The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-13
LINDNER'S TALE OF WOE.
THE PREACHER-FRAUD GIVES THE
NASHVILLIANs A YARN.

His Wanderings in Mexico-He Knew
How 20 Work the Railroads to the
Queens Taste-His Anxiety Concern
ing Secretary Stradtmsn's Reward.
The REV" George ]. Lindner Is now
snugly ensconced in a cell in the Nashville
jail. He has been talking a good deal in a
general way since he got back 10 Nashville
about bis wanderings over the country and
his experiences, but he studiousIy avoids
any reference TO his operations in Nashville
"Ihave a record behind me Ia Wash
ington where 1 contracted debts was un-
able to pay. and the same thing is true in
Pittsburg. but in neither city did do any
thing for which criminal action could be
brought against me-" he said to a Nashville
reporter. 81 came TO Nashville to live prop
erly. aDd had not Elder R Lin Cave pressed
me for recommendations | should not have
gone away. For that had to have money.
could not have gotten a pass but that
would have given away the direction took.
when l was Is years old left my home
In Yonkers, N. Y, and went to New York
city. / had not cent in my pocket. ap-
piled TO the head official of a steamship
company, told him pretty story. and he
gave me a pass to Europe. | went to the
Prince of Hungary and was introduced as
an American citizen. because American
citizens have easy access to the palace Of
the royal. Once Ia his presence / told him
that was born In Hungary, and then /
related nice little romance about my life.
L offered to write an extemporaneous poem
to his highness. Paper and ink were given
me. and wrote q poem in his presence
had composed it before. He gave me 500,
with which looked about bit and then
returned to this country.
AN EXPERIENCED TRAVELLER.
II did the same thing in Mexico. went
to prominent railroad official and asked
for pass TO Vera Cruz l wrote him a
poem. He gave me the pass The poem
was published in the Tlvo Republics.
"W hen was on the Pacific coast l in
tended taking passage to San Francisco, but
ship was SO long coming that after q few
days waiting, during which l did medical
work, returned eastward and brought up
In the City of Mexico. There / visited the
American legation. and Immediately made
arrangements for opening q school Of mod
ern languages. Senior Lombardo, one of
my scholars, gave me the coat and vest
have on, and l was doing splendidly until
one day | went to the American legation
and saw the circulars.
"Then l shut up school, took the pass
had bought with poem and went to Vera
Cruz.
"When l was identified in Jacksonville.
Of course lied about who l was. | had not
cent. But it wouldn't work. SO went
to the steamer Office and found the pass
man.
HOW HE GOT TO SAVANNAH.
4 want pass to Savannah, said.
Upon what claimP he asked.
"'O.' l said, laughing wisely, 4 could
give you a dozen claims
He gave me the pass without another
word. II any newspaper would send me,
world without a cent
with all that l am Christian at heart.
and | do love to preach. But the liar was
born in me and cannot keep from making
people believe am well off. l make peo.
pie presents, and love high living, and
the first thing l know l am beyond my
depth in debt.
II never did anything for which criminal
action could be brought unless the pawninR
Of the rings was criminal They can't get
me for giving checks, because had a note
for S24 in bank. | did not mean to de-
fraud. You say may get five years in the
state prison. If l do can never come out
an honest man.
81 am rarity. The Lord endowed me
with love for things divine and gave me
magnificent education and the capability
"
learned the Spanish language almost per-
fectly during the short time 1 was in Mex
leo. knew something about it before, but
that shows how quickly learn. And then
the devil taught me to lie and the use of
means have to struggle all the time to
keep free from"
SPITE AGAINST THE SECRETARY.
AS is very natural Lindner does not have
the kindliest feeling toward Secretary
Stradtman Of the Young Mems Christian
Association, who was instrumental in his
arrest. He is evidently anxious that Mr..
Stradtman shall not receive the reward
offered for his arrest. After detailing the
circumstances Of his visit to the Young
Mems Christian Association rooms and the
opening of the letter containing the circular
calling for his arrest by Secretary Stradt-
man while he was sitting at the secretary's
desk, Lindner says: II am certain that while
Mr.. Stradtman gazed upon the picture on
the circular in my presence he had no idea
of my identity. Still saw that it was bet
ter for me TO surrender myself to the author
tiles. Now, mark the steps took to fulfill
that purpose, and judge whether my claim
of voluntary surrender is true or not. l first
fastened to the hotel. There l counter
manded previously given order to have
my trunk removed to the Baltimore wharf,
put into my sachel nothing but articles
deemed indispensable during my anticipated
imprisonment, and returned the steamship
ticket to the man who gave it to me without
explanation.
COULDN'T FIND THE POLICE.
~ then started in search of the police sta.
ton, the location of which dimly knew.
On Broughton street / met Mr.. Stradtman
and asked him the way to the station.
"'What forP he queried.
" i am the man that is wanted by the
circular you received this morning.
IN show you the way
ARRIVING at the station he entered with
the words, "Here is the gentleman
Sir l said. addressing the officer at the
desk, Il am wanted at Nashville, and have
come to give myself up
"Mr. Stradtman heard this assertion and
did not contradict it. Detective Hanley,
who took charge Of me, verified all my
statements in this respect to Detective Tur-
ner of Nashville, after his arrival. No such
word as arrest was used between
Mr.. Stradtman and myself He afterward
said in the presence OK Officers Turner and
Hanley that may have been on my way to
some railroad depot and not to the police
station. The assertion becomes ridiculous
when 1t is known to all the officers that
had not a cent of money and yet did not
attempt to sell my steamship ticket.
After being kindly treated by the Sas
vannah police officials, / came back to
Nashville in the custody of Detective Turner
without attempting to hinder my speedy
return In any way, and without a requisi-