Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-22
HE is A VERY RARE BIRD.
THE ARTISTIC METHODS or A
VERSATILE JOURNALIST.
lie Proposes to write Nice. smooth
Articles which Would lie Accepted
as News, While oontainins Much
Favorable Mention of People.

been posing here as Il llterateur aud
all around newspaper man. Is in dur.
ance vile.
He was arrested yesterday on a
charge OF obtaining money under false
pretenses, and now langulshes in the
county jail.
The circumstances surrounding his
case are peculiar and indicated de-
gree of finesse not generally attained
by the solicitor
He Is a very plausible young man
and when seen yesterday at the jail by
the Gazette reporter talked with an
air Of injured innocence in giving
his version Of the facts upon which
he had been arrested
He stated that he had been for some
time u contributor of special articles
TO well known newspapers and that
he had also been making arrangements
to issue here a publication Of his own
for which he had obtained come valu-
able advertising contracts He said
that lac had prepared an article for
Mr.. Gordon, bridge foreman of the
Houston and Texas Central railway.
and had received a dollar from him TO
pay the expenses OF getting the arti-
Gle In an acceptable shape for publica-
tion. He said he proposed to have 1t
typewritten and had intended TO send
1t to the ST. Louis Republic as soon
as he could get it In readiness. II
not accepted by them he expected to
get 1t In some other paper. He said
That he had made no specific agree
ment with Mr.. Gordon that 1t was to
be published In the Republic or any
other paper, but that 1t was TO be
published In some paper.
re SAID he was accustomed to write
article In this manner, collecting enough
TO pay for typewriting and such Incl
dental expenses. He explained that he
could write articles In such newsy
way they were accepted by the pa
pers, while at the same time they con-
famed favorable mention Of individuals
Tor which they would readily contribute
tne small amount necessary to defray
the expenses Of typewriting, etc. He
said also that by means of these write
ups ne hoped to obtain the good Will
OF lne people. which would be of sub
stantial value in securing advertising
contracts for his publication.
ne had expected without doubt to
Bst the article about Mr. Gordon print
ca IN some paper, and had alrendv done
eopAiderable work toward getting The
aneets ready for publica tion-work
Whlch ne considered worth much more
nun 1hah me dollar received from Mr.. Cor
uon, he also admitted soliciting from
Ioik Brosr the live stock commission
men, on the same plan. and said that
ne hhd not received any money from
thein or ANYBODY else with whom he ina
hegotiated ON this plan. He said no
n lIa NOT 6eeh able to see Mr. Gordon
since ne began writing UP the sketch
t ~, hau neen prevented by his arrest
IN proceeding with his efforts Ia carry
oout ms agreement with him to have
the sketch published.
ne rehearsed his story several fines
explaining the difficulties of car,,,insy
on business in his peculiar manner
He asserted his innocence OF nnv NJ,
tempt To defraud and reiterated tbe
satement claiming that It was a mis-
, uuVeI tauuihs an round, for which he
was not at all to blame
james H. Polk the live stock cam.
mission man, was seen next. ana ex-
pressed the utmost surprise at the mr.
rest saying he could see nothing wrong
IN n proposition which had been mnde
to him by Leake. who had proposed 10
Wrllf an acceptable article for the 81
Louis Republic which should contain
favorable mention of his business lie
said Leake proposed to send IL to the
Republic as special news article.
which he thought would be accented
At tho same time he disclaimed any
connection with that paper, and stated
expressly that he was not a solicitor
for that paper.
Mr. u, u. Gordon. bridge foreman of
the Houston and Texas Central rail-
road, was next seen. He related tho
of how Leake obtained
from him the dollar In connection with
the sketch which he had agreed IN
lie said that Leake repre-
sented that he was writing up the ON
clals OF the Houston and Texas Central
railroad and proposed to write a nice
interesting account of the bridge fore.
man But he also agreed to send him
a paper for year. and talked about
the Semi-Weekly Republic. He gave
nun receipt for the dollar, on which
II was stated 1t was for the pnper."
without specifying any particular PUB.
lleation. a note was also added on
the margin OF this receipt In regard 10
the wrlte-up which had been promised |
Leake had secured n photograph Of
MT Gordon, and came back in the af |
ternoon wanting 81 for the work OF |
tracing IL out preparatory TO having II !
MIR, Gordon jocularlv no. |
terred him TO Mrs. Gordon, and told |
him maybe he could get 81 out OF her, |
Ienke came back again In a hack al |
night and wanted Mr. Gordon TO take |
"A ride with him, but the tired rail- |
roader had gone to bed and could not |
go.
Mr. II, Blair, OF Blair Bros who
keep saloon near the Houston and .
Texas Central freight depot, was next |
sen, Leake had represented to him
that he was getting UP neat advertise
Ing folder TO distribute as supple-
ment 10 The Gazette. He had agreed
to give Mr., Blair business card IN
THIS folder and also to furnish him
With $50 neat little memorandum books
all for the moderate sum OF 81. b0
leake. he said, had afterward endenv-
bred unsucccssfully to obtain an adj.
VI part OF the money on
The contract making application for
The same TO Mr.. Blair's brother.
l.eake was arrested yesterday after
noon on complaint OF Mr. BattaNe,
agent OF the Republic and will soon
have on opportunity OF answering the
charge Of which he SO Vehemently pro-
'esses his innocence
Among other statements made In
he course OF his somewhat rambling
ak with the Gazette reporter, the
prisoner admitted having represented
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