The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-22

The special telegram from Washing
ton, published exclusively in TIE
TIMES yesterday morning, in reference
to the sudden departure from that city
of Robert e. Clark, and of his leaving a
number of worthless checks behind
him, saved ono of Roanol1e's real estate
firms from losing $1,000.
Tho firm in question is the owner of a
valuable property of mineral nature
which has recently been discovered
near Roanoke. One of the firm procured
a quantity Of the samples and went to
Washington January 27 for the purpose
of placing the stock or selling out to
syndicate.
While seeking such deal he became
acquainted with Clark, who offered to
stock the company by advertising the
concern according to his plan, which he
said was the best yet adopted. To do
this he required 81 200 for advertising.
Tho contract was closed and the Roa-
nokc man came away, promising to send
his check for the 81, 900 as soon as the
papers were prepared. In duo time the
papers came, and on Friday last the
check was made out ready to send. But
on Saturday morning TIE TIMES said
that Clark was not all right, and the
az bASlS CtNE Ht buc CGc Vi Ilc man WITH
the check in his pocket, and it didn't go
any further.
In letter to the firm regarding the
transaction Clark was endorsed by sew
| eral banks and all leading papers in
Washington.
The Washington Post gives the fol-
lowing concerning Clarke's operations:
The name of Robert Il. Clarke, of
Robert L. Clarke & Co., investment
and real estate brokers'" is familiar to
newspaper readers everywhere. For
months past his advertisements have
been among the most conspicuous in
all the great newspapers of Northern
cities, rs well as those of Washington.
Among the out-ot-town newspapers in
which he advertised extensively were
the New York Sun and the Cincinnati
Enquirer. When he advertised in more
obscure papers, which were less partcu-
lar, he paid for his advertisements in
town lots He had an Office in the At
lanta building, having three rooms on
tho third floor
Ills Office windows bore remarkably
imposing array Of signs. Among them
were: Southern Land Exchange"
metropolitan Cooperative Bank of
New York, capital $1,000. 000;' New
port News, Hampton and Old Point De-
''ioPilitho ColllpdIly, capital -, UUO,UOO,
and other titles as imposing.
lie would sell lots in Bedford City, Va,
or sell stock in tho Virginia Land Com
pany. He offered investors in the Mu-
tual Investment Association OF Balti-
more, opportunities To secure Il return
OF SO for 81 Il month in three months.
lie would sell stock in the Southern
Land Company, of Baltimore, at $40 Il
share, or he would, rs the Southern
Land Exchange, invest any amount
from 81 to 81 900 in Pasadena City Basic
City, Roanoke, Glasgow. Bucna Vista,
Norfolk, Lynchburg, or Baltimore.
Perhaps the real cause of Clarkc's alb
scnce from the city is to be found at the
Columbia National Bank, where, though
he has not cent to his credit, n score or
SO of checks for sums aggregating thou
sands OF dollars have been presented for
payment. Oddly enough, all these checks
were dated the Goth of February, so that,
though they were given at various times,
they were all payable yesterday. Mrs.
Baldy's check for 81 100 is the largest
one though there are others for
big amounts. The fact that Clarke
made all checks payable yesterday
would indicate that he expected some
thing to happen on that day.