The Washington times., 1895-03-20
Clever SWindIer King Met More
Than His Match.
TRIED TO WORK AN OLD GAME
He Victimized an Englishman. Fled to Bal
timore, but Returned in the Hope of Trap
ping Merchant Hardesty. Who Tipped Off
Detective Bradford They Arranged Sig
mails, and Arrested King on His Arrival.

The arrest of Richard II. King, alias
Harry Proctor, who appears to be q
clever swindler, discloses an interesting
story and illustrates how even the shTewd-
est sharper often hosts himself with his
own petard. About a week ago King
victimized an Englishman named Rich
ward Godward, who lives at No. AIT Sixth
street northwest, out of his gold watch
and $3.50 in cash, under the pretense that
he and Godward We're to become partners
and establish a money making carpet
cleaning establishment.
After securing the Britisher's money
and watch, King fled the town. He located
in Baltimore, at the house of a clergyman,
it is said, and put catchy advertisement
in one of the New York papers. The adj was
for partner in the bogus carpet cleaning
scheme. Among those who answered it
was Mr.. Edward L. Hardesty a storekeeper
at the little town Of Kensington, Md.
LAID THE TRAP.
After several letters had passed between
King and Hardesty, meeting in this city
was arranged for yesterday morning, at the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot, when a
deal was to be consumated. Mr.. Hardesty
came to Washington on an early train, and
being acquainted with Private Detective
Morgan Bradford. proceeded at once to his
residence, No. 1912 New York avenue
northwest. He related the circumstances
to Mr.. Bradford, and said he thought King
was the man who had swindIed the English
man.
1t had been agreed that King was to wear
black slouChed hat, light oyerCOat, and
carry yalise and umbrella in his hands as
distinguishing marks. Merchant Hardesty
was to wear his Knights of Pythias badge
on the outer lapel Of his coat
Detective Bradford accompanied the
merchant TO the depot and concealed him
self, while Hardesty went forward and
met King as he was coming out of the
depot. The two men were talking over the
proposed carpet cleaning scheme, when
King said the completion of arrangements
had better be deferred until later i'll the
day
King showed Hardesty a number of in
dorsements he had from a Baltimore
preacher, and said the son of the minister
was anxious to go into partnership with
him.
But said he, ''since I've met you, /
rather like your manner and style and
think we can make a big thing as partners
out of the carpet cleaning works"
HE GAVE THE SIGNAL
King then struck the Kensington merchant
for loan of $50 until his check came
Hardesty at once gave the prearranged sig
nal between himself and Detective Brad
ford, by raising his high hat and mopping
his brow thrice with a handkerchief
Bradford then stepped up to King and
said:
Have I not seen you before?"
Maybe" said the alleged sharper, ex-
tending both hands, but not in Wash
ington. ! was never in your pretty city
before. We must have met in Omaha"
Wasn't you here about one week ago?"
NO, no" Donchalantly said King, must
be mistaken. Not me. 1 assure you"
where is that Englishman's gold watch,
and what did you do with his $25O?" said
Bradford.
Here's the watch" replied King
producing the ticker from his vest pocket,
but l know nothing about his money u
Detective Bradford then slipped his
| nippers on Kings wrist and told him he
was prisoner. The slippery fellow
was turned over to Headquarters De
tectives Boardman and Rhodes, who had
his photograph taken for the rogue's gal.
lery, and then locked him up at No. 1
police station.
King is apparently man of education
about thirty years Of age. He told De
tectives Boardman and Rhodes that he was
| led into this crooked work because he could
not find honest employment The Eng
lishman's watch and $36 were found OF
his person.