Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-03-14
SELF-CONFESSED
confidence MAN.
AWAITING TRIAL
John Hale, Who Prsyed Upon
Ministers. Tells Story of
His Own Life.
WARDEN PLUMMER A VICTIM

sNo SWss snVs
WARDEN PlUMMER A VICTIM
John Hale. alias William l.. Clarke
alias roseman. with a record A. Tong
As his arm" according TO the notation
OF the authorities upon his history, Is
a prisoner In Bridgeport. Conn.,.
awaiting trial for attempting to on
tain money under false pretenses.
Hale viii be remembered as the mar
who fiecccd Warden NJ. S. Plummer
of the workhousc and the Rcv. +. NJ.
Klrkus Of this city and whose opera
tions have been reported from many
cities throughout tho United States.
since his arrest Hale talked at
length TO the bridgeport newspaper
men and one Of them wrote the fol-
lowing very interesting account OF
the young mans history and how he
operated throughout the country.
For twelve years this blond haired
brown eyed neat appearing young
man OF thirty-two years has been
living by his wits. making dupes OF
clergymen and prominent church
from Buffalo and Chicago, but that
now and then he strayed from this
we'll beaten path TO get some easy
money in Pennsylvania, Texas and
the New England states.
ministers are very easy. they are
80 easy that II seemed n shame not
60 take their money"-this state
mcnt was made by Hale 10 Pos
reporter in one OF the spare rooms
of the jail during the week. And a.
he made the statement a broad
smile envcloped his features
Hale said that during his years o.
making dupes OF ministers and such
nationally known figures as John ID
Rockefeller. Jr.. United States Sena
tor George Wharton Pepper, J. Y
Davidson Of J. l.. Morgan 4 Co. an,
George Horace Lorrimer Of the Sat
urday Evening Post. he probabl.
got from $40. 900 10 $1,000.
1T came easy and IL went a bi
easier" he said and again there cam
the big broad smile.
First False Step.
The young man traces his crimi
nal history back 20 1910 when h
forged a check in Boston and wa
sentenced TO the house OF correction
Deer Island. that city.
Prom that time on l have bee
living by my wits. with minister
and church people as my victims,
he said.
Hale said he made a mistake
coming here on the day he did.
1T was Friday, the thirteenth an
something seemed 10 tell me Will
was on the train 20 lay or III
game for a few days. but l needle
the money and the town locke
easy" he explained.
Without any trace OF regret fc
the lie he has been following nc
OF being at all worried over HI
present situation Hale very willing
~ placed some leaves from his boo
OF NE before the Post reporter.
Hale is a sufferer OF tuberculosis
and he says this condition has bee
q great aid TO him In putting ov,
his fraudulent games and also
getting released from prison niue
ahead OF scheduled time.
AuAious W Uet Ihl0 OIL
Keeping % tuberculsr prisone
is too expensive proposition Z
many counties. and / was all b
thrown out OF several places becau
OF my condition" he said.
The cell occupied by Hale is
the extreme end OF the row in q
north wing. Through the courte
OF Sheriff Simeon Pease. a Post T
porter was privileged TO spend mo
than an haur with the prisoner. !
Hale and the reporter made the II
through the corridor 20 a lar
square room. other prisoners choruss
BE sure that he IL the right maj
and Have you got him right. officer
Hale laughed heartily at the sallies.
AZ the opening Of his stateme
Hale explained that he comes fro
good family In Boston. o
brother IL a magazine writer OF mu
fame and is now In Europe on mag
zine assignments he said; another
an accountant In Los Angeles
Student at Harvard.
Hale was born in Boston. Novemf
20. 1883. and attended the gramm
schools In that city. Later he enter
the Exeter academy. remaining ur
1906. Then he finished the acaden
course in Harvard university, he ga
leaving that institution in 1910.
Hale says the way had been paw
for him TO enter the ministry or
become a doctor or lawyer.
But while ] Was debating as
what would be my LIES work, tn
came the need for money and
forged check for s110." he 81
For that offense ] served four mon
and twelve days in the House OF
rection. Now there was new ID
opened for me; that OF playing on
credibiliiy OF ministers. ] just tur
10 them as being the easiest victi
Results proved the wisdom OF
verdict. That path was soon broad
ed aud before long had by own te
tory. extending from Buffalo TO {
caso. And | certainly got money c
from some of the most prOmir
church people q the day. II
lvHIlITIAIn