Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-25
STEPHEN At COUNTY JAIL.
Mr.. Dobblus of Alabama Identified
Him at Once.
\ STORY OF THE TRICK IN ALABAMA
Dmcers I'm Route to Austin to Got Extra.
ditiou Papers--New Bond
Filed.

Houston. Thursday. January "a
stove Pratt met one OF his relatives yes
to-day. or at least one Of his victims whom
Pratt had called Cousin wiiham'' In
birmingham, Ala. about a year ago and
from whom he got 5000 for two gold
bricks
The details OF the arrival OF Pratt in thi
city In company with Colonel william
cameron has been told and The Post has
from day to day reported every develop.
mont regarding tho attempts OF Pratt and
attorneys 10 secure his liberty. Notwith-
standing that bond with go,d and sui.
hclent suroties had been presented to
sherlfr Erickson and had been approved
by hin- he has refused to give Pratt hin
liberty. He believed the prisoner was
wanted elsewhere and that " no were
released that II would be only n short
iimo before he would shake the dust of
this country from his feet and when court
convened the only satisfaction outraged
Justice would have would DO a forfeiture
or the bond OF $500. The sheriff reasoned
that II was laborcrs in prison stripes that
INC country needs. Instead OF money and
he took the chances on holding his man.
As stated in The Post yesterday morn
ing, Chief Of Polic, Mcdonald OF BirmIng
ham was In the city yesterday with Mr..
w. NJ. Dobbins of Birmingham. Early yes-
terdny Chief Mcdonald OF BirmInghnm.
Mr. Dobbins, chief Pruett Mayer browne
and Recorder nm accompanied sheriff
Erickson TO the Jail Deputy Archie An.
dorson received them in the office and he
then received Instructions from the sheriff
to bring out Steve Pratt and several
others so that tho Albania visitor would
have an opportunity of seeing Stephen in
company with gentlemen with whom he
had been nssociatlng since In Houston,
and that all doubts should be removed
whom Identification was made. az well M
tho rortihration Incident thereto. The old
gentleman looked fT.tsn one to the other
without saying a worn, His eyes mot
those OF Steve and a stranger could have
seen tho emotion that overcome the
mine owner as he saw for tho nrst time
IN twelve months his Alabama cousin"
Steve said nothing and neither did Mr..
Dobhins, until chef Mcdonald asked him
n he saw his misslng relative Mr.. Doh-
bins Immediately picked Steve out of tho
bunch and they were all marched back
to their uuarers.
when II was learned conclugivelv With
out question OF doubt that Mr.. Dobh'ns
recognized Pratt. ARRANGEMENTS were
made for spring trim 20 Brmngham for
Stephen. II Is believed that glfyht of the
snIINlNultEF Mnfft ne flliiut n gNOU HtNkt
last February will do him good and cause
him TO forget hla Immense wealth In gold
bricks, which seems to have been the
cause OF his present embarrassment. BE-
fore leaving birmingham Chief McDNnnl1
scnt one Of his deputies 10 Montgomery to
procure necessary PAYERS for cNtradit'ng
Prutt should 10 prove 10 BE- the GENTLE
man wanted, the instructions being TO for
ward the State warrants direct 10 Austin
IOpTrnnF fNuihft=gCn Antfcnntiuw flint
the rrooramme had been carried out tho
BIRMINGHAM chief left yeste'lay afternoon
for Austin. accompanied by Sheriff Erich-
son. expecting to return tonight with the
nroner passport fer tho traveller. who n
TO return 10 the Alabama city after go
lorr M ah"cnce.
Mr.. Dobblns was seen by n reporter ~
Tho Post Mt the Lawlor "weu. don't
expect to ret nv s6n00 back, but I hope
to have tho satisfaction OF seeing him cut
coal. Tho highest penalty IN our State
for grand larceny, under which head this
case viii be tried IS twenty years and
n would do me poDd to gee him rot II all.
think he would fool better after long
residence In our state II would improve
him In many ways and would cure that
inclination he has TO move around the
country. The fact that he has shaved
HIS heavy heard has CHANGED him great
deal, hut I knew him. Who could ever
forget those eyes? He came to my house,
told me hc hnd cousin named Wlllie
Dohhins, talked soft and gained my con-
iidnnce. II took him a week 10 get ia
mlliar, md during that time was often
Invited to come to nv house ia dine or
take tea. He seemed TO have money.
showing me bills Of as high n denomina-
tion as 800. Gold money seemed TO be
his favorite ard ono day he corildcd 10
mo that he had struck II rich IN the Weet,
H.. a. ,sat ali 10, ut,,
but thu, an Indian friend was there with
him. He explained that his friend had
wasted his substance I'm rlotons living
and was at that time financially embar-
raised, In other words broke. and wanted
to secure some money on two gold bricks.
which he had brought with him from his
Western mine. They were as good us
New York exchange, as bullion was ne
gotlahle anywhere In tho country. ! took
Il all In and went with him TO the suburbs
CT the City, where the Indian showed me
the bricks. or rather Pratt did. We took
Thorn to several jewelers., but none OF them
would make n test OF the quality. Pratt
suggested government aasaver. who b"
anld wa. atopping at the Florence hotel
and showed mo a card he said had been
given him by one OF tho jewelers. We
paw the assayer and he bored into this
bricks and pronounced them virgin gold
quoted the metal Of a good price ana
convinced mo that had good thing.
~ came to the conclusion that had rs
much right to deal in gold as Pierpont |
Morgan or the United States and 10 trans /
ferrcd 5000 OF my savings to Pratt. My |
wife begged me not to do II. but was
head of the family and snw fortune
OF wealth ahead. / was Innocent OF the
trap into which had fallen until asked |
the cashier OF tho bank from which !
drew money the price OF gold bullion |
ord he asped nv reasons for swantirg /
TO know. That let the cat ont OF tho !
bag The next day received tho follow
Ing letter:
Mr. William Dobblns, birmingham, Ala.
between Thirtv-srcond and Thlrty-third
streets, near sloss Furnarci
Mr.. Dobblns: I hurry to tell you OF
YOUR loss. Those two chunks are kolid
brass. You have been swindled. You
bought two pieces Of brass. They are
painted. Take your knife and scrape
lhem; the paint will come or. Put nitric
,old on them. It will turn them green.
rhe man at the Florence hotel don't be-
ong TO tho government. He is my partner
$50 YOU soc how you have been fooled,
Kick and boiler II you want to, but II