The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-11-12
The Ruse OF q Prisoner.

JERSEY City, N. j., October GA new
and most remarkable feature in the case
of Chas. B. Stoddard, now confined in
Hudson County Jail for forging checks,
has just come to light.
A little less than two years ago Stod-
dard, then lnasqderading under the name
of Henry r. Davis, was convicted Of sim
liar offences in Nashville. and was sent to
the Tracy city branch prison in Tennes-
see to serve sentence of siS years. He
was put to work in tho mines. This year,
however, he obtained his freedom by one
of the boldest and most ingeniotss ruses
that criminal ingenuity ever devised. The
discovery of the fraud has led Governor
Buchanan, of Tennessee, to make a requi-
sition on Governor Albeit, of New Jersey,
in order that the prisoner may be tried Tor
the crimo by which he has secured his
liberty.
It appears that Governor Buchanan q
few mouths ago received petition pur-
porting to be signed by fifty of the lead
ing residents Of Covington, asking for
Stoddard's release, accom- panied by let
ter purporting to be signed by N. w.
Baptist, of the firm of Baptist 81 Beadle,
reputable and well-known attorneys OF
that place. This letter weayes story Of
romance about Stoddard, or Davis, as he
was known in the Tennessee prison, and
recites in great detail how he was the vic
+ tim Of a conspiracy planned and engl-
neered by wicked and avaricious
stepfather, named James IL. Sheriff.
and abetted by the latter's wicked BROTH
err
Thigstepfather's cruel conduct, tbs sletter
alleged, drove the prisoner to dissipation,
and the stepfather had him convicted Of
81 +, fro, nd ha nninhi arlnv the
estate of Davis's mother, some $50, 1000.
Baptist was made to say he had secured a
division of Sherilrs estate, which would
give the prisoner the snug sum OF S37 ,Oo0
to begin life anew. The letter also stated
that note of confidential character had
been sent to the Governor to hand to
Stoddard, because the lawyer could not
consistently hand it to him, and then
continued :"Give him kindly admonition
and God-speed. He has some money
with him, and should he need more and
not be suitably clad kindly meet his
needs and I will send check. lie is o
Mason and a member of the Alliance, and
his brothers here are very anxious TO near
of his prompt release. l trust that the
acknowledgement of this will be the news
that Davis is free. )" After this charming
bit of naivette, which paved the way for
W lllOIlCy hhSb oNio VA
clothes from the Governor, the unique
document says that Davis and his friends
will be satisfied with the punishment of
Sheriff., and that the signature of every
citizen in Upton County could have been
obtained to the petition.
'The signers," it goes on to say, "are
all tirst-class citizens and deeply interest
ed in the matter of David's release. JUS
tice demands his Immediate pardon, and
ask it as personal. favor, and whatever
[ can do to render your administration
successful and for your future advance
ment in political life will be done cheer
fully"
The signatures attached TO the petition
include the names Of s. l.. Cocltcratt, At
torney-G General T. D. Flippen, Judge Of
the Circuit Court; DaE'l II. Smith, Sher-
iff of Upton County, and many others,
including the law firm of Baptist d Bea-
dlo, to which the writer of the letter was
supposed to belong.
Stoddard was duly released and the
Governor only discovered the fraud when
he spoke to one of the supposed signers
of the petition, who denounced the whole
thing as fraud. Stoddards trial will
come off in few days and under the
laws of New Jersey he can be sent to the
State prison for ten years. After that he
can be sent to Tennessee, but not be-
fore.