The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-10
LAWYERS ARE HIS PREY.
4 WHOLE LOT OF THEM TICTIMS or
ONE GEORGE SMITH.

|
! He Tells n Tale of n Cable Accident to
| Legal Sharps, Shows CHASTITY Wounds
| and Bandnges, Engages Them as Coun-
| sci in II Damage Suit, and Borrows W.
There is u clever imrostor. who calls HIM
| self George Smith and also George Smyth.
| floating about, presumably In this town, who
| has recently fooled n lot OF smart LAWYERS
| with n varied tale OF injuries done.to him by a
| Third Avenue cable car. inducing some Of
| them to bring suits for damages In his name
| and getting each one Of them to lend him n
small sum to help him out of his present diff
| nculties. Up to date tho names OF about q
dozen lawyers arc known who have been in
ducsd to let "Smyth' haze money. Two have
| actually begun damage suits against the Third
Avenue road on the strength OF the man 8
cleverly told story.
The first Of the suits was brought by Lawyer
James A. Donegan OF Temple Court on May
for $4,000 damages. The second suit was
brought by McCrea. Somerville 4 Taylor OF 80
West Broadway early this month. These
were not, however, the first to whom 'Smyth"
told the story of his injuries with success. al
though II is evident from the differences to be
traced in his methods that he was improving
in his way Of telling it as he gained expert
encc.
One OF the first lawyers he visited was NJ
W. Hart of the Bennett building. This was
about six weeks ago. Although "Smyth" in
sisted on showing his wounds in Mr. Harris
office. the latter was lmnessed by the story
Of the alleged accident only enough to promise
to look II up the next dav ana to advance the
sum CT ~ cents to keep the injured man alive
Unit Until he saw him again n other parts Of the
getting %p 81 frSm Moses Fak o several Gi flo
below MI. Harris Office and smaller sums from
others.
nh I
peared at:Nir. Donegans ofilce There is no
doubt to; day in Mr., Donegans mind that the
dent. The index finger on his left hand was
nsep br"e ms be5w t h so ne anJ MS he e
swellsd to nearly double it's proper size beneath
handaGes; his right arm had been broken and
he could not breathe through Il. His spine.
he declared. was irreparably hurt and the doc.
tors tod him that the base OF his skull was
Il had no SUSPICION that the fellow was
he told me that he had been rerommendsI 10
lIorers Of the Fail liver Inc. This may easily
SEompaSSyr /. seventy ,aEs5 GhesimenSi: under
discharged he was sick. and upon applying TO
Miss Helen Gould got some money and letter
hat o enabled him i'm to get into Hospital A n
he was hurt, lie was walking across, 10Th
street at Third avenue IN the fog about >,
and broke him, all up. He only got dollar or
two out of me-
Mr.. DoneGan showed a long memorandum
OF the names OF policemen and witnesses who
''Sn,th" said had seen the accident
1t Was on Nay 81 that Smyth turned rn up at
saw Mr. Taylor Although q. month had
elnpsed since he appeared at Mr.. DonsGan's
they had been before nnl. he was as anxious to
show them. He told, Nj Taylor that a He
long friend of the later had sent him to him,
was written the following memorandum OF
his accident and the witnesses:
Georgc smith against Third Avenue cable line.
Conductor William Ryan: Policeman TAYLOR. badge
W MI mn HEn East "a g Sc 6ar 2 w
nSth 20. Mrs. Riley, 10 Fast 18th. DR.. Beach and
Dr. Spraker, Bellevue
Although he was hurt in August he said he
had been out Of TIE hospital only two days
The accident had occurred. as he said before.
at 123th street and Third, avenue, but this
ing He was the second engineer on n New
Haven line boat. and was on his way TO work
Mr. i.auterbaeh Of Iioadily. iauteTbach i John.
son That day; he toid ~ Mr Taylor am, and Ind re-.
rowed 81 OF Mr. TAYLOR and went away He
was back in the afternoon, sho red Mr., TAYLOR
again to see Mr.. Iauterhach and that the offer
had been raised to $4,000 for settlement
in the same building.
Every:few days recently Mr., Scheuerman Of
Hondly l.anterharh 4 ,Johnson. who has
call on the telephone from come new .lawyer
who tells him that "Smyth" has engaged him
to bring suit for damages.
swsr o that is generalIy: What do You mean"
rs that 's sos Well he got IS - COO Good.Sy"