The San Francisco call., 1903-12-05
ANANIAS RIVALED
BY EX-SOLDIER
Harry Ginsburg's False
hoods Get Him Into
Trouble.
Goes on a Still Hunt for
His Relative and Is
jailed.

Harry Ginsburg, alias Harry Long,
an ex-soldier, occupies a cell in the
City Prison because he tried to outdo
the far-famed Ananias. AS a teller Of
stories that have no foundation In fact
the youthful prevaricator has few
equals in this practical century. No
charge has been placed against the
young man, because he has committed
no crime, but the police are holding
him in the hope that a few days i'm
prisonment will lead him into the paths
Of truth. Ginsburg owes his incarcera-
ton to J. Goldsmith, a 1eweler. resid-
ing at 633 McAllister street. A week
ago the ex-soldier called on the Gold
smith family in the hope Of finding q
relative. His home IL in New York.
and according to his statement his
mother had written him to hunt up an
alleged brother who she thought was
living in San Francisco. Ginsburg Inn
mediately went in quest Of the relative,
and in the course Of his wanderings
visited Mr.. Goldsmith. He presented
typewriter letter, which he said his
mother had sent him.
MANY WILD STATEMENTS.
He also told Mrs. Goldsmith that he
was staying at the Palace Hotel, was
major in the United States army, was
a graduate of West Point, was a civil
engineer by profession. intended open
ing an office IN the Claus Spreckels
building, had lots of money and a few
other things, all Of which were found
to be untrue.
Ginsburg proved a fluent talker and
impressed Mrs. Goldsmith; but the hus-
band was more practical. He took the
young mans statements with grain
Of salt and did little private inves-
tigating on his own hook. He soon
learned that Ginsburg was travelling
under the name of Harry Long, was an
ex-private in the Second Battalion. En-
gineer Corps, lived at 4541z Minna street
and was ION his uppers."
The next time Ginsburg called at the
house his reception was less fervent,
and the Goldsmiths, knowing his true
character, drew him out to see how
many more falsehoods he could tell.
Ginsburg outdid himself on his second
visit. He had lots of things to tell about
himself. He reached climax when he
informed Miss Clara Magees a young
lady residing with the Goldsmiths, that
he would engage her to be his stenog-
rapher, and invited her to go to the
office he claimed to rent in the Claus
Spreckels building.
GINSBURG IS ARRESTED.
Ginsburg continued his visits to the
Goldsmith house. and the master Of the
household feared he was a 'grafter"
and pointedly invited him to stay away.
Goldsmith had read a lot about porch
climbers" ''second-story workers" and
footpads, and he pictured Ginsburg as
being all three.
Ginsburg happened to pass Gold
smiths jewelry store, at 1917 O'Farrell
street, yesterday. The owner stepped
out and held the young man in conver-
passing Goldsmith informed the officer
that detective was looking for Gins
burg Much to the latter's surprise and
disgust he was taken into custody.
Ginsburg stated in the City Prison
that he came from New York and is of
a good family. He said he served in the
Philippines and had purchased his dis
charge after serving two years. He said
he was only "stringing" the Goldsmiths
and meant no harm. He said he was
not CRATER" and had never been i'm
prisoned.
The police are looking UP Ginsburg' 5
record, and will not allow him to go
until he satisfactorily accounts for his
peculiar conduct.