Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-12-20
PATTERSON SERVED
TERM IN PRISON
out Of Jail Just One Month When He
Started the Shippcnshurg
Enterprise.

"Wednesday The World told OF
Benjamin Franklin Patterson, who is
Wen known in this city, about his
promotion" scheme 10 build troll
ley line at shippensburs. Pa, and of
how he wronged one farmer out OF
$4,000 and then skipped. Wednes.
days Chambersburg Valley Spirit
published a lengthy article about
Patterson and gave full account OF
his doings and prison records. The
Valley Spirit says
BENJAMIN Franklin Patterson. the
promoter of the now abandoned troll.
ley line from Shippensburg to New
burg, made pretty straight streak
from the government prison at At.
lanta. Ga. to take up the trolley
trick in Shippensburg. This news
paper has obtained from Major Rich
ard Sylvester, superintendent Of the
Metropolitan police department of
Washington, u. c., with the assist
ance of Constable Levi |. Weast, OF
Shppensburg, the following synop-
sis OF the criminal record OF Pat
tersoh since 1884:
Washington. ID. c..
Dec. IL, 1913.
Criminal record of Benjamin r.,
Patterson, No. 2246, (white) as
known to the Bureau of Criminal
Identification. Metropolitan Police
Department.
1884, arrested, Freehold, N. j., For.
gerry, found guilty appealed to SUI
preme Court and was acquitted.
Dec ., 1903. arrested. Washington.
ID G., false pretense, tbogus
Ichecks); compliments. Andrew
Kelly, Judd e. Detweller, Nathan
Horn and Edwin S. LA Fetra. Or
ficers, Wleedon and Tyser- May
IL, 1904. released by Judge II. NJ
Clabaugh and delivered TO author
!. tiles of Chase City, Wa.
July 81, 1910, arrested, 0lean, NJ
Y, grand larceny. returned to Buff
falo, N. ". held for grand jury,
admitted to bail, case set for Sept.
26, 1910
Sept %, 1910. arrested, Washington,
ID. c., false pretense (bogus
) check; complainant, Woodward q
Lothrop Officers, Cox & Berman
March 2, 1911. years pen.
Wanted I'M Olean. N. Y. Atlantic
CITY, n. j., Wellsvlle, N. ", and
Connellsville. Pa.
! Patterson is man seventy-three
. yaars OF age and exceedingly active,
both mentally and physically. for his
years. When he was younger and
gayes he disported himself for silor,
! periods as IN. G. Martin" and bird
: ii hot a marten, he then proved TO
, be. He hoped from branch bank to
: branch bank where he left his giee.
full notes and he sang from leafy
tree wherever he could get an aud
fence that had cash In its pockets
Ills mellow tones brought him much
I support.
: He was last arrested In September.
OF 1910, at the Colonial hotel. York,
: for passing worthless draft on a
I Washington firm. For this oTense
he was tried in tie district AM SEN
7 fenced TO a term of two years in the
Atlanta penitentisry. Cool behay-
, Tor got reduction OF his term and
scon after he was in Ship ,cnsburs.
very hear TO the place Of hi, .arller
wroEg-doing, using his own birth.
; name to advance a scheme tha.
seemed certain to bring speedy dis
aster IL not criminal default
Patterson attempted few large
deals In Chambersburg but was not
; tc purchase from the Cumberland
Valley railroad track material and
also from the high line contractors
he tried TO buy one or more loeomo-
tives. Neither transaction was COM
pleted In his visits to Chambers
: burg he made no concealment OF his
Identity and, indeed, in one or more
instances sought persons who had
known him earlier in Martinsburg
aud elsewhere.
In the records OF the detective bu-
raau at Washington under date Of
Dec. 3, 1908, Patterson is described
thus; Age Ga, height 5 feet 4 inch
es, weight 1874, hair gray, eyes hazed,
build stout, complexion fiorid, NOUS
tache gray; birthplace Monmouth, ~
j.. occupation railroad man; both
hands crippled, small scar at root Of