Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-05-16
WAS A. BRILLIANT RASCAL.

| VINO - DnlEIIAVI nH0VHes
The Remarkable Criminal Career ofPau
D. Hart.
Paul d. Hart, or Edward O. StOddart
who is serving term of four years in
Clinton prison, New York. for crime
committed in the Tombs last March
| is, says the New York World, one OF
the most remarkable criminals in the
country He was locked up in New
York for some offense. waiting trial,
when he telegraphed to woman in
Toronto that be was in the Tombs un.
der arrest as Paul d. Hart, and that
he was her husband (Which of course
he was not) and asking that she send
by wire $400 to his attorney. She
promptly responded with the money.
| The woman s. husband was in New
York, as Stoddart we'll knew, and,
having sent the money, she hastened
thither and drove to the Tombs to see
her husband.
Stoddart says the meeting was de-
lightfully dramatic. Explanations
were necessarily made. Hart was
searched by Warden Hagan, a con-
siderable part of the $400 was found
upon him, and be was at once placed
on trial for the new offense.
He defended himself with some
ability, denying the general facts. but,
of course, conviction followed and the
penalty on it's heels.
Had there been only this case to
deal with Hart might even have escap-
ed scot free, but another woman sud-
denly appeared from Indiana. She had
not stopped to send the money that
StOddart had telegraphed for. claiming
that he had been innocently locked up
as a witness of street murder, but
had brought it with her.
And from other sources money in
various sums came for "Hart'' in
amounts from $50 to 5000.
Stoddart's most eminent knavery
took place in Tennessee, where be for
ged his way out of prison. Stoddart
had been down South OIL foraging
expedition, moving from place to place,
because, as he says, be ''had to always
go somewhere else," when be was ar
rested for 4 forged check and sentenced
to ten years in the penitentiary. This
offense, committed at Murfreesboro ,
was marked by his peculiar methods. |
He advertised for mules-"the sub |
scribers would buy for spot cash, good |
mules seventeen hands high, from three
to seven years old, brought to the
Chatham Livery Stables on the 24th /
instant, between 10 a. m. and p. m.
Mules must pass accredited State
surgeon"
On the gath Murfreeboro was filled
with mules. They came from all the
central part of the State. from South.
arn Kentucky and from the Blue Grass
regions in ENTHUSIASTICALLY thousands
Of them. But there was no purchaser.
He had disappeared on the Nashville
train the evening before, after buying
oats and straw, hay and halters and
engaging men to care for the mules
and cashing various checks and drafts
for sum aggregating thousand dol
ars or more.
The indignant Southerners cried
aloud for his punishment, and Stod |
lart, having been caught, was lucky to
escape into convict camp, where he
lug coal by day and slept on chain
~ night.
1.-The life was,' he says, something
awful,' and Stoddart set about freeing
himself as soon as possible. With some
money he had smuggled into the camp
le bribed a warden to furnish him with
writing materials, and he wrote letter
which he signed with the name of the
governors closet political friend dated
IN the train or the way o Washing
'on. The letter was in effect as fol
ows:
81 wish you would release Edward
Stoddart at once, now u convict
in Merrill's camp. Have him
Up to Nashville and give him a good
ecture. His people are fine folks upt
n Massachusetts and my best friends.
You better let him have credit of
; 200 and see that be goes right home.
[ have fully Investigated the case and
it is proper subject for the action l
ask, as will explain" etc.
How Stoddart was able to initiate
The handwriting successfully has not
oeen discovered. Probably be had had
with the governors
friend and treasured memory of his
for possible future use.
The chances we're desperate, but
Stoddart was in desperate straits, and
agreeably to hopes rather than his ex
oectatiOnS the order for his release and
the payment of his fare to Nashville
came down in few days To this day I
oddart deplOres especially his failure ,
10 get to Nashville. He says it cost him
)ne of the most interesting situations
le had ever devised namely, the chance
to appear before the governor with |
feigned humility and gratefully accept
the $500 that 1.-The governors friend"
had asked for.
But the allurements at a barroOm at
q railroad junction on the way be-
trayed him, and after he had spent the
few dollars he had in bis pocket he was
arrested for vagrancy. He espent three
days in Jail and when released he was
overdue at Nashville and his trick had
been discovered. He, however. took
to the woods and mountains, and after
incredible hardships and perils got
across the Ohio river and breathed |
froalu nnca more