The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1897-09-25
]. z. PROTzMAN
ARRESTED IN PITTsBURG
For Fraudulent Use of the Nails.
To Help Churches that Didn't
Exist.

Young Protzman Had Clever
Scheme to Get Money and Had
Many Answers to His Pathetic APP
peals for Aid--Caught by Pittsburg
Postoffice Observation-Disclosures
His Guilt and is Very Penitent.
The following story from this
mornings Pittsburg Dispatch will
be read with regret by Morgantown
people as they bear both father and
son nothing but good will. The
young man is son of Thos. F.
Protzman the Cross Roads mer-
chant:
j. u. Protzman, assistant post
master at Morris Cross Roads, Fay
cite county, and son of L. T. Protz-
man, postmaster at that place, was
arrested yesterday at the Pittsburg
postoffice. He is charged before
United States Commissioner S. c..
McCandless with using the mails in
scheme to defraud.
Protzman, according to his own
confession, has been operating ex-
tensively for five weeks. He BIAS de-
frauded many well-known people of
Pittsburg and numbers in other
places. The postal authorities have
been after the swindler for a week,
but it was not known that Protzman
was the person wanted until he was
captured and recognized yesterday.
Protzman has operated under a
number of names. At the jail he is
registered as II. j. Williams, alias
Rev. G. w. Lyons, alias Mrs Mary
Riggs. The information was made
by Assistant United States District
Attorney Samuel B. Griffith.
WANTED AID FOR CHURCHES.
A clever plan had been devised by
Protzman for raising money. His
center of operations was Coal Bluff,
Allegheny county. From there he
sent out scores of letters. They
we're addressed to business men and
others of means. Some were signed
Rev. G. w. Lyons and asked for aid
for new church which had been
erected, and was deeply in debt and
of which he was pastor.
Others were signed with the
names of Edward Taylor, II. J. Will
liams, Mrs. Mary j. Riggs, etc. All
represented the writer's as connected
with some new church at Coal Bluff
which was in debt and solicited aid
for the church.
The letters were mailed at Coal
Bluff. Protzman then sent letters
to the postmaster of Coal Bluff, over
the various names, requesting him
to forward mail received there adj
dressed to the different persons to
the general delivery at the Pittsburg
postoffice.
Protzman received many responses
from well known people. Many others
whose names have not yet been OBJ
tanned gave up various sums.
The names of the churches used
were fictitious. This came to the
ears of some of the people who had
made donations and the postal au-
thorities were notified.
CAUGHT BY POLICEMEN.
An information was then made
against H. J. Williams, alias Rev
G. w. Lyons, alias Mrs. Mary J..
Riggs. This multifarious person
was charged with devising scheme
or artifice to defraud by opening a
correspondence with divers persons
within the United States by depos-
iting in the postofiice at Coal Bluff
letters addressed to those persons.
A warrant was issued and watch
set for the man at the Pittsburg
postoffice, the redirecting of the let
tiers received at Coal Bluff having
been learned. Postofiice Inspector
w. w. Dickson and his assistants
were ON the watch for several days,
but the man did not appear
About 10 o'clock yesterday morn
ing Protzman called for the mail adj
dressed to Rev. G. w. Lyons The
postoffice inspector vas not there,
but word was sent to police head
quarters and Captain Kelly and
Lieutenant Scott responded. They
took Protzman to the central sta
ton, where, it is alleged, he con-
fessed and said he was the man
wanted.
When searched it was found he
had a large bunch of letters in his
pocket containing remittances from
various people. He also had a num-
Der of letters addressed to different
persons, and ready for mailing. He
opened one at the station and it
contained the regulation appeal for
aid for a church which has no exist
ence.
Protzman was turned over to Post
office Inspector Dickson and placed
in Jail. He is only 81 years old, but
is tall, good looking and we'll dressed.
He was much exercised ever his ar
rest, but made no attempt to deny
the charges.