The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-04
PAID $24 FOR PICTURES
JUDGE GASToN BELIEVES HE WAS VICTIM OF SPINDLE.
H. E. Evans Showed Signatures of State Officials and Sold Engrav- ings of Presidents-Used
 Senator Morgan's Name.

The police of Montgomery are anxious to locate H. Emmett Evans. supposedly of New York City, who is accused by Judge J. 5. Gaston of the County Pro- bate Court of having swindled him out of $24.
 It is not thought that Evans is in Mont gomery. He was seen Thursday night by the clerk of the Exchange Hotel. who was told by Evans that he was going to leave Montgomery for Selma, but would return last night. He did not put in an appearance at the hotel last night.
 Thursday afternoon, a well-dressed young man went into the Probate Court office at the county court house, and asked for Judge Gaston. The young man introduced himself as H. F. Evans of Washington, saying he was nephew of Hon. H. Clay Evans. United States Con- sul-General at London.
 Evans said he was selling a series of steel engraved portraits of the Presidents of the United States These portraits, he said, were exact copies of the pictures of the Presidents in the White House and were made by special order of q commit tee from the United States Senate. He went on to explain that the portraits ir the White House were of great historic value, some of them being the work o1 Amercas most famous artists. They were. however. inaccessible to the view | of the public, and the committee helo | that as steel engravlngs of them were be- | ing made for the Congressional Library it would be well to run off about 5VO ex- tra copies for distribution over the United States. Evans said that the engravings were really works of art and worth a great deal of money. Senator John T. Morgan. a member of the committee, he said. had furnished him list of the names of his constituents whom he de- sired should have the portraits. The name of Judge Gaston, he said, was on the list. small amount would be charg- ed, just $1 for each picture. of course, this would not begin to pay for them. Evans explained.
 A list of citizens of Montgomery was shown Judge GastOn, whom Evans said had subscribed for the pictures. Among names on the list were those of Hon F. B. Joseph, Mayor of Montgomery; Hon. J. Craig Smith, State Treasurer; Hon. Thomas l.. Sowell, State Auditor. an1 others.
 Write me out check for $24" said Judge Gaston, to one of the clerks in the office Make it payable to H. F. Evans. v
 Judge Gaston then asked Evans for his letters from Senator Morgan. The suave look that had covered the countenance of Evans during the whole conversation did not fade away.
 T have no letters from Senator Nor gan" he replied. We didn't think 1t was necessary under the circumstances. But I can show you the cover to the book"
 The cover was produced It was expen- siye in makeup and beautiful in design. Judge Gaston was convinced.
 Where is General Morgan?' he asked Evans.
 Tn Selma. his home" replied Evans.
 The check was handed to Evans, and he went away.
 Soon after Evans departed. Judge Gaston became suspicious and drove to the State Capitol to see State Treasurer Smith. MT. Smith told Judge Gaston he had signed his name to the paper upon representations made by Evans and Evans was tn send him a set of the pictures free. Evans, he said. told him he was selling the pictures for $4S a set
 It developed that Evans had secured the signatures of other State officials and of Mayor Joseph on the same representa- tion.
 Judge Gaston inquired as to the where abouts of Senator Morgan, He found