Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-27
HARVEY BLAIR CAPTURED.
As Robert ". Harvey Alias George p,
Sage, He Il Taken In Mexican.

Sage. He IL Taken In Michigan.
Robert II. Harvey alias Harvey Blair
alias George r. Sage, the bank-forger who
broke out OF the Hartford county jail
at Bclair on October 9Th, was captured
at Lansing. Mich. Saturday. by n Pinker-
ton detective. lie was at his old tricks,
playing the pious racket" masqueradin,,
under the name OF REV. Charles O. Glib
SON. and selling religious song books and
hymns.
During the last two years he has de-
fr8uded number OF banks Of probably
N0,V". He Is said TO have been born in
virginia, and TO have moved with his
parents 20 Philadelphia when a boy. His
father n reputable businessman Of Phil
adelphia' died some years ago. HIS
mother. now quite Old stil lives In Phil
adelphia. Two brothers are In business In
that city. The prisoner IS the only mem
Der of the family who has followed a Grim
inaIs life
some time In the eighties he Is said
10 nave served term In the California
state prison. after which he went TO Mon
tana and then 10 Topeka. Kan. where.
under the name OF Robert II. Alexander.
he claimed 10 be engaged by Rand. Nc
Nally Co, publishers. OF Chicago. He
became connected with the Good Tenn
plars. the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion. and other organizations. and Is said
TO have married into a very respectable
family.
on November #. 1889. he was arrested
in Washington. ID. G.. for forging several
checks for small amounts lie was then
wanted in Montana and Colorado for
forFcricS there, ana an effort was made
70 eNiraditc him. but ~ was tried for the
Washington offences and was sentenced
70 the Albany pententiqry for three years
In tho following October he secured the
name Of the cashier Of the Twin Valley
Bank OF West Alexandria, O., TO assist
In the swlndle which Harvey afterward
pcrpctra'ed
On November 10. 1889, at Elmira. he Sc
cured from bank there S2l3O on a
forged draft dated October q. 1892 pur-
ported 10 be issued by the Twin Valley
Bank Of West Alexandria. O., on the
National Bank Of the Republic Of New
York city.
From Elmlra ne went to Cleveland. O..
whore he sWindlc1 Wariweu & CO. with
a draft for Si22 20. purporting 10 be issued
Issued by the Merchants Bank Of R'ng-
hamton, y. y, on the New York city
Bank. He also succeeded In swindIing
banks at Chicago on March Of. 1893; at Mt.
N'lhfsis ~ ] On JUN - l0fHs III lFf-
lair. Nd. on Nay II. 1891 at Worcester.
Mass. on June %. 1894, and many others
Last June Harvey victimzed Quinsl-
Gamon1 National Bank OF Massachu-
sctts ont OF 1886 by means OF 4 forged
craft ON the same day ne went TO Pro-
whence y. l.. where he passed a check
for 5000 on tine Qu'nsigamond National
Bank. Turportirg 10 have been signed
10y Frank Moullon, which name Harvey
had assumed. He was posing then as
q Prohibitionist and contributed largely
10 the cause Of Prohibition and to
churches in Providence.
In his operations Harvey has used the
following aliases: Henry NJ Thomas
Reade Halfori. Herbert T.. Roberts,
Ralph 9. Hunter. a. G. Hinckley, Shor-
man Melchell. Henry ". Hunter. Law
reno Stevens. \. G. Buckley. G. Il. HIS
Geek. Henry y. Scott, Frank G. Woods
George +. Sage. Frank Moulton. Walter
T. Snow. ". II. Niles, G. w Selson. w.
II. Gunner. Victor Pennick, and, last OF
all. Rev. Charles o. Gibson.
He is q years Of age. ; feet and 81
inches tan, hrs dark brown hair. and
gray eyes weighs Is pounds, at times
", drs a dark mOu-tache and burnside
whiskfrs. Trimmed closely: could raise
heavy beard II it was allowed 70 grow;
he's heavy eyebrows. a forehead full over
The eyes. and a ColOTless complexion: oc
cupation. journalist; habits temperate;
upper teeth false: hands large, broad,
and muscular; sharp chin. somewhat pro-
truaing: large lumpy feet. and walks
p.geon-toe1: is ungraceful in movements;
IS a ready talker. anl talks usually in
low monotone; has India ink spot back
of left hand, and has scars on under lip
am richt hand under the second irSer
When Harvcy's crooked dealings in con-
noction with the Merchants Bank, Of
Baltimore. ana Joseph i. Elliott. OF
Elliott brothers Of that city, became
known. Detective Todd Hall was put
upon the care The latter said: During
last June Sage came To this city one
Saturday with n draf; for $500, drawn in
favor Of Mr.. Joseph J.. Elliott. we'll
known cotton merchant of south Gay
street 1t seems that Mr.. Elliott and Mr..
Miles White. Of this city. owned tracts
Of land in Hartford county, which they
were about 10 sell 70 Sage for use as
dairy and creamery.
For some reason or another there was
a delay about the sale. but the fact that
Sage was negotiating for the purchase Of
the land wa well-known by the bank
officials at Belair. Therefore, when Sage
asked for a draft for n 800 drawn in
favor OF Mr.. Elliott. they at once az
sumcd. as. in fact, believe, they We're
told by Sage. that the money was 10 be
used 10 pay bonus on the purchase Of
the land Sage brought this draft 10 Bal
timore. and had no difficulty i'm inducing
Mr. Elliott 10 cash II. Mr.. Elliott went
over to the Merchants Bank along with
Sage.
"He had the draft cashed with Sage
standing about twenty feet from the
cashiers window. After Mr. Elliott re-
ceived the money ne called Sage over 70
his side. and showed it toward him. Sage
took up the money, counted IT cool!y.
and placed il IN his pocket. He then
walked over t. Mr.. Ellotts Office. AMI
they chatted about matters Of business
for an hour or more During The CONVEX
sation Sage betrayed no anxiety"