The morning call., 1893-09-12

$4,000 bonds. whereas no bonds are re-
CURED in position such as he claimed to
hold. Again, stationery is never sent
from the Treasury Department at Wash
ington by freight, but by mall, as the de-
partment has a special contract with the
Pestof1ice epartment
The treasury agents told the interested
statesmen that armed with a knowledge Of
these inconsistencies they had gone forth
and made some more discoveries.
Smith had worked three years ago under
Thomas j. Vivian, then special agent of
the Census Department for this coast, to
gather statistics of transportation. This
department was still in existence, but
Vivian had long ago concluded mis- labors
and gone East
They aseertained positively that Senator
Voorhees, was not Smiths uncle, and that
his father was retired paper-dealer of
Toledo, o.. and not a politician. They
had obtained these facts from Smiths
brother. who occupied a responsible posi-
ton in large house in this city.
An agent of the treasury had also
called upon Smith to give him an oppor-
tunity to explain his position, but Smith
had excused himself for one moment, and,
retiring into an inner Office. had vanished
by another door. The baffled agent had
been very faVorably impressed by Smith.
He stated that he was a man of from 30
to So years of age, slim in build, with
blonde mustache and eyes between brown
and nazel. He was pleasant and plausi-
bic in his address.
But the official visit had evidently per-
turbed Smith, for he had not visited his Of
fiaa inn do 10 81 Iatf a a
TO him was lying in his mailbox untouched.
Just then, while the statesmen were lis
tening to the story with apprehension, a
messenger-boy brought in a telegram from
the Treasury Department at Washington.
1t read:
No such officer Frederic W Smith known in
the department
The dispatch was signed by the super
vising special agent Of the department
THAT telegram settles Mr.. Smith," said
a special agent to a CALL reporter after
the salesman had retired disc0nsolately,
The Washington people are very thor
ough in their methods, and if Smith had
been an officer in any capacity they would
know of il.
Smiths offense is very serious one.
1t is grave matter for man to go and
open Offices, hire clerks and have station
cry printed AS a Government official with
out authority. Yet d ubt if the law can
touch him. Under section SAB of the
Federal Penal Code il is felony punish
able with a fine of $500 and two years
imprisonment to falsely assume to be a
revenue officer aud demand or collect
money. Now, we cannot learn that
Smith made use of bis impersonatlon to
actually coll ect money.
Il think he was using his experience in
the Census Office and paper business TO
work the paper-h ouses in this city, and
that alter he had cleared a snug sum he
skipred out for the East. Anyway, The
CALL W ould be doing a good work to pub-
lish the facts of his bold methods to put
the public on its guard against him.
At II. :. Croker & Coz il was learned
that Smith had been trusted with a large
order on the representation that he was a
Treasury Agent.
knew him when he was at Bone
stelPs," said an empoye, land he could
have had all the goods be wanted. We
thought he was doing us favor in giving
US part of the Government business"
LIE Count Bros. was another firm which
placed confidence in Smith, and Manager
| Culver there still refuses to believe that
smith was not all he represented himself
TO be. Still, he could not but admit the
cOgencV OF the treasury telegram.
At Pavot. Upham e. Co.'S place of bust
ness IL was stated that Smith had gone
there asking for credit, hnt was invited to
show his commission. He had prom sed
to bring 1t down, but had not appeared
su hsequently.
George Smith. the missing mans
| brother, EXPIRE Ssed the greatest SUNRISE
when he learned that Frederic had bios
somed into a United States Special Agent
OF the Treasury. He said his brother
lived with him from December 10, 1892 IN
June ], 1898. and lie never heard of any
appointment. Freieric had wriIt.n him
within ten or twelve days ago. saying he
was going East. He could not understand
why he should have represented mat
Senator Voorhees, was their uncle and
That their father was q politician of New
York.
Janitor Lucas of the Donoloe building
saws SIN 18th told him he wanted ten rooms
for two wears or eighteen months at least.
Altogether Mr.. Smith seems to have
been telling different people different
tales. and il is difficult 10 saw how many
people he may have been talking 10 during
his career as a 'special agent of statistics
in the Treasury Department"
In the meantime quite a number of
people. besides his three clerks, are vely
anxious tn find him.
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