The herald., 1893-01-26
.RAWSON'S BOLD IMPlRSONAT|ON
He Meets the Man Whose Name
He Appropriated.
A Dramatic Scene in the Chief of
Policies Office.
How Young Jeremiah Smith of New
Haven Was Imp rsonated by
Member of the Los Angeles
Chaia Gang,

office of Chief OF Police Glass and in
troduced himself as jeremiah @. Smith
of New Haven, Conn. The chief was
slightly surprised, for, as he supposed,
the self-same person was serving 20
days. sentence in the chain gang for
petit larceny. 1t took only short
time, however, for Mr.. Smith to prove
that he was the person he claimed to be
and that the fellow in the chain gang
had abused his confidence and had also
been masquerading under his name.
A short time ago the police arrested a
young fellow named Norman Rawson for
stealing an overcoat. He claimed that
this was an assumed name and his right
name was jeremiah @. Smith of New
Haven, Conn. His father was J. G..
Smith Of that place, and was promi-
nent merchant.
When searched, number of letters
Of introduction to various business peo-
pie in California, Oregon and Washing
ton and an engraved card plate, all made
out to jeremiah @. Smith, led the police
to believe his statement. Among other
papers found in his effects was a dis
charge from the Seventh cavalry, signed
by General Forsythe and issued to Nor
man Rawson.
Thinking that the fellow might have
committed some previous offence, the
following dispatch was sent to the chief
of police of New Haven, Conn.,:
Is jeremiah G. Smith, 19-yesr-oid son
of J. M Smith OF No. "a Sea street, your
city, wanted there for crime? He is ar
rested for larceny; acts like fugitive
from justice. J. NJ. GLASS,
Chief of Police.
Knowing the young mans parents
that official went and showed the dis
patch and in few days telegraphed,
asking what was the offense and punish
ment. The chief wired in reply:
jeremiah S. Smith convicted of petit
larceny. First ofense here. Sentenced
to 20 days. j. M. GLASS,
Chief of Police.
A photograph and full explanation
were mailed to the heart-broken father
of the supposed jeremiah G. Smith.
Nothing more was heard Of the mat
ter until yesterday, the time jeremiah
G. Smith turned up and explained the
whole affair.
His fathers name is Geo. H. Smith,
who is Wholesale oyster dealer of New
Haven, Conn. Last December young
Smith left the east for pleasure trip to
California. At Kansas City he met a
young man who introduced himself as
Norman Rawson. and said that his
father was wealthy merchant of Grand
Ra pids, Mich. He made himself very
agreeable and Mr.. Smith took fancy to
hun. AS both had tickets to Los An
| geles they travelled together. Smith g
| ticket was by steamer from San Fran
cisco while Rawson's was by rail. At
Sacramento they separated. Smith,
however, gave him his valise containing
clothes and letters of introduction to
bring to Los Angeles. They also ex
changed overcoate. Smith missed the
boat, but the following week came to
Los Angeles. After looking in vain for
Rawson he went to Fresno the day
| previous to Christmas and has since re-
mained in that city with his cousin, f.
F. Babcock of the Fresno police force.
The first intimation OF how he had
been imposed upon was through letter
| his father sent to Mr.. Babcock, asking
him to investigate his sons reported
conviction. Mr.. Babcock wired that
young Smith had been in Fresno since
before Christmas. Mr.. Smith came to
Los Angeles and explained the situation
to Chief GLASS, producing letters from
his father and copies of the kilograms
sent by the CHIEF to New Haven.
| 1t appears that the elder Mr.. Smith
went to New York and told his clerk to
iemit some money to his son in Calffor-
MIA. AS the clerk WAS sealing the
money order the first telegram from
Los Angeles arrived. He thought that
something was wrong and wired Mr..
Smith at New York, who then commu-
! nicated with Mr.. Babcock with the pres-
ent clearing up of the affair.
In the evening alter the chain gang
came in Rawson was taken into the de-
tectiye's room, and in the presence of
several detectives and two reporters was
questioned by Detective Mof'ett, young
Smith being in the adjoining room.
Rawson stuck to his 6rst story, that he
was jeremiah G. Smith and that his
father was G. II. Smith.
Finally Mr.. MofFett said: "How long
have you had the name of J. C. Smith ?''
"Oh, quite a while." replied Rawson,
but observing the slip he said, "What
are you trying to run on me?"
"I've gentleman here want to in
troduce to you," smiled Mr.. Mofett.
"Who is it, Jerry ?"
At this moment the true jeremiah G.
| Smith entered.
''Do you know this MANI" was asked
OF Raweon.
eyes; that is jeremiah G. Smith, I"
he replied.
Without any apparent breaking down
he calmly confessed the whole affair.
He left Michigan on account of some
trouble with girl. He was the trusted
clork of an old man named l.. Bross, at
Bedding, Mich. When he left he took
$l34 which he had collected, belonging
to his benefactor. After reaching Los
Angeles he claims to have waited one
week for Smith, but as he did not ap-
pear, and being in hard circumstances,
he pawned or sold one by one the valise
and its contents, realizing in all about
$40.
He claims that when he was arrested
for taking the overcoat, thinking that
he would never see Smith again, he
used his name. 1t was the most serious
thing he had done, he acknowledged.
and he regretted it.
M. Smith stated shat he would not