The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-12-04
TO HIDE HIS PAST
c. v. HARRIS CLAIMS HE PASSED
OFF AS a MINISTER.
BROUGHT FACE TO FACE
WITH REV. c. A. HAMILTON, WHOSE
NAME HE BORROWED.

In Wilmington, n. c., Last April
Harris Was Authorized by Mar
tinsViIle Minister to Make COIIec-
tiOns for Gospel Tent-Was Never
Heard of Afterwnrds-Never Re-
ported to the EvangeIist-UpoH
His Arrival in Savannah lie Was
Recognized as Man Arrested Ten
Years Ago for Theft Here.
wolf in sleeps clothing. c. v.
Harris who attempted to palm him
self off as Rev. C. A. Hamilton of Mar
tinsville, Va, will be before Recorder
Myrick in Police Court this morning
on a charge of cheating and swindlng.
He admitted his identity last night
at police headquarters when he was
brought face to face with the genuine
Rev. Mr.. Hamilton, whose name he
had borrowed. Harris was convicted of
theft in Savannah about ten years ago
and declared that he took the name
of Hamilton in this city only, and for
no other reason than that he did not
care to have the old scrape recalled.
Harris confessed that he had no right
to wear the garb of a minister, but
insisted that he had never stated to
any one that he was a licensed preach
er. His meeting with the real Mr..
Hamilton was not the first one. Last
April, in Wilmington, N. c., he gained
the confidence of the evangelist and
secured the subscription list that was
toll l,t,x 4, IL
a prisoner by Detective Murphy Mon
day.
Was Allowed to Collect.
AS c. V. Harris, the sanctimonious
looking individual was authorized to
make collections for the gospel tent
that had been destroyed in Augusta,
but he was to keep in touch with Mr..
Hamilton and later they were to preach
together. Harris was told that he
could pay his expenses out of what
he collected, and when the tent was
secured that he could divide the time
with Mr.. Hamilton, who was impressed
with his sincerity. Nothing more was
heard of Harris by the evangelist I'M
til his arrest in Savannah under the
name of Hamilton.
The Martnsville minister was doub-
ly surprised when a policeman showed
him a telegram from Supt Garfunkel
asking for information about Rev. c..
A. Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton at once
denounced the man as an imposter, but
could not imagine who he was. The
evangelist was studying a time table,
with Savannah as his objective point,
when the MartinsvSle officer showed
him the telegram from the Savannah
police. He decided to come here at
Harris Seemed Straight.
Upon his arrival Mr.. Hamilton reg
istered at the Pulaski House. After
he had been given a description of
the prisoner by representative of
the Morning News he decided that the
man must be Harris and he at once
called at police headquarters, He
told the officers that he had believed
Harris to be all that he claimed and
had willingly let him have the sub
scription list that was found on him
when he was arrested.
The evangelist had never heard a
word from Harris, and had long since
given him up as lost He said that
Harris had appeared thoroughly in
earnest and seemed to be a smart fell
low. He was not surprised that he
had collected as much money as the
subscription list showed, some 5000.
Harris admitted that two pages had
Deen TORN OIL anu II cannot De LOlQ
just how much money he got.
When confronted by the evangelist
Harris made excuse after excuse and
finally declared that only a few hours
before his arrest he had forwarded
$50 to Mr. Hamilton. This money, of
course, was not received. Harris de-
clared that his only object in using
| the name Hamilton in Savannah was
| that he did not want his police record
,s,x roA nd Io tnhf hoe 70 oI,,v,
| his name would throw those who
knew him off their guard. In this he
| was mistaken and as soon as he was
recognized his identity was disclohed
! to Detective Murphy, who arrested
him as soon as he could be located.
! Harris was then making collections as
| Hamilton, and was found in a Bay
street office.
Claims He Has Reformed.
Harris has a clerical look that made
| it easy for him to palm himself off
as the evangelist He admits having
| from time to time been engaged in
several enterprises, although he says
| that he is a hotel man as a rule. He
| declares that he has tried to live down
his past and that he has been guilty
! of no wrong doing since his arrest in
! Savannah ten years ago.
In the present case he claims that
| he IltS dClGu III SOOu ldllIls Dul lIlG pO-
| lice will push the charge of cheating
| and swindling. Mr.. Hamilton is only
| offended because Harris saw fit to use
| his name and expressed no desire to
see the unfortunate man punished fur
! Their. But the police are unwilling to
| turn Harris adrift and he will be
formerly arraigned. Mr.. Hamilton was
| told to be present at the preliminary
| examination.
The Martinsville evangelist has been
considering making Savannah his Win
| ter headquarters, it being too cold in
| the North to do any tent work. He
will remain in this section of the coun-
! try and will probably hold several serv-
ices here. Mr.. Hamilton comes to Sa-
vannah with credentials, and during
his stay will make the Pulaski House
! his headquarters. He has already Sc
cured a sufficient sum to pay for a
gospel tent, that he recently purchased,
and this tent will probably be shipped
| here.
-