The Portland daily press., 1883-12-25
A NEW swHNnEE.
How MIR. DeCartaret McCaverty Beat
Jail Prisoners Out of Their Honey.

How Hzr. DeCaPtaret McCaverty Beat
Jail Prisoners Out of Their Money.
The readers of the Press will remember that
last week Mr.. and Mrs. Godfrey we're arrested
by Deputies Gribben and Sterling on a charge
OF harboring Thomas Conroy, an escaped
prisoner, and they were taken to Jail, failing
to give bonds in the sum of $500 in the NUM-
cipal Court.
Last Thursday, about six O'Clock in the af-
ternoon, man went to Godf,ey's residence,
which Mrs Godfrey's mother had charge of.
along with a Mr.. Sesbury This man was
dressed in light drab overcoat and rather
cheap and worn suit of clothes, and introduced
himself as a Mr.. DeCarleret, secretary of the
Boiler-Makers' Union at Bangor He said he
read in the morning paper the account of God
frey's arrest, and that he dropped his work at
once and without changing his suit of clothes
came directly to Portland to secure the release
of Mr.. and Mrs. Godfrey the former of whom,
it will be remembered, is boiler-maker by
trade and long employed by the Portland Com
pany. Mrs. Godfrey mother took DeCarteret
in and gave him his supper and nights lodg-
ing, and when he left in the morning he said
he was going at once to secure Mr. and Mrs.
Godfreys release. He went from the house d.
rectly to Hon. NJ. P. Franks office, and from
that gentleman learned what steps he must
take to get the Godfreys out of Jail through
bail commissioner. From Mr.. Franks Office
DeCarteret went to the jail and introduced
himself there as Mr.. McCaverty. He asked
to see Godfrey, and, as that party did not rec
ognize his visitor, he told him that he, Nc
Caverty, used to live in Portland, and they had
both worked at their trade together, and re-
peated how he had stopped his work to come
to Portland and secure his release. He said he
had $3.50 in bank in this city, and it would re-
quire just 500 more to make up the bail.
Then the commissioners fee would be $11.50,
and that Mr.. Frank had expressed willing
ness to accept an order on the Portland Com
pany for that amount The turnkey was asked
to write the order, and he suggested it be
made payable to Godfreys wife's mother
Godfrey however feared, as it was stormy, she
wouldn't wish to go out Godfrey then said
his wife had $40, so the turnkey suggested that
she pay the commissioner herself. Conse-
quently the order was not signed. McCaverty
then asked to see Mrs Godfrey, and the turn
key took him to see her in the woman's wing
of the Jail. McCaverty told Mrs. Godfrey her
husband said she had $40, and that she was to
give it 10 him, McCaverty, to pay the bail COM
missioner, as she and her husband were to be
released On bail. Mrs. Godfrey gave him the
money, and he left the Jail about IL o'clock
that same Friday morning
McCaverty then, reassuming the name of
DsCarteret, went to Godfrey's house, and told
Mrs. Godfrey's mother and Mr. Seabury that
he had made arrangements to take Mrs. God
frey from the Jail at 2.30 p. m, and Mr.. God
frey on Saturday, but that he lacked S15 of the
$50 required. He told them that in the morn
ing when he went out he lacked $50, but he
met Bangor friend on the street, and he let
him have $25; that Mrs. Godfrey gave him
$40, and that left $15 needed. Mrs Godfrey 8
mother then gave him S., went out and bor-
rowed IS more, and let him have SIS that she
had that belonged to another woman. Mr.. De-
Carteret McCaverty then left and probably
went to Canada on the 1.30 p. m. train. When
Mr.. Seabury went down to the Jail that evep.
ing to learn where Mrs. Godfrey was and why
she was not released, he heard the whole story,
and how shrewdly they had been swindled
Now the Godfreys want to see Mr.. DeCarteret
McCaverty.