The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-29
COL. HOBBS TURNS UP AGAIN.
WORKING THE DEPUTY MARSHAL
RACKET IN MISSISSIPPI.

Tried TO Have the Brother and Uncle
of the Democratic Nominee for
state Treasurer Arrested for Run
ming an Illicit DistiIIery which
Did Not Exfst-Deputy Marshal
Dayton Discovers by Correspond
ence That He Is the Same Gay and
Slightly Demented Colonel Who
Tried to DO Up Savannah.
Col. Charles H. Hobbs has been heard
from again. and this time he has been
doing people out in Mississippi in just
about the same manner that ne did them
here some eight or nine months ago. Col.
Hobbs, he of the light VanDyke whisK-
ers. and frontier air. will be well remem-
bered by several of Savannah's business
men with whom he had dealings when
he was here under the nom-de-plume or
a United States deputy marshal.
When Deputy Marshal W. A. Dayton
was in Townsville a few days ago on
official business he picked up a newspaper
in which he read an account Of a man
who had been operating in and around
Jackson, Miss, in a very similar manner
to that pursued here by Col. Hobbs. HIS
attention was at once attracted and his
curiosity aroused. He decided to go deep
er into the matter
The man who had been doing the good
people of Jackson in a small way gave
his name as 4. c. Bell, but the description
given was identical with that of the we'll
known colonel, so he and Deputy Mar
shall George +. White. by whom he was
accompanied, wrote at once to United
States Marshal j. S. McNeily OF the south
ern district of Mississippi, located at Jack
son, and yesterday received a reply which
fully satisfied him OF his suspicious in the
matter.
Deputy Marshal Dayton well remembers
the wild goose chase Hobbs gave him out
in Cuyler swamp on a hunt for an alleged
distillery, so he can sympathize with the
deputies of Mississippi who were led into
trap that was still worse. The letter
says:
The fellow first appeared in the office
ABOUT SIX weeks ago and made affidavit
against some seventeen parties in Simp
son county, Mississippi, for Illicit distill-
ing. Among the defendants were several
prominent citizens of that county, includ-
ing an uncle ana brother Of the demo-
cratic nominee for state treasurer. He
reported several stills in operation and in
duced two revenue agents to accompany
him. II proved to be a wild goose chase,
not distillery being found. Our deputy
succeeded in arresting twelve of the men
charged, but no evidence appeared against
them The next time / saw Bell he was
in the office here fun of tales, but before
he got a listener the town constable came
in and arrested him on a charge of for
gerry. he managed to compromise in some
way, and heard nothing more from him
until l saw the press dispatches you men
ton. lie is said TO be now in Rankin
county jail, on charge of swindlng gen
orally. He sometimes posed as a deputy
marshal, and told me he formerly worked
for the United States marshal of Michi-
gan"
After this follows the description of the
man Bell, which is identical with that
OF the famous colonel. The eXactness Of
striking had it not been for the fact that
the operations of the man described were
exactly like those of Hobbs, when ne was
here. This leaves no doubt in the depu-
tvs mind that he is the same man.
Hobbs went away from Savannah the
latter part OF February. He was tried be-
fore Judge Speer, on a charge of fraudu-
lently representing himself TO be a United
States deputy marshal and his sentence
of which he was required to serve only one
month provided he would leave this dis
trict, and with the proviso that is he
ever returned he was to be arrested and
made to serve the balance of the sentence.
He left at once on his release, going by
steamer to Boston. presumably to join
his wife and family somewhere in Connec-
ticut. Nothing has been heard from him
since that time until now, when he turns
up in Mississippi with his same old tricks.
There is no doubt among those who have
had dealings with him that the man is OF
unSound mind, or technically speaking,
ne has wheels IN mis- Uranium.