The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-02-12
REMINISCENCE OF An OPERATOR.
How George King Swindled the Columbus
Bank Out of Nine Hundred
Dollars.
He Escapes to San Antonio, but is Captured
Here Through His Own
Stupidity.

at is a matter of great surprise to me, " said
city telegraph operator to LIGHT commits
sioner, show many clever rogues plan crime,
successfully carry it out. and then are caught
through their own stupidity. Perhaps it may
be one of the ordinances of a Divine Provi-
dence that crime should bring its own punish
ment, and yet it is none the less surprising.
remember well the case of George King, that
was matter of great notoriety some five or six
years ago. George was an operator in the
Signal Service, and was being transferred
from Brownsville to Fort Stockton. lie was
young-a decent sort of fellow-and had
good reputation. He started from
Brownsville, made a voyage to Galveston,
and there he concocted the plot that
made him notorious. Arriving in Galveston
he applied for and obtained weeks leave of
absence. Then he set to work, fraternzed
with the operators there and got to know the
names of the various drummers and firms they
represented, and the manner in which they
did their business. This done, he proceeded
by rail to Luling, which was then a terminus
of the Sunset railroad, and from there, after
Disgusting himself, went to Columbus. Soon
after he called upon the bankers of Columbus
| believe their firm name was Simpson &
Middleton, presenting
DRAFT FOR 5000
oStenSibly drawn upon firm in Galveston by
a drummer, and asked if they would cash it,
The bank declined to do so until the draft was
paid or they had Geographic instructions that
it was good. King offered to pay for tele-
graphing and an inquiry was made. He then
went to an obscure spot, took a pair of
"clmbers " and pocket telegraphic instru-
ment from a valiSe he carried, climbed the
pole, cut the wire and connected his instru-
ment with it. . He 'caled" various Offices,
obtained their "calls" and then Called up
Columbus, sending a message, supposed to be
from Galveston, instruCtng the Columbus
bankers to pay the draft. Satisfied there was
no train either way, he fixed the wire and
walked into Columbus just before the bank
closed. He inquired whether they bad re-
ceived any news in respect to his draft They
answered in the affirmative, and that they
were prepared to pay it, which they did, less
commission of ST.. King then came on by
stage 10 San Antonio, arriving here on the
Saturday night, but, instead of placing a con-
siderable distance between himself and the
scene of his crime, he stayed here until Mon
day morning, in order that he might save a
few dollars by the delay. On the same morn
ing he went TO the Western Union telegraph
office on Commerce street, fraternized with
the operators, and was standing talk
ing TO Mr.. N. J. Petrich, when a
message came, inStructing them to look out
for the bank swindler, giving his description
and saying that he was supposed to be tele-
graph operator. The description differed
somewhat from Kings appearance because
he had disguised himself at Columbus, and
Mr.. PetriCh had no suspicion that he was the
man WANTED" For some unexplained reason
he remained here until Wednesday when Mr..
Dunbar, the present manager of the telephone
company in this city, then a telegraph opera
tor, went to Mr.. PetriCh and said that he be-
lieved King was the bank swindler. He ad-
mitted that the description and the man diff
fered somewhat, but the difference was only
such as
COULD BE EFFECTED BY DISGUISE.
Mr.. Petrich was somewhat doubtful about
taking action, considering that it was risky
business but concured in plan for it being
done. Mr.. Dunbar, after consideration, de-
SiN~u W 'NhS aSuOhJ Saying IL II WAS u ullStake
it could be explained away, if it was not then
they would have the satisfaction of
knowing they had put an end to the
career OF a swindler. Mr.. Dunbar went to
Captain Phil Shardien, then deputy marshal
and communicated his suspicious, and both
went in search of George King They soon
found him, and Mr.. Dunbar then told him
what he suspected, King received the infor-
nation with sang froid, and was inclined to re-
sist, but when he was told that Captain
Shardien, who stood little off, was a police
officer he accompanied without further obiec-
ton. He was taken to the police Office, and
when searched had $3.50 in his possession
King was soon after identified as the man who
had swindled the bank was convicted, and is
now in Huntsville, working out his seven
years sentence. Virtue is its own reward is
very old proverb, and this appears to have
been the opinion of the Columbus bankers,
for although the sharpness of Messrs. Petrich
and Dunbar led to the arrest and conviction
of the swindler, and to the recovery of the
greater part of the plumber, they received no
compensation for their action, and were not
even rewarded with the usual thank you.
If ever such chance falls in my way I'll stip-
ulate for the reward before take any trouble
and-but excuse me ] am called"
Bishop Gilmour, of the Catholic diocese OF
at Cleveland, who created 4 sensation all over
the country last fall by denouncing the
Ladies' Land League, has returned home
from visit TO Ireland. and says that after
conversing on Irish affairs with many intelli-
gent men. clerical and law of eyerv danop,;v,