Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-25
POLICE LOOKING FOR HIM.
HARRY PETIT WANTED FOR Play
ING A CONFIDENCE GAME.
Passed Himself OF as n Railway De-
tective in Search OF Men Who
Had Sold Bogus Mileage
Books-Beat n Hotel.

The police are looking for 4 man whose
name is Harry Petit, and who they be-
lieve is q, very expert and successful con-
fidence man and swindler.
\ week ago Petit and man named
William Herrick registered at the Clifton
hotel, 562 Walnut street, from Chicago.
Petit did all the talking for the pair and
told Manager H. c. Hauck that Herrick
and he We're special agents in the employ
of the Santa Fe Railroad Company. and
that they We're in Kansas City for the
purpose of locating persons VINO had been
selling bogus mileage tickets over the SAN
ia Fe. He said the sale of the mileage
had been traced to Kansas City, and repre-
sented that he had plenty of money and
authority.
After remaining at the hotel day or
two. during which time Petit was away
most of the time. he announced that he
had to go to Omaha, Neb., on business,
and sent Herrick out TO the Burlington
office with a request for two mileage books
on that road. Herrick was unable TO oh
tain the books. and when he returned,
claims Petit induced him to pawn his
watch and chain for the transportation,
saying he would receive in Il few days Il
draft for $500 from Santa Fe headquarters
at Chicago.
Herrick pawned his watch and chain and
turned the proceeds over to Petit, who
went alone to Omaha. He returned Thurs
cash the draft the following day and
square accounts with Herrick. The latter
in the meantime put in his time loating
Thursday night, Herrick claims. he was
introduced by Petit to wom-
an named Mollie Meyers, who Petit said
and who had lots of money. Petit added
that the Meyers woman was looking for a
hotel and limited that she might make a
deal for the Clifton and employ him as
manager. Herrick thought it strange that
Il railroad detective should become mana
ger of a hotel, but said nothing, not even
would obtain the money on the draft.
The Meyers woman. who is anything
but prepossessing IN appearance, occupied
Il room West Ninth street and the
negotiations for the purchase of the hotel
went so far that she visited Manager
Hauck on Friday and made him propo-
5000 in cash which she would pay down
and she would pay the remainder in in
stallments. Manager Hauck said he
and both Petit and the Meyers woman
said that could be arranged. The matter
rested there.
sought for Petit to collect Il week 5 board.
he could not find him. An examination of
his room showed that tt Shefe bad was Se no Dag 6
first arrived at the hotel had been carried
out at some time unknown to anyone at the
hotel. AMI also to Herrick. When ePttit did
no. return to the hotel yesterday Manager
Hauck approached Herrick. who confessed
that he met Petit recently in Kansas City.
and was not himself employed III the Santa
F'e detective department: He said he had
known Petit formerly at La Grange. Ind;
but had not seen him in several years until
he ran across him in Kansas City a week
ago. Petit then told him, he says. that he
was a Santa Fe detective. and offered him
Il job. A few hours later they were regis
tered at the Clifton house.
Mr.. Hauck reported the matter to the po-
lice yesterday and Herrick voluntarily Went
h 60 rlrPNt hot I1ph hn
upon Pettit's Whereabouts. He claimed he
had no money and was out his watch and
chain. which he pawned to buy transporta-
tion for Petit to Omaha. 1t is now settled
that Petit did not go to Omaha. but spent
his time in the company of the Meyers
woman. Her address on West Ninth street
was obtained from Herrick. and Detective
Hayde took her to Central police station
where after some time it was found she
knew nothing of Pettit's whereabouts, and
she was perinitted to go. Herrick was not
detained and Manager Hauck is now look
ing for n source from which he can coll
lect Pettits and Herricks unpaid board
bill.