The morning news., 1892-02-08
LfNDNER'S PRETTY TALE.
THE FUGITIVE PREk CHER's STORY
OF BIS WROSG-DOING.

anu Aub AaAGG5 AuaA LEU " LAE AEhN "
ing Nashville With a Score of Debta
Unpaid-Bis Warderinss in Mexico
and His Return TO the United States
He Claims to Have Been Hunting the
Police Barracks When Secretary
Stradtman Took Charge OF Him.
Rev. George J. Lindner, the converted
Hebrew preacher who is at the police bar.
racks awaiting the arrival of a Nash vile
officer TO take him back to Tennessee on a
charge Of obtaining money and jewelry
under false pretenses. was seen yesterday by
a MORNING NEWS reporter.
Lindner is a blonde Of decided Hebraic
cast Of countenance and low has a mus
tache and side-whiskers, although be was
clean-shaven when be left Nashville. He Is
an educated man and speaks English, Ger.
man, Spanish and several other languages
fuently.
Linduer was not at all averse about speak
ing Of himself and the causes which brought
him into the trouble which has landed him
behind the bars. He is q Hungarian by
birth, but has been in America a long time
Five years ago, Lindner said, he
made up his mind, by careful study,
~ abandon Judaism and embrace
Christianity. He connected himself at first
with the Presbyterian church, but after
ward joined the Christian church, in which
he became preacher.
START IN NASHVILLE.
When he went to Nashville to take charge
OF a church in that city Lindner said be had
q neat bank account. He identified himself
with the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton and for quite awhile was quite sue
cess. Having been a newspaper man before
taking to the cloth, he thought 1t would be
a good idea 10 establish a religious journal
In connection with his church. The launch
ing Of the Echo was the result, and In a
short time Lindner found himself behind
financially and suspended the publication Of
his paper.
Then he began borrowing money from
his friends. This was the beginning OF the
end, If his story is true.
"All my trouble was caused from too gen.
erous heart" said he. 81 gave away in
the cause OF my new religion all had, and
when l found myself in debt without any
possible means of paying up. couldn't face
the disgrace and left.
HIS JEWELLERS ACCOUNT.
"The charge Of obtaining jewelry under
false pretenses is on the same basis. had
a running account with jeweler of Nash
Vile and could get anything l wanted.
because when had money always paid
promptly. owed him for a diamond ring
when found that was too heavily in
debt to retrieve myself, and Of course.
when left the city that bill was left un-
paid.
81 went at once to Mexico" continued
Lindner, "and while there / saw circulars
with my picture, asking for my arrest on
American soil. They had tracked me 20
Mexico, but as it was foreign country the
authorities could not have me taken under
the charges which were against me. The
picture which was on che circular was OBJ
tained from book of poems entitled ''Stray
Leaves, which published few years ago.
STARTED BACK TO NASHVILLE.
after being in Mexico a short while de-
oided that the best thing for me to do would
be to go back to Nashville, explain the
situation to my creditors and try and have
matters smoothed over. | wrote TO two
clergymen friends Of mine there announcing
my intention. and then started back from
my voluntary exile. l wanted to reach
Nashville without being arrested and sur
render to the authorities there.
II came by way of Vera Cruz to Ha-
vana, from there to Tampa, thence to
Jacksonville and on to Savannah | re-
ceived a ticket for Baltimore through Mr..
Kohn, of the firm of Hexter 6, Kohn. and
got little money from some clergvmen TO
pay my board. When called at the Young
Mems Christian Association rooms and saw
Secretary Stradtman open the circular
calling Tor my apprehension / recognized
the picture and got out.
THINKS sTRADTMAN MISTAKEN.
81 doubt very much about Mr.. Stradt
man recognizing me, as the picture shows
me as clean-shaven young man with q
pair or nose eyeglasses, while now you see
me with slde-w hiskers and mustache.
wearing spectacles. | went on downtown
and, after thinking the matter over. de-
cided that, as the circulars were again being
sent out asking for my capture. that il
would probably be effected before / got to
Nashville, and made up my mind to surren-
der TO the Savannah authorities.
II had ordered my trunk to the Baltimore
steamer from the Screven and went at once
20 the hotel aud countermanded my order.
Taking my saehel | walked around to Mr..
Kohn's store and returned him the ticket
for Baltimore, saying that had changed
my mind. Mr.. Kohn was quite surprised.
but | offered no further explanation
and hurried out TO find the police head
quarters and surrendered.
DENIES HE WAS ARRESTED.
"As 1 was walking down Brouphton
street moment or two later, Mr.. Stradt-
man walked up TO me smiling and shook
hands. l asked him the location of the
police office, and he asked me why wanted
to know.
"'Well, I'm the man wanted by that cir
cular,' l said, and l desire to surrender nv
self to the authorities.' 'All right replied
. MIR. Stradtman, come along and he es-
corted me 10 the barracks. As we entered
the police office Mr. Stradtman said TO De-
tective Hanley: Here's your gentleman, )
and walked to the sergeants desk and said
TO the officer: 1 am wanted in Nashville
and ] desire TO surrender myself. l will 90
back without reQuisition.'
That's the true story of the affair n
said Lindner. THE story about the Young
MEMS Christian Association secretary
arresting me is all bosh. There wasn't a
word said between us about arrest, and
voluntarily surrendered myself. l don't
think MIR. Stradtman is entitled to any re-
ward, because he didn't have thing to do
with my incarceration. You would have
found me here In the barracks il l had
never met Mr.. Stradtman, because some one
else would have shown me the way here"
HEADING FOR NEW YORK.
my intention was to have gone to Balti-
more from Savannah, and thence to New
York, where l have two brothers In
business. l would have secured sufficient
money from them and other friends to set
tie all my financial troubles, and then I
would have gone to Nashville, surrendered
to the police, and tried to settle my troubles.
AS it is now, go back penniless and don't
know what will be done with me, although