Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-06-23
HAYFORK PRITCHARD.
An Old HAND plays 1t Fine in a New

Role.
''Hayfork" Pritchard is the euphonious
sobriquet bestowed by nearly every
peace officer in the State on one of the
greatest confidence men that ever in
tested California, or, in fact, the Pacific
Slope. Benjamin F. Pritchard, the
rightful cognomen Of this man,if criminal
annals go for anything, has been a
"crook' of the most slippery species
since boyhood. He reached San Fran
cisco about ago years from his fathers
home near Quincy, Illinois, and shortly
after arriving there is said to have en-
gagged in the questionable business of
selling out half interests in mythical
businesses to the verdant country-man
who happened to fall into his clutches.
During residence OF about year and
a half in San Francisco, "Hayfork"
Pritchard amassed competency, went
into one of the Bav counties, bought a
small farm and settled down. Pastoral
life seemingly did not agree with the
man. He sold out his ranch and return
ing to San Francisco, engaged in the oc-
cupation Of contracting with farmers for
the sale to them of patent hayfork he
claimed to own. His scheme was said
to be to travel through the interior with
confederate. He carried model OF
his patent hayfork along, would exhibit it
to some green tiller OF the soil, and have
him sign written contract, by which he
agreed to pay certain figure
for one of the forks on its delivery
to him at a certain time. Sums
varying from 500 to 800 we're said to
have been collected as "binders" to the
sale, from his victims. OF course the
farmer never got his hayfork, and never
again saw the festive Pritchard. His in
diligence in this kind Of business earned
him the title OF "Hayfork" Pritchard.
The man finally came to grief. He was
arrested in Contra Costa county, Jailed,
bailed out and then fled to San
Diego. He was there captured and
returned to the North. He is
said to have managed, by the ex-
penditure Of the major portion OF a
plethoric purse, to settle the case.
Pritchard then went to San Jose and
while there made the acquaintance of
A. N. Reed, business man. He, it is
alleged, tried to work the confidence
game on Reed, but failed, and then
came to this city. Here, with a
confederate, one Conn, who, when last
heard OF was driving delivery wagon,
Pritchard worked the Gland contest"
game on several parties. He next went
to Pomona, and while there made the
acquaintance of very young and very
pretty woman named Jennie Crowder,
who was visiting relatives there. Pritch-
ard ingratiated himself into Miss Crow
der's favors to such an extent as to in
duce her finally to accept him as suitor.
Things were progressing nicely when
Mr.. Reed, of San Jose, reached Pomona,
and it turned out YVES the betrothed OF
Miss Crowder. Before Reed had time to
tell his fancee who Pritchard was, the
latter induced the girl to marry him by
mutual consent. They are said to have
fled together to a little town called
Otay, some miles south Of San Diego,
where they lived until the Sth of February.
Then they moved to San Diego, and it is
said they stopped at the Laclede House
as man and wife. They resided in San
Diego two months and then went back to
Otay. After about a months residence
there Pritchard told Miss Crowder he
had business in San Diego that would
keep him from her month. He left
and came directly to this city and stopped
in lodging house on the east side OF
Fort street, near First. Headquarters
for a month with Pritchard were here
and at Cucamonga. While Pritchard
was here Miss Crowder was visited al
Otay by Mr.. Reed. She left Otay with
him and they were married in San Jose.
Pritchard heard OF this, and is said to
have had his man Friday Conn write to
Mrs. Reed and make every endeavor to
have her return to him.
| She would not do SO and Pritchard
left for San Jose. He was gone about
two weeks. When he returned the de-
mands for money from his confederate
Conn, became SO numerous that he quit
| ted the city and went to San Diego
where he now resides. Officers here
who know "Hayfork," when told that
he had brought suit at San Diego against
Reed, to recover possession Of Miss Grow.
der's person, said it was another Of his
attempts at blackmail.
| On Monday last, Pritchard forma ly in
stituted suit against Reed to recover
Miss Crowder. The young woman denies
she ever contracted to marry him, and
denies she ever lived with him as his
wife. Reed is OF one OF the wealthies
and most respected families in San Jose
Naturally he feels keenly the disgrace at
tached to Prichard's brazen proceedings
| but he seems determined to fight, as ;
special detective passed through the cit,
yesterday en- route to San Diego, Il
thoroughly investigate the case.