The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-05
ACCUSED OF FORGING SIGMA
TuRES TO STOCKS.
HE DECLARES THAT HE is INNOCENT
He Declares Moreover that MS father'in-
Law is Having him Hounded' Wish
ed 10 Enlist But was
Set Aside.
CI,ichmond Dispatch.)


rested here Thursday night on Il tele-
gram from the Quaker City, charging
him with forgery, and yesterday Detec-
tive James Z. Hamm, of Philadelphia,
reached here with requisition papers
from the Governor of Pennsylvania.
which Governor Tyler promptly recog
nized. and at T:45 o'clock last night the
: detective left with his prisoner.
- Ayeritt, who was ut one time news
paner man. and came here some years
ago with view to engaging with Il
morning newspaper published i'll this
city. is Il smooth talker, and says he is
confident that he will be able 20 prove
his innocence of the charge against him.
Detective Hamm says, however, that The
case against him is Il strong one.
From the statement given by the de-
tectiye, Avirett comes of one of the very
best families in Virginia, and has led
Il somewhat wandering life, which has
been filed with various experiences.
What he is wanted in Philadelphia now
for is to explain if he can, where he
cot certain stock alleged to have been
issued by the National Bank of Water
vile, n ". which he sold to Mr..
Wayne in Philadelphia for $500.
is HIGHLY CONNECTED.
Avirett. as was stated by the detec
tive. comes of one of the best families
of Virginia. and is highly connected
throughout the State. His father, Rev
James Il. Ayirett. is rector of an Epsco-
PAL church in Raleigh, y. c.,
and his uncle, Colonel James j.
Williams, of Winchester, is grand com
mander of the Grand Camp of Confed-
crate Veterans. Young Avirett WAS
born in Winchester, and was given a le-
gal education by his father He drifted
into newspaper life, however, and al
various times held positions on the San
Francisco Examiner. the New York
World, and Il small journal published in
Cumberland, Maryland. He recently
settled in Philadelphia and engaged in
the practice of law there. He married
the daughter of William b. Goodwin. Il
well-known capitalist and banker, and
all of his trouble he attributes to his
father-in-law. who, he says, is persecut-
ing him. having been opposed to his mar
riage. 1T appears from the detectives
statement that Avirett had been in
Philadelphia but short time when he
began endeayoring to dispose of some
stock alleged to be the issue of the Ma
tional Bank of Waterville. A whole
block of it was sold to Mr.. Wayne for
the sum Of $500. which amount it is
alleged, was paid over to Avirett and
later on it developed that the stock was
bogus, the names of the officers Of the
hank having been forged thereto.
Steps were at once taken to apprehend
Avirett, who had left Philadelphia, and
the case was put in the hands of Detec-
10 rynta1~ -
" and learned that a man answering
Aviretts description was suspected Of
having passed check purporting to have
been signed by Charles Broadway
Ronss. on the Hotel Raleigh. in Wash
ington. and Il similar one on the Holland
House. i'm New York, while in Philadel-
phia number Of persons had accepted
small ROuss checks. He traced his man
to North Carolina. and then lost The
trail. but communicated with the au-
thorities in Richmond. and Detective
homlinson and Wren located Avirett.
CAME HERE TO VOLUNTEER.
Avirett upon first coming to Rich
mond, about two weeks ago, called on
Governor Tyler, and sought permission
to organize volunteer company, the
cost Of equipping, which, he said, would
be borne by Charles Broadway Rouss
who stipulated that it was to be com
posed of men from the Valley of Viz
ginia ouss being a native of Win
chester Permission was refused by the
Governor, and Avirett then made appl-
cation to General Lee for a position on
his staff, and failing in this, applied 10
Colonel Male for Il commission. Fail
ing there also, he then presented himself
for enlistment us "A private. but uDon
being examined by Major Adair, it was
found that he had heart-trouble, and ne
was rejected.
Then it was that he went off on Il
spree, and the result was that he hal
10 be taken to the Virginia Hospital
for treatment. The detectives in this
city located him at this hospital but he
was too sick to be moved then, and they
simply wired to Detective Hamm who
Mt once set about getting his requisi-
ton papers ready, and yesterday he ar
rived IN the city In the meantime,
however. the physician at the hospital
had notified the detectives that Ayirett's
condition was such as would hermit Of
his removal, and he was taken Thurs
day night to the Second Police Sta
tion, where he was locked up and held
for the Philadelphia authorities III
was in the Police Court Yesterday n
answer to the charge Of being a fugitive
from justice, and was remanded.
ALLOWED TO SMOKE AND
DRINK
An effort was made yesterday tC
have Governor Tyler refuse to honor
the requsition. but he saw no reason 70,
so doing. and rendition warrants were
executed and given to Detective Hamm
A yiratt was very kindly traatad nv tbt
Philadelphia officer. The Richmond an
thorities had taken all Of his money
from him. and he pleaded hard fol
enough to buy pipe and drink with
They would not permit him to have hi,
1nnnny however until Mr. HMM cami