The record-union., 1898-02-16
.EX-CONVlC1'S SHARP TRICK.
HOW F. G.. EDWARDS BUNCOED
A GAIT CITIZEN.
Worked the Cousin Racket on Lorin
Taylor and Swind1ed Him
Out of Money.

A ClSpatcn from robson yesterday
gives tile details of a recent event in
which ar ex-convict named F. G. Ed
wards and Lorin Taylor citizen OF
Gait, were the chief characters.
According to the dispatch, some twen-
ty years ago a man by the name OF
Taylor got mixed up in murder, was
tried at Jackson and was sentenced
to life imprisonment. Taylor has al
ways been a good prisoner, and so far
as can be learned came from good
family Lorin Taylor, a son, is one
of the most respected citizens of Gait.
The convict has a brother who is
District Judge in Indiana and has many
cousins and other relations in the
Eoosier State who keep up a regular
correspondence.
Recently the son at Gait received a
letter, apparently written by his father,
in which was stated that he Ghe con-
vicD had received a letter from his
brother. the Judge in Indiana, stating
that a wealthy neighbor of the latter
would be in Gait on a certain day and
would interest himself in securing
pardon for the elder Taylor.
On the date stated the younger Taylor
was all expectancy. His home was put
in readiness to receive his Indiana guess
the man who was to secure a pardon
for his father. But he came not How
ever, he turned up the next morning
with many apologies-he had gone to
hotel upon his arrival.
He was welcomed to young Taylor's
home. The stranger seemed perfectly at
home in talking about the Taylor fam
ilV in Indiana and ha Cl1nU fha
names of the cousins and the uncies
and the aunts With a familiarity that
would disarm all suspicion. Then he
produced letter of introduction from
the Governor of Indiana to Governor
Budd and letters to Chief Justice Beat
ty and Justices Van Fleet and McFar-
land, that had all the appearances of
being genuine. These We're to aid him
in securing a pardon for the man in
prison.
He then told of his experience on the
train coming West. He had been rob-
bed between Truckee and Reno He
was little short until he could receive
remittance. He asked for a loan Of
500 and got it. He then went to San
Francisco. saw the Supreme Justices,
so he said, and reported everything
working admirably. He came back in
three days and struck for another $50
and got $40, all young Taylor had.
Taylor was quite proud of his Hoos-
Ter friend. who was taking such an
interest in his family affairs. and TOOK
him around Gait treating and intro
ducing him to the best people of the
! town. A young politician of the place
by the name of Ames took quite an in
tereSt in the newcomer, and when the
latter expressed a desire to see a China
man, saying he had never seen one.
took him TO the other end of the town
and woke up the proprietors of
washhouse. Sam Sing was quite in
dignant when he was informed of the
cause Of the visit, and saying Nell
can man go to hellee,' slammed the
door.
The Hoosier, seeing he could get no
more money from Taylor. took occasion
of the latter's absence from home to
make an indecent proposition to Mrs
Taylor She drove him from the house
ana informed her husband
The latter refused to believe his wife
She became indignant, went to the de-
pot and took the train for Folsom. She
told the elder Taylor of the story He
was dumfounded. They sent for War
den Aull. When the Warden heard the
story he at once sent for the picture of
a man named f. G.. Edwards, who had
been q convict in Folsom When il
came in he handed it to Mrs. Taylor.
asking: Did you ever see that before?"
That? That's the Hoosier.'' she ex-
claimed
mn 6ot Il lie
the State of Nevada twenty nine years
ago. He was bright intelligent, good
looking. an easy conyersationalist and
an expert penman. The last accom-
plishment was his runation He could
initiate signature to perfection and
in this way cashed many a check III
San Francisco. AT last he was trapped
and sent to the prison at Folsom for a
term of nine years. He was a good
prisoner and in consequence soon be-
came q trusty. He was prompt truth
full, and his efforts We're encouraged
until he was almost looked upon as a
clerk in the Warden's office, and was
not treated in any sense like a common
prisoner. 1t became the duty of Ed
wards to handle the mail Of the con-
victs, and as all letters either sent from
I or received a the prison have to be
opened by the Warden, he soon be-
came familiar with the family secrets
of all who held any intercourse with
the outside world.
In handling Taylor's letters Edwards
seemed to think he had struck a good
thing. He studied the correspondence.
thoroughly familiarizing himself with
names and dates and relationship AS
much as the missives would permit. He
did this without letting Taylor know
his correspondence was furnishing food
for thought.
Edwards knowing the date when his
merits would secure release to the
very day, il is believed that he wrote
the letter from the prison to the son at
Gait. His number at the Folsom prison
was BIG. and he was released from
/ that penal institution a few days since.
Before leaving his stripes were DOTTED.
good-by to the prison authorities and
stepped outside the walls a free man
with So IN his pocket Edwards is well
| known to the police and was seen in
Sacramento last Thursday.