The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-24
NEWSBoYS' HOME sWINDLE.
White Lad Caught Collecting Sub
scriptions for Fraudulent Scheme

White Lad Caught Collecting Sub
scriptions for Fraudulent scheme.
Timothy Seaman, a 16-year-old white
boy was arrested as a suspicious charac-
ter by Detective julius Stark yesterday
afternoon. 1t is probable that, should the
case against the boy be pushed, he will
nave 40 answer the charges of cheating
and swindling, or obtaining money under
false pretenses, and. perhaps. forgery.
From the evidence already secured
against Seaman. he appears. despite his
youth, to be as audacious as he is clever
In his wrong-doing.
Inc boy came here from Jacksonville
about May s, bringing with him a letter
from prominent Mason of that city to
Weil-known Mason of Savannah, ask
ing mat assistance be given him in secur-
ing work. The youngster himself told a
narrowing story of being a native of CAL
weston, where, he said, both his parents
were drowned during the great storm last
fen. He said that he then went to Jack
sohVllle, where he was in the transfer
business, but that he had been forced 40
leave Florida because of the fire.
he Is a bright and plausible lad and
many took an active interest in him. One
bought him some clothes, and through the
interest of others, he was in short time
installed in position in the job depart
ment OF the Morning News, which he held
about week, then quit.
Nothing further was heard of him until
yesterday morning, when a message was
received at the Morning News office from
Messrs. Rourke & Son, saying that a boy
mad applied at that place for a subscrip-
ton toward the building of a newsboys'
nome and school in Saw
at the head of the list of donors was the
Morning News. The reply was that the
morning News knew nothing of the
scneme, nor of the signature on the paper
Ihen the police were notified, and the
boy was arrested as he came from his
room in the Thomas House When
searched and little change was found
on him. but in his room were found sew
eral papers. one of them, of which there
were several copies, was as
follows: Savannah Ga. May II, 1901
To whom 1t May Concern: The news
boys of Savannah will hold reunion
and picnic at Tybee on the 14th of June,
and we, the News Kids of Savannah will
appreciate anything donated to our cause.
This reunion will be held for the pur-
pose of building a newsboys home and
school in the city of Savannah. Respect
fully yours, Savannah News Boys Asso-
cldtlon' by PreS. by
Vice Pres. A few of those that have do
mated to our cause:''
Below this was a blank evidently in
tended for names.
The second paper is the following note
written on the letter paper of the Grand
Lodge. F. and A. NJ, of Florida: Mayor
Bowden: The bearer Timothy Seaman,
is the boy spoke to you about getting a
pass to Savannah for. Please give same
to him, and oblige. W. P. Webster,
Grand Secretary"
The paper that Seaman had been cir
culating and which led to his arrest was
not found, but from various persons whom
ne had approached with it it is known
that he had received several substantial
contributions, among them donations
Denmark, Alderman F. F. Jones, E. B.
Hunting Co., and others.
Several of the gentlemen that had been
approached by the boy went to the bar
racks, and identified the prisoner as the
bearer of the subscription list. When
arrested, the boy in his talk with the de-
tective, was cleverly evasive of commit
ting himself, but finally remarked: "Well,
If you identify me I guess I'll have to
suffer" When shown the papers that
were found in his room he denied any
knowledge of them. There is little doubt
however, that they are his as they bear
the water mark of the Morning News.
1t is estimated that Seaman collected
in all about $50. OF this one contribution
was in the form of a check, made pay
able to the News Bows Home"