The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-27
ALFIKD J. NoRGANsTERS,
Court Reporter.
Office:
Department 8, Courthouse.

There are nesriy 1000 of the above cards now
lying in the drawer OF an old desk in one OF the
side rooms of department 8 of the superior court
o! this county, and an anxious printer with a
bloodshot eye and a bill for printing the same
has made numerous visits TO the court room in
uuavailing search of Alfred ]. Morganstern,
''court reporter"
NJ. Morganstern is a slender, 1.-the young
man, with blonde curly hair and a Jewish cast
OF countenance. who blew into this city about
three months ago as astenographer from Seattle.
He had numerous letters of recommendation
from lawyers OF Seattle directed to Lawyer
Murphy, prominent member OF this bar, and
they cracked him up to be a highly proper
young gentleman from a moral standpoint and
excellent in point of artistic stenographic
abilities
Lawyer Murphy introduced Morganstern tn G.
+. Rutan, stenographer of department No. 8,
aud Rutan told him he could hang about the
court room and perhaps he could pick up some
business. Rutan, at that time, was disturbed
by political bee which was buzzing in his bon
net and which was inclining him to visions of
possible seat in the legislature. He went of
electioneering severa, weeks and told Morgan
stern to look out for any cases that came up in
court during his absence, but during said alb
sence no cases happened to come up and Mr..
Morganstern never gained an opportunity Of
displaying his gifts q stenographer. 1t is
Legislature and Morganstern had acted rightly
the latter would have been sworn in court
stenographer to act during Rutan's absence.
But Rutan did not get elected. nor did Morgan
stern act rightly, so after lowering around the
court room for about two months he blew away
one day and has not since been heard of.
During the brief absence of Rutan from the
court however, his viceroy, Morganstern, was
making the most of the situation. He had the
above cards printed and with these he started
out TO blk everybody In sight He borrowed
from every one from whom he could raise
loan Brother steuographers in the city were
his especial prey. He told people here that he
had family in Seattle, and he was constantly
on the verge of sending for them, but they
never reached here If he had such. He paid
close attention to several women while here,
one of whom was a waitress in Il saloon res
taurant. and he ran bills at nearly every bar and
livery stable in the city. presenting them his
card and telling them to send in the bin to him
at the end OF the month. When pressed for pay
ment, Morganstern drew several small checks on
different banks, and one or moro of these checks
he drew and had cashed by acquaintance lie
had no funds in any OF them, and they were all
promptly returned dishouored. 1t has not been
ascertained that any holders OF these memen-
toes have taken criminal proceedings looking to
Morgensterns whe reabouts
Morgenstern was unQuestfonab!y one of the
most expert beats, in small way, that ever
came to this town. So far as has been learned,
he "struck" everybody he became acquainted
with, in the brief interval OF his stay here. for
money, ran bills wherever ne could and paid
nothing. If he reappears in this city he will
doubtless have sn Interesting time of ii.
A.. J. Morganstern's record in Seattle
was that of one of the most plausible and
skillful petty swindlers who ever honored
the city with his presence. Morganstern
came to Seattle in the winter or early
spring Of 1890 and obtained work as stem
ographer and clerk with the law firm of
Stratton, Lewis 81 Gilman. In regard to
his Seattle record, Mr.. ii, C. Gill, who was
employed in their office at the same time
as Morganstern, said:
''Soon after Morganstern was employed
inquiries and newspaper clippings from
New Whatcom, revealing the character of
his conduct while there, came to the no.
tice Of the members Of the firm. Morgan
stern would certainly have been DIS
missed had he not promised to reform. and
added the entreaties Of his wife to his own.
On May 6, 1891, things became too hot for
him in Seattle, and he left for Snohomish.
having swindled nearly all the clients
of the firm. His system although simple
was wonderfully successful. for he never
swindied any one person for q sum large
enough to warrant a criminal prosecution.
He always gave note or check for the
amount, which was never paid His
favorite plan was to borrow small sums
from the clients of the firm by saying
that the safe was locked, and requesting a
temporary loan.
AT Snohomish some of his Seattle VIC
Tins had him put in Jail. bnt his wife Sc
cured the amount from friends in Tacoma,
and effected a compromise. After leaving
Snohomish. the next that was heard of
him was from articles in the Portland
papers saying that he had swindled mum.
Der of people there by representing him
self as one Of Dams agents. Shortly
after this Stratton. Lewis & Gil
man received telegram from
prominent law firm of Los Angeles
asking them whether Morganstern
could be depended upon. 1t was
promptly answered in the negative. Early
last spring he reappeared in Seattle, well
dressed and apparently prosperous. but
soon left as silently as he had come. Oniy
as late as = month ago he came TO Seattle
again as passenger on the steamer Mich
igan, but was rarely TO he seen on the
streets. and vas STABILITY dressed
Morganstern was q notorious gambler
and an inveterate cigarette smoker His
bad character was so well known that al
though he passed the bar examinations at
Snohomish, be was refused admission.
Morganstern came originally from Eau
Claire. Wis. but was at Tacoma and New
Wha.com for while before coming here.
Whatever becomes of him. one thing is
certain. and that is that he has too many
victims III Seattle ever 10 return.