Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-18
George Lewis, a Negro Convict in
Kansas, CleveIly Raises a
Bank Draft.
The Prison Authorities are Deceived
by Him. and lie Actually Draws
Money.
He Had War Blanks Printed and
FORCES a Letter for His
Pardon.

=
country is a neg1o soldier in the Ninth
(coloi ed United states cavalry, at Lansing,
Kan. His name is George Lewis. and he
has recently proved his cleverness by a
scheme which is unparalleled in the his
tory of crime. The most experienced de-
tectlve never met a piece of roguery like
that which has come to light of Lewis in
vention and the ingenious Mr.. Gaboriau
never concocted q complicated French de-
tective story like this.
Lewis is military convict in the Kan
sas state penitentiary at Lansing, and vet
from his prison cell and under the eyes of
his Jallers, he managed with complete sue
cess a double achievement. First, he
forged and transmitted Il draft for $40, 900
on New York bank so cleverly that it was
received without question. Second he
forged and had sent to the Jail from
Washington letter from the secretary of
war announcing his (the convict 81 pardon
and ordering his immediate release. This
document, too, was so well executed that
its authenticity was not disputed. The
merest accident revealed the truth
Either one. of these achievements is re-
markable when you remember that it was
the work of a prisoner away off in Kansas.
and as for both together, they make the
case, as have said, unique in the annals
of forgery.
George Lewis is an enlisted soldier in
Troop l, ninth United States cavalry. H.
is very dark negro, but has bright, in
telligent face, with an innocent expression
which is mighty deceivin', for he now
turns out to be the shrewdest rascal Of his
race. He is fine athletic specimen of
! manhood, six feet one inch in height,
| broad shouldered, slender wasted, with
an erect, military carriage, 1.-THE as cat
and altogether what used to be called
| Gown south "a dandy niggab." Lewis
was born in Virginia and is SO years old.
He had much better education than
most men of his color, wrote fine business
hand, and when he enlisted in Washing
ton he was found to be so clever with the
pen that he was detailed as clerk in the
office of the auditor general of the war de-
partment, aud learned things about the
office which he has recently made strange
use of. And when he left WASHINGTON
Lewis was promoted for good service as
soldier to be first corporal and then sue,
the Twenty fourth (colored) United States
infantry. He was corporal in the Ninth
cavalry in 1889, with good record, when
he forged commissioner order, was
tried by military court, convicted for for
gerry and theft and sentenced to five years
imprisonment in the Kansas peniten-
tiary at Lansing.
He reached the prison June II, 1889.
The negro prisoner was so quiet, obedient
and 'genteel that he won the indul-
gence of the warden, Geo. FL. Chase, and
PARTICULAR y of the prison chaplain, W. B.
Poinsett, with whom he earned a reputa-
ton for great piety. Poinsett made him
his servant and clerk, and as Lewis had be-
come what is known as trust" "a
prisoner who had good behaviour is al
lowed certain privileges he was permitted
to handle the prison mail. all OF which
went through the captain Office.
Subsequent discoveries made it evident
that it was at this time Lewis began the
preparation for his great scheme. There
was another negro in the prison under a
military sentence. His name was Samuel
Bryant. He had half a dozen aliases, and
he was just completing FIVE year term
from Shawnee county for robbery. His
time was out on the 4th OF March last.
Before his departure Bryant became
Lewis accompiice to get him out of jail
and into possession of pot of money By
one of the most ingenious schemes on rec
| ord.
Lewis forged the name of Captain
| Hllles TO note addressed to Dodworth &
Co., printers, at LeayenwortE, ordering
| twenty-five sheets of official paper with the
letter head of the War Department at
| Washington printed across the top. His
knowledge Of the stationery used by the
! department enabled him to copy the style of
type used, so that the printers were en-
abled to initiate it successfully.
Meantime, as early as February II.
Lewis had obtained possession Of draft
for 81, drawn by the First National bank,
| OF New York. It is the custom of pris-
oners to pay for the newspaper subscrip-
tons, little extras, &c, and the money al
ways gees through the chaplain, who pro-
cures from the Leavenworth bank the
drafts, always for small sums, for conven-
fence In the mails. LIE wis's position in the
Captain office gave him an opportunity
to steal one of the drafts. He somehow
obtained the proper acid eraced the name
OF 5he payee and the amount, 81, wrote in
bis own name and raised the amount to
$4,000.
Under date of February IL, and dating
from Hardness, Kan, he wrote to the
Grand Fountain Savings bank, of Rich
mond, Va, enclosing draft for $50, 900
and explaining that he was a ranchman,
who had just sold his ranch in Washing
ton state to an English nobleman, Lord
Randlett, and that he wished the money
held for him at the Richmond bank until
he should draw against it. The Grand
Fountain bank is run by negroes. the
cashier being Robert T. Hill, and Lewis
explained that he was Virginia negro
who bad made money in the west He
cautioned Mr.. Hill to be sure ind have
the check certified
Accompanying this letter was an ;ngen-
ious and pleasing letter, dated Trafalgar
square, Charing Cross, London, January
10, purporting 10 come from one John H. |
Scott, the agent of Lord Randlett, speak
ing Of His L0rdships draft on the Bark |
of England and announcing his (Scott 81 |
intended voyage to America on His Lord |
ship S acht, and going into great detail |
about the ranch which His Lordshio had |
just purchased for $4,000 from Lewis.
Bryant. OF course, attended to the prop /
er writing of these letters for Lewis
There was u good deal of correspondence |
showing that the New York bank did |
credit the draft, as it was natural they
should do. for the question which they |
were asked 10y the Richmond bank was
whetler the draft of the First National of |
Leavenworth would be Lonored for $50, 900, !
which they nsvered in the affirmative. |
No bank officer who has ever seen this |
$4,000 draft has ever had his suspicious
aroused, so well is it executed
By this time Lewis was nearly ready for
his grand break for liberty. He went to !