Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-21


Comfort Thompson of Uxbiidge, an
other supposed victims of John Reeds
alleged confidence games. appeared at
the criminal court room Thursday
morning, to state his experience with
the noted Reed before the grand jury.
For a long time Mr.. Thompson, who is
a staunch and shrewd citizen of Tx
bridge, kept the fact of mis- interview
with Reed a secret, but after the lat
ter's arrest he concluded to tell his
story of how his cash account may be
$500 less by reason of Reeds arts. The
case was called to the attention of
Deputy Sheriff Edwin P. Heath of East
Douglas, who commenced an investiga-
ton. The deputy induced Mr. Thomp-
son and his son, Walter Thompson, to
visit Reed at the Cambridge jail. The
result of the visit was not given out as
to whether an Identification was estab-
lished or not; but Mr.. Thompson was
SO. impressed that he wished to go a
second time and make a more careful
scrutiny of Reed. A trip was made to
Lowell by the party of three, and
Thursday they concluded their work
with appearance before the grand jury.
The experience with the confidence
man begins with Mr.. Thompson's meet
ing him one day while at work on a
bridge. The confidence man represented
that he was a brother of F. E. Hey
wood, a well-known manufactures. He
induced Mr.. Thompson to ride around
and show him a farm he wanted to
sell.
Mr.. Thompson has lived on the farm
where he now resides for AZ years, and
has seldom been away from its acres.
He is over so years old, and is one of
the influential men N the place, The
hal
same old game that has always been
played by these bunco sharpS After
looking well over the land, the men in
the team met a stranger on the road,
and he held them up for the purpose of
making some inquiries.
The result was that a game of cards
was proposed by the newcomer. This
time the game was played with picture
cards instead of with a regular deck.
The stranger was quite skilful in draw
ing the card he named, and this so en-
couraged Mr. Thompson to try That he
went to the bank in Woonsocket, where
he kept his money, and drew out $500.
The negotiations for the sale of the farm
never stopped in all this time.
Finally, as a guarantee of good faith,
Mr.. Thompson was induced to place has
money in a tin box which the stranger
had. The stranger put his equal
amount in the same box and Mr..
Thompson has the box yet. In the
box when opened was found letter
advising Mr.. Thompson not to tell any
one that he had been huncoed, that men
might not laugh at him. This letter
and box were in the possession of the
deputy sheriff today when he came to
town to attend court.
ASKS REMOVAL OF DEFAULTS.
In connection with the Reed case, Col.
Gle is preparing petition to the courts
to be presented in each county where
Reed was given hearing, and defaults
were recorded, asking that the defaults
be removed. The amount taken by de-
fault is $18,500, and it is the claim of
the defense that the inferior courts
have no jurisdiction over the cases al
legged against the defendant; and they
had not therefore the power to forfeit
the bail money to the commonwealth.
1t is claimed that the superior court
alone has that power, and the sole jur-
isdiction in the cases. At the present
time Reed is under bail for $4,000 for
his appearance to answer to the charge
of assault in Worcester county; and
Monday Col. Gle will present a petition
to Judge Hopkins of the superior GRIM
inal court, asking for writ Of habeas
corpus; that, if necessary, Reed may be
brought here and tried The grand jury
will report today the disposition it made
of the cases against Reed.
INSOLVENCY HEARING.
A hearing was held in the court of in
solvency, Thursday, on the petition of
Charles H. Grout, the we'll known mu-
$270O against the insoIvent estate Of his
I. 4
According to the petitioners claims, he
had loaned his brother, beginning with
1890. sums amounting to s2700. Suit was
brought in the superior court by the
petitioner against Francis W. Grout to
recover for moneys alleged due him;
and, while the case was pending, the
respondent went into insolvency. The
latter admitted the receipt Of a loan OF
SIPS, but denied receiving further sums.
Decision was reserved by the court, The
parties are brothers, but not in cordial
relationship owing to structures upon
private matters. Arthur P. Rugg app
peared for the petitioner; Henry f.
Harris for the respondent
ATTACHMENTS
Isabel G. Wilbur vs. James Hunt.
Worcester, $1,000, superior court of suf-
folk county; writ served by Early. j.
c. Batchelder for plaintiff.
Jessie W. Babcock ct AL VS. John f.
O'Brien, Cambridge, 5000, second district
court of eastern Worcester; writ served
by Bartlett w. H. Fay for plaintiff
John Z. Cullen VS.. Owen O'Keefe, Mil
ford, $500. third district court of south
ern Worcester; writ served by Smell. L.
E. Fales for plaintiff
William II. Fay, assignee, VS.. Josiah
w. rrc@ers, Clinton, $500, second district
court of eastern Worcester; writ served
by Bartlett. w. H. Fay for plaintiff
ToDAY's INSOLVENCY DOCKET.
| The docket in the court of insolvency
for today is as follows:
| 1495-George L. Lamson, Jr., West
Boylston, fourth meeting.
1527-Hiram P. Gerald, Brookfleld,
! fourth meeting.
| 1717-Aaron Jackson, Worcester. first