The San Francisco call., 1896-03-14
Found Money, Friends and a
Home by Exploiting His
Wealth.
FLED, BUT WAS RECAPTURED.
Caught by Constable While Tarry.
ing in Stockton-Long Record
of Crime.

STOCKTON, CAL, March 13.-Constable
F. B. Fenton of Sutter Creek boarded the
Sacramento train at noon to-day in a
happy frame of mind. This was due to
the fact that he had for companion
"Rev." J. A. Smith, reputed to be very
smooth swindler, whom he had arrested a
few hours before on the water front in this
city. The constable had returned from
San Francisco on the morning boat after
an unsuccessful hunt in the bay cities for
Smith, and found him while awaiting
a train.
The officer and his prisoner stopped at
the Sheriff office, and the former told the
local officers who dropped in to inspect his
catch the story of the operations of the
swindler in and about Sutter Greek. ANA
dor County. Smith, according to the officer,
drove the gospel-car into Amador County
about six months ago with the avoW ed in
tention of evangelizing the sturdy noun
tain population.
As camp-meeting services we're in
progress at the time he had ample oppor-
tunity to display his ACCOMPLISHMENTS as
an exhorter. He won the confidence of
the people from his first appearance, and
OIL up dS 10 VINO
should entertain the gifted speaker and
show him The difference due his high at
tainments. J. W. Siebole carried Smith
away and gladly lodged him under his
own roof.
One day the humble preacher confided
TO his host that he had just got word from
England that he had fallen heir to fortune
OF $40, O0G, by the death OF titled relative
He, said he had no use for the money; all
he wanted was a home in which to rest
after labors in the spiritual vineyard.
If Sebole would agree TO lodge and feed
him during the term of his natural life he
would leave him the bulk of the SAC, 600,
$500 to the pretty servant girl, and $1,000 to
each OF his hosts nieces. The offer was
accepted. This was five months ago, and
the confidence man had never been both
cred by board bills.
1t is now learned that during this period
OF rest Smith varied his church work by
making love 10 several marriageable
women and several who were not in
position to consider matrimony. His at
tentions created talk, and about a week
ago the preacher said he would have to
make a trip to San Francisco to interview
the British Consul in regard to his fnan-
cial standing and to make arrangements
to collect the interest on his legacy.
Sebole did not suspect anything until sew
eral days after the preachers departure,
when he found that he had taken all his
belongings with him.
Then the people in lone and Sutter
Creek began to talk, and when Sebole
began to investigate he found evidence
sufficient to satisfy him that he. had been
duped. The erstwhile host and friend got
mad and swore out a warrant charging
Smith with swindling, and it is said other
charges will be made. Constable Fenton
started out to look for the man, and, pre-
vious to finding him on the water front
here this morning he learned considerable
of his history.
1t appears that but ashort time ago
Smith was released from Folsom, where
he had 'done time" having been sent
from Santa Cruz for obtaining money
under false pretenses.
He also married a girl named Hattie
Lawrence in San Francisco and took her
to Santa Cruz on a honeymoon trip, the
expenses Of which were paid by his dupes.
He cut a wide swath in Santa Cruz and
lived part of the time at a fashionable
clearinghouse on Fourth street When
discovered he escaped to British Columbia,
was apprehended there, brought back to
Santa Cruz, tried and convicted and sent
to Folsom.
Constable Fenton started for Amador
County to-day with the convict. There he
will be made to face some lively music
Smith preached here about Two years ago.
He evidently did not know the officers
were looking for him, as he did not seek
to hide his identity.