Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-25
FORCED TO REFUND.
JOHNS HAS TO REPAY SUMS GOT
TEN FROM RICHMOND LAWYERS.
MESSRS. SCOTT AND LONG YICTIHS.
Each Thought He Was 10 Become
the Representative of n Big Col
lection Agency, and Gave Cheeks
for Advertisements

That it is a difficult matter TO get the
best Of Richmond lawyer was demon
strated day before yesterday in Peters,
burg, when Messrs. r. Carter Scott. As
sistant Attorney General OF the State. and
Ernest NJ. Long, a wcll-known young
member OF tho local bar forced man
claiming TO be II. johns. Of New York,
10 refund TO them money upon checks
he had obtained from them under what
they considered as at least very peculiar
circumstances.
on Monday Johns, a man OF about %
years OF age. and weil-dressed. called
upon Messrs. Scott and Long In their re-
spective Offices. To the former he said
he was H. Johns representing the II. IL.
Johns Collection Agency Association,
which both carried on the business Of a
collection agency and issued legal di-
rectory giving the names OF all the promi-
nent lawyers in the United States. and
also containing a concise and attractive
compendium OF the laws OF each OF the
States. Johns had a copy of this directory
with him. and the book was carefully
perused by Mr.. Scott. and found TO DO
valuable The Virginia laws had been
abstracted by Messrs. DeSaussure and
Cox. and MIR. Scott thought. very ma
turally that the man was entitled 10
confidence. Johnss proposition WAS for
Mr. Scott TO advertise In the directory
at a certain cash price, and TO become
the Richmond agent or legal represcn-
tative of the collection concern. Air.
Scott agreed TO this and gave his check
- Of 14ir ri iuD .Flf
making It payable TO the collection
agency and not TO Johns. who said he
was not part Of that concern, and
could not get the money upon the check.
WENT TO MIR. LONGS.
The stranger then. apparently, went
to see Mr. Long and made almost q
similar statement to that gentleman, only
he said TO Mr.. long that he was II. IA.
Johns representing w. +. Wernse a Co.
of 206 Broadway, New York. who ran a
law and collection agency. He was not
long in getting Mr.. Long 10 advertise.
and take the place of Richmond repre-
sentative of tho firm
Messrs. Scott and Long happened to
meet shortly after they had been visited
by the man, and they compared notes.
Then they became convinced that Johns
had dealt very peculiarly with them-
His different statements did not agrSe.
and at once a search was made for Johns.
1t was found that he mad left Murphy
Hotel, where he had been stopping
while I'm Richmond. and that he had had
Mr.. Scotia check cashed there.
Mr. Long telegraphed to the firm or
Wernse 4 Co.. O6 Broadway New York.
He received word from the telegraph
company that there was no such mum
Der as 2O6 Broadway. He had given Johns
"a check, and Immediately payment was
stopped on 1t.
HOW JOHNS WAS LOCATED.
on Tuesday morning Mr. Scott walked
into the State Bank 10 stop payment ON
his check. and while there heard some
one speaking to Mr.. Hnl the cashier.
from Petersburg. The phone message
was as 10 whether or not Mr.. Ions 3
check was good. Mr. Scott at once sur
missed that Johns had gone TO Peters,
burg. and. getting Mr.. Long, he started
a. once for the Cockade City, and found
Johns at a hotel there. Mr. Scott de-
randed the return Of his contract on tho
ground that Johns's dealings were very
peculiar and unsatisfactory to him. He
aleo demanded the return OF his money.
81 haven't got cent" said Johns.
He was threatened with prosecution.
and then offered 10 return a part OF the
money. He was told that IL must al be
returned. and he finally went to his room
and got almost enough to pay both gentle
men.
Johns wore several sparklers that ieok
ike diamonds but which In reality are
nothing but paste. His wife accompanies
him.