The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-12
THEY LOST THEIR QUARTERS.
AN INTELLIGENT" OFFICE SWIM
DIE WELL WORKED.

The Fellow who Had the InteIIi-
gence Skipped and Left Behind a
Number of People who Had Paid
Him 20 Cents Apiece on the Prom
Use of Good JObs-HOteI Help Hired
For AsheviIIe and EIsewhere-A
Number of People Were to Have
Been Sent on Yesterday, But the
"InteIigent" Man Gave Them the
Slip.
There are a number of people in Savan-
nah just now who would like to know the
whereabouts of G. B. Griffin.
About two weeks ago Griffin opened an
Intelligent" Office at No. 213 Whitaker
street. and informed those who called TO
inquire the meaning of the sign that he
was prepared to procure situations for all
persons out of employment The only
prerequisite was that those after employ
ment should pay down % cents for the
privilege of having his name entered in
Griffin's record book.
There are quite a number of idle people
in Savannah just now, and many paid
the prerequisite quarter to have their
names entered upon the book with the
assurance from Griffin that he would Sc
cure positions for them. A further pay
ment of 81 was to be made after the stu
alton had been secured.
The proprietor of the Intelligent office
made a speciality of hotel jobs and DIS
coursed at length upon the number of ex-
cellent positions which he had at his
command at the Battery Park hotel at
Asheville, and well-known northern re-
sort hotels Several walters were en-
gagged for the Battery Park, as well as
number of walters. clerks and other en-
ployes for other hotels. Part of the con-
tract which Griffin assumed was to fur
nish transportation for the people for
whom he secured positions at other places.
Six walters were to be sent to Asheville
and number of others to other places
yesterday, this being the date fixed by
Griffin.
The result was that quite a crowd gath
cred around the Office in the morning
Griffin was on hand, but as he seemed
rather dilatory in his movements the sus-
picion of the crowd was aroused. Grit
fin informed the Asheville party that he
had already purchased their tickets, but
had left them in a safe in the Odd Eel
lows building. He sent a boy with a note
addressed to Mr. Mason at the address
named, instructing him to turn the tickets
over to the bearer of the note. AS the boy
did not return at once Griffin put on his
coat and walked out, remarking that he
would go and see about the tickets him
self. The boy who had been sent with the
note returned shortly afterward, saying
that he could find no Mr.. Mason in the
odd Fellows building.
When Griffin did not return the crowd
began to realize that it had been duped
and threats were made of what they
would do should they get hold of the man
who had fooled them out of their quar-
tiers. Some boys who said they had paid
Griffin quarter apiece to get them posi-
tons called at the police barracks and
asked that Griffin be arrested. Lieut.
Reilly told them to point their man out
and he would have him arrested.
The crowd hung around all the after
noon. The majority were colored, but
there were several white men, who ex-
pressed a desire to lay their hands upon
Griffin. 1t was said that a number of
colored girls, who had been promised po-
sitions as chambermaids had also given
| up their quarters.
A Morning News reporter visited the
office in the afternoon. The place did not
present an inviting appearance. The fur
| niture consisted of a table, lounge and
| chair all ancient. On the wall was tack
| ed a commission as notary public issued to
| Griffin, Oct. q, 1894, for four years A
| cheap cash book was lying on the table,
In which were entered thirty-four nmes,
| most of which had an entry of % cents OPP
| posite them.