The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-01-23
A BRACE OF RAScALS.
Two Men Who Make a Business Of Swim
ding Preachers-Their Arrest and Dis
charge.

On Friday evening of last week man call
ing himself G. L. johnson was committed to
Jail here by Justice Gait, of New Windsor,
upon suspicion of being the person who had
been yictimizing clergymen at Cumberland,
Nd. and Keyser, W. Va, by inducing them
to endorse drafts drawn in his favor
The night previous Johnson and another
man went to the NJ. E. Church, where pro-
tracted meeting was in progress, and during
the meeting asked for the prayers of the con-
gregation. Later he tried to borrow some
| money from the pastor, Rev. Thomas S. Long.
He then gave his name as Smith, and the next
day said he was G. l.. johnson. The pair
stayed at Dielman's Hotel, and were only able
to pay part of their bills. The younger man
told Mr.. Dielman that he was from Westmin-
ster and that his name was Stevenson.
Johnson companion came to Westminster
on Friday afternoon. He called upon Rev.
Joel Brown, pastor of Centenary M. E.
Church. He told Mr.. Brown that he was out
of employment and funds, and asked for assist
aDee. He was given supper and an order for
lGdgifg and breakfast at boarding house.
The ,ls,,t morning he was at the railroad sta
ton alsouf o'clock, and intended to leave on
the 9.lI train. Deputy Sheriff Wilson was
there and recognizing him as the man who
had been with johnson at New Windsor, from
a description he had received, telephoned
Sheriff Murray, who went to the station and
arrested him and lodged him in Jail. He gave
his name as James b. McCabe and his home
as 1873 Prospect street, Cleveland o., and said
he was employed for two years as clerk by
Weeks & Co., of Cleveland.
On Saturday afternoon Rev. NJ. f. b. Rice,
pastor Of Centre Street NJ. e. Church, Cum
berland, who had been swindled, came here
TO see the men under arrest, but failed to
identify either of them as the party who
swindled him. Both men replied freely to
questions propounded to them. Both adj
mitted having been in Cumberland on Satur
day and Sunday previous, and johnson de-
scribed infinitely the route by which he finally
reached New Windsor, where, after holding
up his hand to be prayed for, he attempted
to borrow money of the pastor, nev. Thomas
S. Long He admitted that he had told Mr..
Long he had been in the Columbus (0hio)
Penitentiary, but said he told an untruth in
doing so, and had never been in prison. He
said he had been guilty of wrong doing, and
was willing to be punished for it, but had
never committed forgery. He claimed to
know Father Sargent, of the Order of the
Holy Cross, this city, and said he attended
school in New York in which Father Sargent
was interested. He is SO years old, and is
well educated and remarkably intelligent.
McCabe said he first met johnson at hotel
in Frederick on Tuesday of last week, and
that they were only casual acquaintance.
He denied all knowledge of any attempt to
get money upon false pretenses, but admitted
that he had appealed to clergyman in Cum
berland for food and nights lodging. De-
tective Mcdonald, accompanied Rev. Mr..
Rice on his visit here, but nothing was dis
covered to identify the men with the swiad-
ling operations referred to.
On Tuesday States Attorney Reifsnider
ordered the men discharged, and they left on
the 4.24 train for Baltimore.