The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-03
BEDFORD'S EVIL WAYS
YOUNG INSURANCE COLLECTOR
CAPTURED IN COLUMBIA.
HIS ACCOUNTS SHORT $4,000.
WAS HIs SECOND OFFENsE. FIRST
TIME HE GOT 5000.

Teen Years Ola, seems to Have
Lived High ON His Employers
Money-He Was Forgiven for His
Theft at First and Reinstuted and
Rewarded His Patron by Begin
ming His Dishonest Work Again.
viii BE Brought Back To-day.
The announcement made in the
Morning News yesterday that Nat
Bedford had been arrested in Column
bia on the charge of having stolen
from Mr.. George S. Haines of this
city. was read with some surprise by
the young mans friends in Savannah,
for few people had missed him from
the city.
The arrest of Bedford was made on
teiegra phic information furnished the
chief of police in Columbia by Supt
Garfunkel, and Deputy Sheriff Nc
Caffery left last night to bring him
back to the city to-day.
The surprise felt by those who knew
the young man was perhaps the most
pronounced where his history was best
known, and even those who have been
his friends until the present may de-
eide that his last performance puts
him outside the pale and will not wish
to be known as having gone with him.
That Mr.. Haines will prosecute Bed
ford for his latest offense is assured,
for within just about one year he has
proven himself the basest migrate. In
January, 1902 having stolen $500 from
his employer, Bedford left town. Re-
turning a few months later he was
nd treated we'll
and trusted fully; and again. on June
%, when questioned as to certain
transactions. he disappeared again.
Mr.. Haines said last night that he
had so far found Bedford $l26 short
this time and thinks there is probably
more.
Young But Too Clever.
Nathaniel L. Bedford is about IS
years of age. but has been at work for
some years and was regarded as an
excellent collector. quick and ready,
with something to say and way OF
making himself noticed. For some time
he had been employed by Mr.. G. ).
Haines, at 10 Bay street. east, and
was trusted and liked by his employer.
Some time in January, 1902, Bedford
left the city. He was short in his re-
turns and confidentially told some one
that he was going to Key West. This
was not true, for he went North from
here, and in Charleston or Port Royal
he entered into an apprenticeship on
a United States training ship. The
ship soon afterwards went TO New
York and Bedford having found that
hard work was not TO his taste. one
day in March took advantage of the
proximity OF a Savannah steamer and
dropped from a yardarm of the train
t1fV
slowed himself out of sight until the
steamer sailed and came back to Sa-
vannah. Reaching this city, with I'm
Gle Sans uniform on, he hid away at
his mothers home for some time. Fin
ally it was wen known that he was
here, and influence was brought to bear
upon Mr.. Haines to get him TO forgive
the youth and give him another trial.
The amount stolen was considerable and
the manner of leaving dishonorable,
but at length Mr.. Haines was persuad-
ed. Bedford was apparently very sorry
and made all kinds of promises and
went back to work.
Just why the United States did not
take cogniZance of Bedford's desertion
is not fully understood, but it was
said yesterday that the boy enlisted
under age without his parents con-
sent and under an assumed name. and
possibly this would render him not La
BILE to arrest for desertion.
showing His Gratitude.
Bedford worked along for time and
was apparently doing well and giving
satisfaction to his employer. His work
was appreciated and in order to en-
courage him Mr.. Haines gave him a
generous raise in salary on May /. But
his needs seemed to be considerable and
his expenditures in the way of amuse-
mept seemed to some perhaps to be out
OF proportion with his salary. On June
% Mr.. Haines had occasion to ask
about certain premium which was re-
ported unpaid, and which he thought
should be-and investigation showed
that it had been paid. to Bedford. Be
ing confronted with evidence Bedford
admitted the collection and his I'M
truth. but said that he had lost the
money"
How much more have you lost?"
asked his employer.
In answer Bedford protested that he
had lost no more; and then as though
suddenly remembering an engagement,
said that he had to meet one of Mr..
Haines' customers on Broughton street
at a certain hour, and went out saying
that he would be back in a few min
utes.
Not returning within reasonable time
Mr.. Eaines walked up to the place
where Bedford had said he was going,
near there. He then visited Bedford's
home and was told that the young man
had left a few minutes before, after
changing his clothes and putting on
the uniform worn by him at night,
when working for the Savannah Cab
Company. He had left word that he
was going to the Union Station, and
here Mr.. Haines found that Bedford
had bought ticket for the Southern
railway, to a point near Vaudeville,
and the train had just gone.
Something prompted Mr.. Haines to
make inquiries at the wharf. foot of
Whitaker street, and there he found
that Bedford had boarded the Clifton
with an excursion party and gone to
Beaufort-the ticket purchase being in
tended to throw off pursuit.
Arrested in Columbia.
warrant was then taken out in the
Office of G. Noble Jones charging Bed
ford with taking money, the amount
given being one of the premiums col
lected and not turned in that day. A
wire was sent to Beaufort, but no Of
ficer appeared al the wharf. and Bed
ford landed and from there went to
Columbia. He had been in Columbia
several days when arrested.
Yesterday the chief at Columbia was
asked whether or not Bedford would
return without .eXtraditon papers and
the answer was in the Affirmative.