The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-22
PRISON SMELL.
Was on the Coat of a PIausi-
BILE Dead Beat.
And the Prison Tan Was on His Face
and Hands.
How He ana His Pals Worked Gen.
Dyer for Dollars.

There are but few men in the city that
possess q more liberal nature than Cen
eral Elisha Dyer, and this fact is well
known, especially to those who are look
ing for someone to assist them along the
rough road OF life. The general could, II
he would, tell many tale that might be
amusing, some pathetic and some other
wise.
A day or two ago q NEWS representa-
tive heard that there was somebody
prowling about the generals residence,
154 Power street, and thinking that
good "story" might be had, the general
was called upon for an interview. At first
he would not not say anything. The
NEWS man was sure that the general had
a story, and at last he concluded 10 tell
II, and here IL is:
son the afternoon OF Wednesday, May
20, a man apparently % years old, pale,
and with sad and mournful counte-
nance, came into my office, AZ Westmin-
ster street, and said, SIS this General Dyer?
Upon being told that Ii was, he said he
was out of funds, out OF work, and had
no home. / asked him what his name
was, where he lived, and what, IL any,
his trade was. His answer was that his
name was Charles II. Stearns, lived in
New York, and was an engrayer.
"'How do you manage TO live, L asked
him. well, sir, today all that / have
eaten is two common crackers, and two
oranges, have got but cents in money,
and have slept in the Bethel
"The young mans wearing apparel was
made of fine material, but was well worn;
in fact shabby. / rather liked tho looks
OF the poor fellow, as he looked honest,
and appeared TO be telling the truth. In
continuing his story he said that be was
going TO work for Foster a. Bailey's Mon
day, June 10, and that he had a letter of
introduction from a well-known Episco-
palian clergyman OF New York, but said
he, Il do not know what / am going TO
do until go to work.
"I then told the young man to get
note from Foster Il Bailey stating that he
was to be employed by them and show
me his letter from the clergyman, and
would see what / could do for him.
"He looked pleased, said 'all right, left
my Office, and soon returned with the
necessary documents. Then / did not
hesitate TO assist him, so i gave him
letter to Mr.. Wilson of the Young Mems
Christian Association, asking him TO find
the man a suitable boarding house, and
that would pay the BILL Mr.. Wilson
sent the man to his fathers (The Rev.
Mr.. WILSON, private boarding. house, 10s
Aborn street. The next day he came to
my office and thanked me very kindly for
the interest / had taken in him. BY this
time began to really like the fellow,
so that afternoon i took him to my home,
where he met my family, j gave him a
suit of my sons clothes and S5, and told
him TO be careful of the money. but when
II was gone to come again. He came
| again, and often came TO my house un-
invited, and made himself quite at home,
even helping himself to my cigars.
Everything went along swimmingly, un-
| I'll June 10, when he came into the office
and said that Foster d Bailey were not
| going to start up. He seemed quite dis
heartened. / told him not TO worry
about the matter, and gave him some
more money. A short time after this he
| went to work.
"Now," said the general, "here is
something strange; The next day after |
| gave him suit of clothes, he brought
his old coat into my Office and left it
there for awhile. After he went out l
| saw a letter sticking out OF the inside
| pocket, ana something tempted me to
look at il, and / did. IL was addressed
| to Charles III. Stearns at some number
! on AID or 43d street, New York. This is
as far as went, and am sorry now that
| i did not read the letter. The coat, with
| the rest OF his old clothes he said he had
disposed of to a secondhand dealer on
| South Main street" In speaking OF the
clothes, the general said that there was a
peculiar smell about them, such as is
found in a jail, and he thought that is
where he came from, judging from the
pale look and his clothes.
| "Ten days later he came to my house,
and / wondered why he came. He asked
me il had an old razor IL i had, he
would like II, for said he u shave three
times a week, and that costs me 40
cents. ! told him that 1 would get him
one, and he went off.
ga few days later well dressed and
sleek looking chap, wearing a yachting
cap, came into my office and asked: is
| this General DyerY / told him that il
| ha tcId ofA ha
that Stearns did. He said that his name
was WInterbottom, and that ne came
| from New York.
"When ho had finished his story, / ask
ed him how he knew that my name was
General Dyer. well, said he, this coat
that have got on, bought for 75 cents
I'm secondhand store on south Main
street. and in one of the pockets was a
! letter addressed to Charles. Stearns, and
| memorandum that showed that you
had assisted Stearns, and / thought per-
haps you might assist me. This TO me
seemed strange, and right here II dawned
| upon me that something was wrong.
asked him IL he knew Stearns. He said
he never heard of him.
81 gave him a ncte to the secretary OF
the Young Mems Christian Association,
| telling them TO care for him three or four
days, aud that | would settle the bill.
| / gave him a dollar. / did this because
wanted to know more OF the fellow.
That same evening Stearns called at my
house, and told him OF the incident
regarding Winterbottom, the coat and
the letter. ! asked him II he knew Win
terbottom, and he replied that he never
saw him, or heard OF him? in fact he
seemed to look upon the matter with
much surprise.
Friday of the same week Stearns came
hobbling into my office, and he was
walking with a cane He said that he hac
been kicked i'm the groin by horse, and
he did not know what he was going tC
do, for his medical adviser told him thai
he would be Obliged To Lie Fill for u wee ]