The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-04
CROOKS CONFUSE CLERKS
DETECTIVES LANDED A PAIR WHO
WE'RE DOING THE TOWN.

Fred Clayton, ''the Man With "a Light
with "Ruddy Cheeks" Visited
stores, Made Small Purchases, and
Duped Unsuspecting Employees.
C0nidn's Confectionery Store and
DoneIIy's Pharmacy SwinGIed and
Attempts Made at Several Other
Places.
Jesse James and his men probably never
struck a town with a scheme of robbery
more Systematically planned than that
adopted by Fred Clayton and Charles
Smith to fleece Savannah storekeepers,
though they did it in a different way
For several hours last night the pair
went from place to place, working the old
fim-ham dodge of confusing clerks in
making change
Donnelly's pharmacy, at Liberty and
Price streets, and Conidas confectionery
store on Bull street, were successfully
ewindled, and attempts were made
TO play the game az Joyce's
grocery, Liberty and Abercorn streets and
Reds drug store, at Oglethorpe avenue
UNA last l3IOdu street. <AllGllpNS dIG sup
posed to have been made at other places,
but they were not reported at police head
quarters.
Chief McDermott was convinced from a
report made to him at o'c.ock
that flim-flammers were working
me town. Shortly after 10 O'Clock
his men had the pair in the police
barracks, with an abundance of proof of
their identity. Neither Clayton nor Smith
would admit anything, but when they were
taken to the barracks, a nod from a by
tlander who was there to report a job
mat had been perpetrated upon him, told
mat the right men were in custody.
Early in the night the men went into
Conlda's, which is probably the first place
they struck. Clayton, a slender. neatly
dressed man. wearing a light overcoat.
ana 1ondlng a well groomed black NOUS
,'cne, did most of the talking. Smith has a
Hsht, sandy mustache rudy cheeks, wore
a derby hat, and said little except to oc-
Cdsionally intervene in confusing clerks
aud aiding Smith to turn the trick. At
Nonlda's Smith began talking to the man
the soda fountain while his pal smiled
dangerously at the young woman on
,-e other side, at the same time calling
loP ten cents worth of candy. He handed
'ef ten dollar bill in payment. The
,"ange given him consisted of a s. bin and
tie balance in silver, on picking II M he
sad:
on, let me see. Here, I have just
I'tne IN change. Let me have the bill and
"il give you back the change. What's
me- price Of that?"
Ivy the time he had finished an idiotic,
'ohIusing harangue it was all over. lie
rag given the clerk back the silver money
ana by trick known only to himself,
NJ nad the five dollar bill in his pocket.
"sdntime, Smith remained on the other
que When the game was worked. and
'94e seemed the wiser the pair left
mr. Conida had occasion to open the cash
easter a moment later and at once dis
D'eled the shortage. When the clerks
ga him what had occurred. and described
,Ne men, he believed they had put up a
'''' He telephoned Chief McDormott.
.itea the case TO him, and asked that a
s'eenVe be sent out Detective Scuuy
''7 az armory hail, but was soon notified
.'' went TO Conida's. There he got "A de-
'ip'ion Of the men. and notified the de-
ives along Broughton street and az the