and that
Smith had been victim of conspiracy. The
petition was SO remarkable that great care was
taken by the governor in examining into the
merits of the case. A letter was received in
this village yesterday from the pardon clerk Civ
follows:
FOUND TO BE MURDERER.
"a rigid inquiry made by the officials devcl-
oped the fact that Smith was guilty of the
forgery for which he was sentenced. and also
that his character previous to that time was one
OF the worst; that he was, in fact, criminal of
the deepest dye. BY photographs. marks on
his body and other undisputed facts, he has
been positively identified as one Paul schoeppe
alias Count Schulenberg, who was arrested
convicted and sentenced in Carlisle, Pa, for
the murder OF Miss Steinecke about the year
1877. After the death of Miss Steinecke who
was about seventy years old quite wealthy
and who had been resident of Baltimore. Md
schoeppe produced marriage certificate
of Miss Steinecke and himself and O will mr.
porting to have been made by her In his favor
which papers exciting suspicion, the authori-
ties caused his arrest on the charge of murder
He was tried and convicted on this charge and
sentenced to be hanged. After his conviction
the Germans in that section interested them
selves in his behalf and succeeded In getting
him new trial, at which he was acquitted
After his release he went to Chicago Ill.,. and
got position as book-keeper I'm large bust
ness house, under the name of 'Schulenberg,'
remaining about eight or ten mouths He then
defrauded several parties, left and went back
to Baltimore some time in January, 1874. On
the 18th day of March, 1874, he was arrested
on the charge of obtaining money from several
firms by false pretenses and was committed to
Jail. In the meantime the Chicago authorities
were notified of his arrest. They came on with
requisition papers and he was taken back. tried.
convicted and sentenced to the JolietPrson
for three years, which term he served
A sMoOTH-ToNGuED VILLAIN.
1t is probable that after his discharge from
Joliet he came to this part of the country He
is smooth -tongued villain and it is not I'M
likely that when he has served his term he will
be heard from again in other quarters. Since
these Interesting developments have been made
Miss butcher has been made cognizant Of the
real facts and has. OF course. discarded him. His
ability and tact made him many friends, who be-
lieved him to the last but these late disclosures
will place him before the public in his true Char
acter-that ola criminal who would stopat moth
ing to achieve his ends.