The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-05-27

ISHHSSlf1tHiu FoFSeF hccOSnlICO ny
his PhOtOgrnph-Iiis Career in C0lum-
bia Business Cil cles and in Columbia
Society-A Church. -Goer and n Lady's
Man-AIarried, but Passes as Single
He Escapes and is Recapturcd.
THE News AND COURIER BUREAU, }
lO3 MAIN STREET., COLUMBIA, May 10.{
In the early part Of last winter n
young man calling himself C. A. Brock
ford came to Columbia. He looked in
telliscnt and sharp, dressed we'll and
did not work at any thing in particular.
On the 23d Of February he called at the
Branch Office Of the NcmS and Cou-
rier and paid for an advertisement to
the effect that he wanted good lumber
i'll any quantity and that the highest
market price would be paid for it. He
stated that he had come to Columbia
from his homc.in Pennsylvania in order
to restore his health, which had been
impaired, and had found the climate so
beneficial to his lungs that he thought
he would remain here permanently. He
saw "millions'' in the lumber business,
he said, and intended to work it up.
About month ago Mr.. C. a. Brock
ford's advertising attracted the attcn-
ton of Messrs. Lorick & Lowrancc Of
this city, who entered into an arrange
mcnt with him whereby they were to
pay him n commission on all orders for
lumber he obtained for them. After
this he used to write his letters in Their
office. They found him very intelligent
and busness-likc, and paid him COM
mission on several orders.
CHAPTER TWO.
Yesterday c7cning City Detective Ogg
was sitting in the piazza of his house
glancing over n circular he had received
from n detective bureau giving n de-
scription of forger for whom reward
was offered and bearing Photographic
representation Of him. While so en-
gagged hack passed the house and the
detective, looking up, bcheld in it the
original of the photograph he held in
his hand. The person in the hack was
Mr.. G. \. Brockfortl, lumber broker.
with headquarters at Columbia.
CHATTER THREE.
Detective Ogg preceded to the store
OF Lorick & Lowrancc, where he knew
that Brockford was frequent visitor.
He found him there, and induced some
one to engage him in conversation that
he might note pcculiaritics which had
been referred to in the circular. These
pcculiaritics were that when in CONVEX
sation Brock'ord had n nervous manner
and constantly put his hand up to his
chin. Observing these traits, the dctec-
tive waited until Brockford had
entered Wrisht's Hotel to get his
supper. He then walked up to him
thrust the photograph in his face and
told him that he was wanted" By
his agitated manner Brockrord BETRAYED
himself. lie declared, however, that
the photograph represented u cousin of
his. Then he asked leave to take his
supper, the detective watching below.
Permission was given. On his return
from supper Brockford asked to be al
lowed to 60 to the closets at the rear of
the hotel. Believing that there was no
rear exit to the building, Mr.. Ogg let
him go. AS Brockford did not appear
after few minutes the detective hunted
for him and found that he had escaped
through door in the rear of the hotel.
He went to his boarding house and found
that Brockford had anticipated him by a
few minutes, having reached tho house.
changed his hat and departed with his
gripsack.
CHAPTER FOUR,
About 10 O'Clock this morning a negro
hackman came to the store of Lorick &
Lowrancc with a note from Brockford
addressed to Mr.. Hill, their cashier.
The note had no date or signature.
The fugitive asked Mr.. Hill not to lose
in him, as he had got into
this difficulty by trying to protect
some one else. He would. he said, 20
away quietly and straighten up things
and it would be all right again before
long. He asked Mr. Hill to take
signed check, which he enclosed, to the
Central Bank, draw the balance he had
on hand, and send it to him by the
hackman. The amoune was $517. Mr..
Hill replied that as things looked pretty
dark about him he must decline to i'm
plicate himself in the fngitive's doinss,
and sent tho check back. The hack
man. it seems, was not followed, so that
Brockford's y hiding place was not as:cr-
tanned. There was great deal Of .criti-
cism of Detective Ogg on the streets,
and he was cited to appear at the mnyor,s