The morning times., 1897-02-04
CHARGED WITH SWIHDL|NG
Samuel R. Beach Accused of Vie
timizing Several Merchants.
HE USED BOGUS ORDERS
In Some Stores His Little Game Was
Suspected and When the TeIe-
phone Was Brought Into Action
He Lef5-When Arrest ed He Tore
Up Lot of Blank Checks.

Samuel r. Beach, neatly dressed young
man, started out yesterday TO do a land
office business in crooked work, the police
say He made numerous attempts to obtain
using bogus checks, forged orders and other
writings, and in several instances is said
to have succeeded in swindling his victims.
All went well with Beach until about 8
O'clock last night, when Policeman Frank
Baur arrested him at Four and-a-half ard
G streets southwest, and now several
charges of false pretenses have been en-
tered against his name on the police sta
tion blotter.
Beach is only twenty-four years of age,
and by occupation is a huckster. He was
born and reared in the southwest section
and has been in trouble before. Y ester
day, however, he started cut to break all
previous records. The first place he
visited was Victor E. Adler's clothing
house, at Seventh street and Massachusetts
avenue northwest. There he ordered a
suit OF clothes, handing Mr. Adler in pay
nent for the garments a bogus check for
$24, and requesting him to send the
goods to an address in South Washington.
The clothing merchant commenced TO IN
vestigate the check by telephone, when
Beach left the store in a hurry. Mr.. A dler
afterward learned that the check was
worthless, and will produce it in the police
court today as evidence against the pris-
| oner. 'ft's
Beach mex made his appearance at Her
| mann clothing and furnishing store, corner
| OF Four street and Virginia ave
| nue. southwest. There he ordered twelve
| yards of cotton batting and five under
| shirts, stating that he had been sent for
| them by Mr. Green, well-kEown grocer.
| Mr.. Hermann refused TO give him the goods
| but said he would Send them to Mr.. Green.
| Beach also left this store in Il hurry and
| the fraud was disc oyered when then ar
ticles We're sent TO the address given. Later
lie visited the store of Mr. Hermann's s
| brother, on the opposite corner, and tried
a similar dodge, but failed.
Beach next turned up at Mr. Coghil's
! dairy establishment, corner OF Four-anCi-a.
! half and C streets southwest, and by rep
| resenting that Grocer Green had sent hfI
| for lot of butter and eggs, obtained the
| articles and carried them away with him
The police are investigating the case, and
expect today to learn of other merchant!
who have been defrauded by Beach
When arrested by Policeman Baur, tht
| prisoner tore up a lot of bank checks and
| other papers while the officer was Callns
at the patrol box for the wagon The
fragments were gathered up and taken L
Lieut.. Vernon, who, by patching them to
gethcr, discovered that Beach mad received
from the firm Of House & Hermann, OF
the installment plan, S39 worth of fur
niture at one time, and over $50 woTtt
at another.
These goods, il is believed, he has dis
posed OF clandestinely, and the matte
will be Investigated today. The othe
shreds Of paper viii also be pasted to
gether with a view TO learning OF othe
crooked jobs in which the prisoner hai
been engaged.
Beach confessed to his misdeeds TO tn
police, last night, after being placed in ;
cell He attributes his downfall To whisk.
and evil companions.