The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-02-15
WOULD Be SWINDLERS.
Two South Carolinians and Two
North CaroIinians Have an Expe-
rience with the Green Goods"
Men ofNew York,
LNe,o York Times, December 80. ]

renee Win Ine NISSn lOO0S
! Men ofNew York.
Ne,o York Times, December 80.
Three dapper, well-dressed sharpers, typ.
ical 'green goods swindlers, and four tall,
stalwart countrymen, equally typical of their
class, attracted a good deal of attention at
the jefferson Market Police Court yesterday
afternoon. The green goods" men were
Benjamin Morris, alias '.Deafy" Morris, of
l30 East 18th street; Charles L. Monroe,
alias 'Shorty" of 1920 Third avenue, and
James White, alias Norton. of S5l West 5lst
street. They had been, arrested for attempt
ing to swindle the countrymen, who were
Jefferson Davis Lawrence, grocer aud farm
er, of Oakland Postofice, Sumter County, S.
c.; Cornelius Price Hampton, farmer, Of
Wampler Postoffce, Iancey County, n. c.,
and John Calhoun william, farmer, of Burns
vile, Yancey County, n. c. They all wore
large black slouch hats of the soribroro type
and store clothes. They were ungainly in
their movements and hesitating in their
speech, except Tosier, who has more the ap-
pearance and manners Of a prosperous coun-
try merchant. Lawrence is very peculiar
looking man, six feet in height and strong
II built Though only twenty-six years Old
his hair is as white as snow and his eyes
are Of O rinkish hue and small and restless.
He would make p good freak" for Bowery
museum.
The capture of the swindlers was brought
about in this way. While Detective Rey-
nolds was in front of the Grand Central Ho-
tel yesterday he saw Benjamin Morris enter
the. hotel, and knowing him to be sawdust
'ssteerer," he followed him and found him
in close conversation with Jefferson Davis
Lawrence in the restaurant. After Morris
had taken his departure, Reynolds called
Lawrence into the private office OF the hotel
told him lie was police detective, and ask
cd him to explain his business with Morris.
Lawrence fought shy for long time, and it
was only after nearly half an hours persUa-
sion that he finally admitted that he had
come on to the city to buy green goods,
which he supposed was counterfeit money.
He had received a circular from }. B. Hester
of 13S Crosby street, couched IN the usual
language, and he had entered into negotia-
ton with the sender Of the circular, and was
advised to come on to the city and to stop
at the Grand Central Hotel. He telegraph
ed his arrival to J. B. Hester at the Crosby
street address, and Morris called on him
and made an appointment to call for him
later and escort him to the place where the
deal was to be made. Lawrence was advls-
ed by the detective to go with Morris when
he called, and to be assured that he would
be followed by detectives. Lawrence was
frightened, and asked Reynolds If they
would kill him, but the detective assured
him of ample protection.
When Norris called for his victim, Rev-
nolds had secured the assistance OF Detec-
tiyes Hickey and Woodbridge, and when
Morris and the South Carolinian got aboard
a Broadway car the detectives jumped into
cab and followed them The ''steerer" and
his victim 60: off at Grand street and walk
ed briskly down to Mulberry street and
thence to Hester street. As the couple turn
ed quickly into Hester street. the detectives
lost sight Of them, apd when the cab turned
the corner they had disappeared. The de-
tectives jumped out of the cab and made
hurried search Of the neighborhcod, and IN
lager beer saloon in Hester street. near
Elizabeth they found their game. Besides
Morris and his victim they found IN the
place the other 'sawdust" men, Monroe and
White, and Tosier, Hampton, and Wilson.
It was surprise to the green goods" and
likewise to the countrymen. Monroe was
seen to slip paper in to the outside pocket
of Hampton's overcoat, and this was su5se-
ouently found to be telegram sent from
this CITY on Wednesday, addressed to G. P.
Hampton, at Cars Hotel, Hilbert street,
Philadelphia and read as follows; 81 Will
see you in the morning. ). Morgan 1t
was evidently an answer to q telegram sent
by Hampton announcing his arrival lo
Philadelphia. No eliminating documents
were found on the prisoners, and the c2un-
trymen, with the exception Of Lawrence,
denied that they had come to the city tor the
purpose of buying counterfeit money. The
whole party were taken to police headquar-
ters, and were thence marched to the Jetter-
son Market Police Court. There after much
consultation OF law and overhauling the
Penal Code, Justice Duffy ordered COM
plant to be taken against Morris under Sec
ton 557 of the Penal Code, for attempting
to swlndle Lawrence. Afidavits detailing
the facts as given above were made by Law
renee and Detective Reynolds.
Mr. Goldey, who appeared for the accus-
ed man, demanded an examination, which
was set down for to-day, and Morris was
committed to prison:in default of 81, 900 bail
Lawrence and Tosier were committed to the
house Of detention as witnesses to insure
their appearance at the examination. Tosier
denied that he had anything to do with the
affair. He said that he had come to this
city on visit and to see the sights. He
was walking along in search Of the Brooklyn
bridge. and he asked man where the bridge
was and he was Immediately arrested. He
did not know the other men in the saloon.
After the Morris case had been disposed of
q complaint was made by Detective Hickey
against his companions Monroe and White,
charging them with being hab tual criminals,
having no lawful meals Of support. He
swore that he had known the man for eight
years, and that they were thieves, loafers,
and ex-convicts. When cross-examined the
detective admitted that he in person had
never arrested either of the men, nor had he
been present when either of them had been
convicted His evidence was merely the
reputation Of the men in the police depart
ment Finding that the complaint Under
the habitual criminal Act could no! be suS-
tanned, the magistrate changed it to disor
derly conduct, charge which, like charity,
covers multitude Of sins, and fined the
men ten dollars each, which they paid and
we're released.
Then Hampton and Wilson, the farmers
from Yancy County were called up. They
both denied having come to the city to buy
s'green goods" and Wilson said that he had
dropped into the saloon, where he was sub
arrested, to get drink and warm
bis feet. Justice Duffy lectured them, gave