The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-05-03

About the middle of March. 1910.
one Prof. Goodwin, clairvoyant
nd fortune teller. came TO this town
nd advertised to tell fortunes. read
me past. reveal the future and give
advice on speculation and financial
investments. He was patronized by
"a large number OF credulous people
md for a week or ten days did a
and office business. Then he picked
I'D and departed for parts unknown
without previous notice. A few days
later II leaked out that he had swind-
led a young man out of some seven
hundred dollars by fllm-ham game.
The facts I'm the case were published
q the time and readers OF this pa
per will probably recollect thu oc-
currennc9. Efforts were made at once
20 locate Goodwin. but for several
months nothing was heard OF him.
Finally he was captured in Ohio and
vas brought back to Sumter on re-
luisition issued by Governor Ansel
Within a few days after he was
brought here and committed TO jail
\ friend OF his arrived from New
York and employed Messrs. j. III.
Clifton and c. Capers Smith to
represent Goodwin. At the prelimin-
ary befors Magistrate Hardy a strong
case was made out and he was held
for trial at the next term of the court
of General Sessions. the bond baing
fixed at $4,000. His friends claimed
10 be unable TO raise this amount and
Goodyin was remanded to jai, where
he remained for several weeks. His
attorneys went before Associate JUS
lice Eugene Gary and he reduced the
bond to $4,000. but Goodwins friends
could not put up this amount at
Dnce. Eventually 1t was ar
ranged by his attorneys that Good
win should be released on $3.50 bond,
that he refund TO the young man
taken from him and all expenses to
ehich he had been put In locating
and procuring the arrest OF Goodwin,
which aggregated altogether about
1850. Goodwin's friend put up the
required amount and ne lett Sumter
an speedily as possible When court
convened Goodwin did nor appear Tor
trial. but the grand jury found a true
bill against him, and his bond was
ordered forfeited TO the county. 1t
was the common belief that this was
the last that would be heard OF
Prof. Goodwin In these parts, but
there Is another chapter to the story
which Is supplied by New York
woman who seems to have been an
intimate friend Of Goodwin and who
ls well acquainted with his criminal
record.
IRE Daily Item Is i'm receipt Of
COPY Of letter written by this wo-
man 20 Mr.. Horace Hardy. who oc-
cupied the office OF Magistrate at the
time Goodwin was arrested and
brought back 10 Sumter. Enclosed in
the letter was a picture OF Goodwin,
n picture Of Goodwin's pal. Frank
s. Ryan and OF Ryans wife, and also
a copy OF the Syracuse. n. Y. Even
ing Herald OF April 5th. which con-
tains an article concerning the failure
OF the Syracuse police to arrest
Ryan. who Is wanted I'm Boston.
Mass. for swlndling a woman out Of
$4,000.
The letter from the woman. Mar
garst Raymond Is quite interesting
and asks questions which are pertinent
to the case. She puts 1t up to the Of
hcers of the law OF Sumter county to
say whether or not Goodwin is TO be
permitted TO go free. with no other
punishment than the payment of the
cash bond. which ne forfeited. 1t is
a plain, blunt question that Solicitor
Stoll. Sheriff Epperson or some other
Official whose duty II is to apprehend
and prosecute criminals should make
haste To answer. II crooks OF the
Goodwin type are satisfied that they
can come here and commit crimes
and suffer no greater hardship. IL
unlucky enough 10 he caught than
the payment OF nominal cash bond.
they will make this a regular field for
their swindling operations and will
not object to the payment OF bond
once in awhile as sort OF license
fee for the privilege.
The letter of Margaret Raymond,