Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-15
A SHARP RASCAL CAUGHT
A CONtTDENCE OPERATOR VIC
TiMIZES TIRE CLERGY.


Instance OF Father 'HArA, Pastor of
-. Patrick's Church, for Obtaining
Money Under False Pretenses--The
PRISONER Cnnlly Confessss His Guilt.
A cute confidence man, who has been
working the South OF late. came 10 grief
Yesterday morning through Constable
Ftank NcDermOtt.
Monday morning man OF good appear
auce and address called upon Rev. Father
O'Hara, pastor of st. patrick's Catholic
church, and asked for assistance. He in
troduced himself as John Sweeney He
told the FstSer pitiful tale, saying that
he was a stranger in Savannah and dead
broke. He said that be was expecting
money daily from his attorney in Louis
lana. ana solemnly promised that he
would repay the loan IN a few days.
Father O'Hara was suspicious, and re-
marked to Sweeney that if he proved n
fraud 1t might some time cause q deserv-
ing person to be refused aid. Sweeney
talked glibly and protested that ne was
honest ana really in need OF money to pay
his board Dill.
PLEADED FOR AID
He worked upon the sympathy ofthepriest
tuEtil the charitable Father advanced
81 80. With many thanks the applicant
departed. He had not been gone long be-
fore Rev. Father Schlenke. o; Columbus,
Ga. called on Father O'Hara. During
their conversation Father O'Hara men
toned the incident ofnis previous visitor,
and expressed some doubt about the man.
Father Scheuke listened with consider
able interest. and asked for a description.
TIE two priests compared notes, and then
Father Schlenke declared that Sweeney,
Under an alias, had worked him for 81 in
Columbus last week.
THOUGHT HE WAS FRAUD.
Convinced that the man was a fraud
Father UHara had Magistrate Pollard
issue warrants for Sweeney's arrest.
Constable McDermott took the war
rants and descriptiN, OF the man he
wanted. and started out to look Tor him,
although he was afraid that Sweeney had
lett town. AS he was ntering the court
house the officer saw a man passing on
York street who answered Sweeney's de-
iscription. The man was watched until
he got to A0ercOrn. when he turned south.
Two or three times be had looked back as
Though he was afraid that he was being
watched.
SHADOWED BY OFFICERS.
Constables McDermott and John
and saw their man going toward Haber-
sham. The two cOnstables followed at a
distance, and directly met Simon Hesser,
chief OF the convict camp. 1t was quickly
arranged that desser should follow the
man, oyertake him and engage him in
conversation il possible. the constables
separated and walked slowly down the
street. At the corner of Price and South
Broad MIR. Hesser came up with the
stranger and remarked that ne thought
they had met last week in Columbus.
The stranger did not remember, but said
that IL was possible, as he had been in
Columbus at that time. The stranger
was then invited into saloon TO take a
glass OF beer. A few minutes later Burke
entered the saloon and addressed the
stranger Familiarity, calling him MIR.
Sweeney.
MAKING NEW ACQUAINTANCE.
The latter looked somewhat surprised
and remarked that he did not think they
lhad ever met before. Burke insisted that
sbe had seen Sweeney in Columbus.
Sweeney thought it was strange that he
should find TWO Savannabians who
Claimed 10 have m him, but whom
he could not remember.
After short conversation, the officers
went To the door TO signal Constable Nc.
IDermOtt. When he entered he told
F7NfCbe9 tHNl ne bhu WARRANT LOT MN.
Sweeney wanted to know what for, and
when told denied the charges.
TOOK HIS ARREST cody.
He took the arrest coolly and did not
appear in the least Disconnected. On the
way to tire Aagistrate's Office he remarked
i1aat he knew be was being watched as he
walked along York street. He SAID that
1ie was sick ard had not tried to get
away. although be thought he was safe
when be got TO South Broad street and
did not see any one following him.
At Magistrate F0lllard's Office Sweeney
declared that he did not know Father
o'Hara. II was sugges ted that a messen-
ger he sent for the Father, whereupon
Sweeney sad tnat be would go with Con-
stable McDermott. Father O'Hsra posi-
lively identified Sweeney and Father
bchlenke recognized him as Patrick Ram
sey.
ADMITTING HIS GUILT.
Sweeney then admitted that he had OBJ
famed money from both. He would not.
however, tell where he was from or what
Bis right name was.
I Father scblenke said that he had let
fer from brother priest in Meriden,
NonD., warning him 10 beware OF swim
dler answering SNeeney's description
iwbO was believed TO be in the South.
b~eeDey addressed the priests respect
fully, thanked them for their kIndLess
and hoped that be would some day be able
10 return the layors. He was asked by
pne OF them how much money he had and
be exhibited three nickels. On the way
b. the jail be pulled out two or three
Emali bills and showed them to me officer,
remarKing that he did not propose TO let
bis beRelactOrs see tnat he still had some
OF their money.
ANXIOUS ABOUT his BOARD.
He was anxious to know il the prison.
ers were fed on corn bread, and when in
formed that they got bakers bread he
said that he would not mind the impris-
bnment so much.
The charge against him is obtaining
money under false pretenses. He cannot
be tried before Novem Der. His method
pl working varies but little. To Father
bcblenke he stated that he needed So 80 TO
pay his board. He was expecting to re-
celye money and ne insisted that the
Father should write TO "a lawyer in LOUISE
Bna AMI have the money sent in his
Father Schlenke's) care.
WORKING A CLEAN JOE.
About week after the first loan Ram
bey, as he was known IN Columbus, called
on Father Schlenke a second time and OBJ
tained IS 30 more. That was the last the
Gather saw OF him until Yesterday about
moon. d MeridpD he used the aliaa Dan