The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-19
He TOOK 'EM ALL IN
sHREWD GERMAN MUSICIAN A KING
OF swINDLERS.
FLEECED A DRUMMER FIRST
ii. G. JACOBSON HELD ON FOUR
CRIMINAL CHARGES.


tor GiIden OF AIhambrn Music
HalI-Jacobson Met Murphy, Who
is Perfume Drummer. in Jackson
viIIe-Represented That He WAS
Travelling for Big Chicago Piano
Firm-ExpenSe Check Did Not show
Up and Got SO TO Come to Savau-
nah with Murphy-Sent a TeIe-
gram TO Himself and Opened IL in
Presence of Murphy at De Soto
HoteI-BorrOvved S15 More and
Then stole SIO-A Trip Through
the TenderlOin With Variations
and jacobson slipped Away-TOoIS
the Wrong Train and Cornered at
Guyton.
After sailing under false colors for at
least a week, II. G. Jacobson, aged 81
years and native of Germany, is held
at the police station on four
charges: Obtaining $50 under false pre-
lenses from Howard V. Murphy of New
York; the larceny of SO from the same
party; cheating and swiudling the De
Soto out of two days board and OBJ
tanning a ticket from Fernandina to Sa-
vannah from Neil Gildea. proprietor of
the Alhambra Music Hall, under false
pretenses. jacobson makes no denial of
any of the charges, and in the opinion
of the police he is an all-around crook
and CRATER
The man is a musician OF ability, speaks
several languages fuenuy, is neat
dresser, a smooth talker and above all
can throw a splendid front" This slang
word is the only one that will cover all
of Jacobsons accomplishments, and is
the real secret of his success. He has
Travelled all over the United States is IA
miliar with the names of all of the lead
ing hotels, and in a word. has all of the
requirements of frst-class confidence
man. He claims Fernandina as his home
and says that he has a wife and child
there The police say that this part of
his story is untrue.
The victim in the case is Howard V.
Murphy. a Western man, representing
Richard Hudnut. perfumer and chemist,
Of NJ. 925 Broadway, New York. The
perfume man says that he has been trav-
cling for twelve years, and in that time
than jacobson. So much for the chief
characters in the drama that ended yes
terday morning with the arrest of Jacob
san at Gryton by Detective j. J. Murphy.
The remainder of the story of deception
and rogUery can be told better in the
order of the happenings.
Employed by GiIdea.
Last week jacobson left Fernadina on
a ticket furnished him by Neil Gildea.
: He agreed to act as musical director az
the Alhambra Concert He'll, and with
this understanding he was furnished
transportation. Jacobson landed in Jack
sonville Thursday and stopped at one of
the big hotels. 1t was there that he met
Murphy and played his first card. He
stated that he represented a well-known
piano and organ firm of Chicago and had
been attached to the Dallas branch of the
house Quite recently he had been put in
charge of the business in Florida and
Georgia, with headquarters at Fernan-
dina. jacobson represented that he was
a member of the Travellers Protective
Association and told of the officers of the
Dallas branch OF that association. Muir
ply knew them all and never for a
moment doubted the story of his
newly made friend To all APP
pearances the man was gentleman,
surely he was a fellow drummer and it
for his credentials.
Sunday Jacobson mentioned to Murphy
that his expense check had been ordered
sent to this city and he would have 40
write the postmaster here to forward 1t.
The New York man said he understood
perfectly we'll how a travelling man might
miss connections with his expense money
and offered to see Jacobson through to
Savannah. He had been caught in just
such a FIX and had been helped out by
strangers and he would only be too glad
to do what he could for the supposed rep
resentative of the Chicago firm. Jacobson
did not wish to appear too anxious, but
remarked that inasmuch as they were to
visit the same places for a week or more
ii would be pleasant to travel together.
He accepted loan of SIS, paid his hotel
fare bill and left with his "angel' for
Savannah, reaching here Tuesday noon.
sent Telegram to Himself.
Before leaving Jacksonville Jacobson
realized that something would happen
when Murphy found that the expense
money was not in Savannah. II did not
take him many minutes to decide upon a
plan and, going TO the telegraph office, he
sent a telegram TO himself in this city.
1t was signed in the name of the Chca-
go firm, and stated that the expense
check had been sent TO Augusta. The
telegram was sent to the De Soto Hotel,
and Jacobson began his trip to Savannah
with light heart. He talked interesting
ly on the train. and appeared thoroughly
at ease. When the two men reached the
De Soto and had registered, the clerk
handed Jacobson the telegram from
Jacksonville. He read it to Murphy. and
expressed regret that matters had taken
such a turn.
Murphy did not doubt that the telegram
was the genuine article. and told Jacob
son not to worry, and that he would see
him through until the letter could be for
warded from Augusta The men were as
signed rooms. and at the request of ia
cohson, Murphy accompanied him to the
Postal telegraph office. where the piano
man made his bluff stronger. He sent a
telegram to the postmaster at Augusta
asking that his letter with the check be
forwarded at once to the De Soto Hotel.
The perfume drummer paid for the send
ing Of the bogus message. revenue stamp
and all, and once more Jacobson felt
safe.
After dinner Tuesday Jacobson an
nouneed that he was about 70 sell bis
bin OF goods 20 Ludden & Bates, and that
he would have 20 do the right thing by
tho purchasers. lie was at a disadvant.
age because OF a lack OF funds, and init.
mated that he would like 10 make an
other borrow. He wished TO take some
Of the local music people on "A lark and
naaNtN a