Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1895-10-08
CHAS. WELLBORN CONVICTED
He Long Evaded the Law, but It
Last 0vertaken.
NATURAL BORNED SWINDLER
The Remarkable Feature of His Career Has
Been the Wonderful Success in His
Dealings.

Charles Wellborn was convicted yes
terday in the United States court on the
charge of fraudulent use of the mails.
The maximum punishment for this Of
Tense is a fine of $500 and Imprisonment
in the penitentiary from six to eighteen
months.
Wellborn is well known in Birmingh ham
and it is said that he has prominent con-
nections in south Alabama. He has lived
in this city about fifteen years. His
record for sharp dealing is familiar to
all who have read the newspapers of the
city. He has been before the courts, fed
eral and state, on similar charges hereto
fore, but yesterday WAS the first convic-
ton that has ever overtaken him.
There has never been anything of the
desperate or sneak thief character about
his operations He laid his plans on
wind. and the breeZes that he stirred up
abroad about his stock and lumber asSo-
Citations and farms and commercial Sc
curitfes rarely failed to net him no IN
considerable profit. But the remarkable
feature of his career has been not so
much the returns gained by his dealings
as the wonderful success which has at
tended him heretofore in his trials before
the courts. 1t became common belief
with a great many that Wellborn was too
slick for the lawyers.
However, Attorney Weakley and AS
sstant Solicitor Lee Cowart succeeded
at last in bringing down verdict on him
yesterday in the United States court,
though Wellborn was ably represented
by leading counsel of the local bar.
A State Herald reporter called at the
county jail yesterday afternoon, where
Wellborn is confined, for the purpose of
ascertaining how he accepted his con-
viction.
Said he: Don't imagine that am blue
at all over this | expected as much, but
1 won't behind these bars long. Yes,
I've been behind the bars before, but I've
walked out a free man before, too. To-
days verdict was the result of public
opinion; of a strong local prejudice that
has been worked up against me. There
are witnesses who testified falsely
against me. and could and would ex-
pose them If it would not effect others
who have befriended me. [ never &c
back on a friend"
Have you anything else to say?'
asked the reporter.
Nothing particularly. except that
shall appeal the case. L will secure bond
within thirty days. the time fixed by law
to appeal.
I'm general way you may say for me
that. though l am scoundrel, can say
for myself some things few other men
can say. l never wronged woman.
have never taken drink of whisky OF
played a game of cards. And you may
not believe it, but 1t is a fact, too, that
have never committed theft.
IT have kept a certain pride about
these things all through my career, shady
as it has been. I operated on a more
genteel plane. l was business, and in
my business schemes l could not look
after my interests and the other party's
too If they didn't have sense enough
| to do me, why 1 just did them"
DO you mean to say that you WERE
| ever done by anybody" the reporter
asked.
DO II Well, yes, I do. I've been done
nice and brown by some of my click
times. Charles Wellborn is not the only
smooth artificer in Birmingham
Wellborn talked on at considerable
length and recited a number of his ex-
periences. He said that he could have
escaped the day before he was arrested
If he had wanted to do SO. In regard tC
his frustrated designs he Informed the
reporter that he intended to pay fol
what stock he had on hand, and tSat he
had already paid for the horses. Then he
intended shipping them to Atlanta
where he would open up livery stable
for the exposition trade. The jack, he
says, was sold because he knew that il
was going to die.
Wellborn says that when he gets out
of this trouble he will quit Birmingham
for good and will go to one of the large
| eastern cities and try to make an honest
| living.
His manner was not at all depressed
| nv his misfortune nor did he seem tt
| have any doubts as to his discharge be-
| RI tho neOitpntiarV