The herald., 1897-05-30
A. E. DAVIS
Sketched From Life in Jail

and upon which the loan was made was
forgery.
About a week ago Davis came into
the Columbia Savings bank and tried
to negotiate loan for $1,000, represent
ing himself to be the owner Of Wash
ington street property. A. p. West.
cashier at the bank agreed to look at
the lot, and If he found 1t satisfactory
to make the loan. He examined the
property and found 1t to be very valu-
able corner and recommended that the
loan be made. A check for $1,000 was ac-
Icordingly drawn and deposited in es-
crow with the Title Insurance and Trust
ination of the title to the land and, in
case it, was found good, to deliver the
check to Davis.
The examination was made and the
records showed that transaction had
recently, been recorded between L. H.
Green and Davis, and there was appa-
rently nothing wrong about the title.
The check was therefore delivered to
Davis. A few days later an incident oc-
Cured which caused q shade of doubt
to arise in the minds of the Insurance
Title and Trust company officials as to
the validity Of the title to the land, and
they decided to investigate the matter
further
The deed which Davis claimed had
been made over to him by Green was
taken over to the county assessors Of
flee and the signature compared with
that of certain letters which had pre-
viously been received from Green in
quiring about the taxes upon his Wash
ington street property. When the sig
nature to the deed was placed beside the
genuine the forgery was at once ap-
parent.
The matter was Immediately laid be-
fore the Columbia bank officials, and
they telegraphed an inquiry to L. H..
Green ut Cincinnati, asking If he had
ever transferred his Los Angeles prop
erty to A. e. Davis. A. reply was re-
ceived from Green. that he had owned
the lot on Washington street since 1887
and had never transferred 1t.
When this information was received
the matter was placed in the hands
Of the police and Davis was arrested
Friday morning by Detective Steele.
When captured Davis still had $240 of
the money which he had received, and
he Immediately turned the amount over.
He claimed that he had traded with a
man named Green for the property. and
had never suspected that there was any
thing wrong with the transaction.
Right here is a peculiar part Of the
swindle. The bogus deed which was ex-
ecuted in favor Of Davis was attested
before p. e. King, notary public who
lives at Garvanza. The witnesses to the
81
Jams and NJ P. Brown, and the deed
bears the signature OF L. H. Green Mr.
King, when questioned about the deed
said that he remembered when it was
made out, and that he knows the L. H.
Green who claimed to own the property.
He does not know where the man lives.
however, and can tell nothing that will
lead to the discovery of his whereabouts.
He also claims to know both the wit
nesses to the transaction. but Is equally
ignorant Of where they are to be found.
In view of these facts the officers are
Of the opinion that the L. H. Green
described by Mr.. King ID q mythical per-
sonage. as well as the witnesses, all of
which puts Mr.. King in rather peculiar
light.
Another person whose connection with
Davis has not been fully explained is
w. M, Weir. a real estate agent, who
lives at $40 West Eighth street. Mr..
Davis claims that Weir came to- him and
stated that he owned piece Of property
on Washington street upon which he
wished to secure loan. There were
certain reasons. however. why he could
not secure the loan, and he wanted Da-
Wis to secure it for him. Davis claims
that It was in this way that he came to
| get mixed up in the matter.
There is little doubt that the swindle
was worked by using Davis as Z oats
| paw, and that the parties who are q.
1.-THE bottom Of the affair have not yet
been arrested. Weir left home Friday