The evening times., 1897-12-31
BuNCOER PUZZLES POLICE
Large Amount Of Cash Bail Put
Up in Several Towns.
SWINDLES ON A LARGE SCALE
His Pseudonym Is John Reed, ana
Afassa chusefts Authorities DoI't
Know What to Make OF the Case
ever $4,000 Already Forfeited
by Him.

Roston, Mass, Dec. 31.-The auth )r-
itfes OF several towns in this section u the
state are puzzled over a man who has been
a prisoner five or six times within the last
few weeks on charges OF swindiing, and who
In each instance has regained his liberty
by depositing a large amount of cash as
bail.
Th. man waslast arrest I'd in BrOckton, on
Tuesday He gave his name as John Reed
as he had done on previous occasions-but
refused to tell his place Of residence. A man
named Mclean appeared In Brockton and
offered tc furnish hail for Reed. The justice
fixed bail at $4,000, and Mclean fur-
nished the cash, asking that Reed be given
into hi custody. He said he wanted to take
Reed to Gardner and surrender him.
Policeman. King, OF Eriigewater, W rs de-
tailed to take Reed to that town. This
staye,l tie service Of a writ in the hands or
another officer. But when Reed, Mclean
and King reached Eoston Mclean lis
charged lis deputy officer, and, as bonds
man, tool charge OF Reed. They did not
go to Gardner, but defaulted, and the au-
thorities do not know now where either
man is. Reeds friends have put up bail
for hin. as fast as 1t was asked for in
the different towns until the total staked
on his appearance for trial when wanted
is $lS,JCo.
This alleged king OF bunco men" con-
ducts his swindling schemes on a large
scale. He is charged with defr1udiig
Charles X. Brown, OF Gardner, out OF
$500, and James Martin, of Bridgewater,
out OF 81, JOt. 1t is also believed that lie
belonged tc a land that secured $6,5 90
from a farmer in Durham, N. H., Si,5 90
from aEother in Erattleboro, VT, 81 =, 900
from Vermont bank president, SO, 5 00fron
J. F. Leighton, of Franklin Falls, n. Y, and
$500 from Charles Sweetzer, Of Lowell.
Reed was arrested December 10 by the
police OF Clinton, after a long chase. He
and Companion, it was alleged, had been
making tour of that district for weeks
before, making the acquaintance of 'gdl
lible" persons, mainly Of the farming class.
Reed was baiied out from the East Cam
bridge Jail in $1,000, and no sooner was
the do, CT his Cell opened than he was re-
arrested by Detective Bean and taken to
Framinsh:. III, where he had to deposit
$4,000 Tile police in Gardner next ar
rested him. and he was released ON 81 600
posting CT $4,000 hail then followed.
Reed vas assisted by two mysterious
friends one of whom was introduced
as Mr.. Gould, of New Orleans, who said
he was friend Of friend of Reeds, but
really knew nothing of Reed himself. No
names were attached to the documents af-
fectinS the release, the cash for bail being
Forthcoming and rendering it unnecessary
to sign any formal bonds.
One Of the men who put up the money for
Reed said there was half million dollars
backof Iced to secure his freedom from the
cnarsesIendinga againsthim. Thisstatement
and the tSctics of the swindler strengthens
the theory that Reed is the leader ofa band
winch has teen operating among the
trustfui agriculturists of the New England
states Tf.erc are more than a score of
Nicuhas. and several OF them Were brought
10 ca;E,iridge while he was rinder arrest
Tor th' purpose OF Identifying him. They
all talked Gf Il man Wit, a f!lil beard, anil
failed 10 ,'.rS him out though they admitted
looking for.
Nh"n Reed defauI.eds in Gardiner, the
poliee sly, il was Hgrce-d between his coun-
Sci AMI the court thS,t no default warrant
should I've issued until after Saturday, to
wicn .iatt the case was continued. Until
they would have no right to arrest
himIf thTey knew whers heis. They haven't
to hin again with his consent.