Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-16
AFTER BAIL MONEY.
Mr.. sweetser, One of Reeds Victims,
Tells His Story.

- "SS'SSti OH0 ot heeu ViCIlnlSi
Tells His Story.
Boston, Mass, February 15.-The
committee on counties gave hear
ing on the bill authorizing the Mid
dlesex county commissioners to refund
to Charles Sweetser of Chelmsford, who
claims that he was f1eeced by the al
legged "bunco man" John Reed, the sum
OF $4,000, one-half the amount of bail
money forfeited by Reed on Dec. 81 Mr..
SWeetser was represented by Frederick
A. Fisher of Lowell, who gave a brief
outline of the manner in which Sweetser
was fieeced, and stated that Reed
snatohed the money out Of the farmer S
nands, the latter never parting with it
voluntarily.
Mr.: Sweetser then took a chair by the
witness stand. He is a farmer, 78 years
Old he said. He had farm and some
upland, a little stock and $500 in the
bank, left since the loss of the $500.
This man Reed, he declared, saw him in
May, and man whom he called "Old
Tennessee" saw him previously. Before
that, even, he was visited by man
claiming to be an agent for the Orange
Judd Company, who questioned him as
to the value of the farm, etc. and told
him that he had a little money in the
| City Institution for Savings
Mr.. Sweetser then told of his first
meeting with Reed, who came to his
house, said his name was Greenhalge
and that he was acting with Mr.. Hurd
of the savings bank. With Reed, Mr..
Sweetser said that he went to see the
Alexander place. Reed didn't like the
place. AS they drove along Tennessee"
approached them. Reed said he was an
ilhterate southerner. Then Tennessee"
pulled out a pack of cards, did some
tricks, and finally bet "Greenhalge''
$4,000 he couldn't pick the winning card.
Witness had never seen cards much, and
was not interested in them Green
halge' picked the winning cards and
then Tennessee asked Mr.. Sweetser to
do the same. The witness noticed that
"Greenhalge's'' winning card had one
corner turned up, so he picked the same
one.
Then there was further talk, said Mr..
Sweetser, and finally Tennessee said
that if he had won, "Greenhalge" might
not have had the money to pay him.
Finally "Greenhalge" asked witness to
back him and suggested that he go to
the bank and draw the money to show
| they had it, The witness consented. First
he drew check, but "Greenhalge" said
| Tennessee" could not read, and so he
got bills, which he said 'Greenhalge'
stole from him by snatching them and
by sleight-of-hand kept putting them
into a box and substituting others.
He had never gambled, not even at a
church fair, and would not have gam
bled then. 1t was "Mr. Greenhalge's'
connection with Lowell people which de-
ceived him. He was old and had been
sick four weeks. He did not know what
the game was that was played. He tried
hard to secure the apprehension of Reed.
He wanted his money back.
Joseph E. Warren of Chelmsford, Sc
leetman Perley P. Perham and others
testified to the honesty and uprightness
of Mr.. Sweetser
Ex-senator Barker had the case of
Martin Wood for reimbursement from
Plymouth put over as he is before the
grand jury +,
Col. William A. C4ile OF Worcester said
that $4,000 in bail had been put up in
the several cities. The object of the bail
is to secure the prisoner in court. As the
prisoner was now in Jail at Lowell, mo-
tions had been filed in each county for
the exoneration of the bail. He did not
oppose the bill, but thought it a ques-
ton for the supreme court to DECIDE
whether Reeds bail was forfeited. In
response to question, Col. Gile admit
ted that the Brockton court had denied
his motion to take off the default of bail,
but it had been certified to the higher
court. Mr. Fisher then argued the case
in AIr. -SWeetSer'S behalf