The times., 1899-05-07
A CONSTABLE IN hot
PURSUIT. OF DR.. DAVIS
The New York Divine Chased
Through the Streets.
Another Suit Filed by Nay ROsina
Pratt to Recover $53.
The CIerEyman's Narrow Escape
From the Service of n Civil
Writ-GOne Again.

A local constable armed with legal
papers had an exciting chase yesterday In
pursuit of the Rev. DR.. Wellesley r. Davis,
the New York divine who was arrested
here last week, charged with passing
worthless checks. and subsequently re-
leased upon settlement of the claims.
The clergyman, however, succeeded in
getting away from the constable, and
thereby evaded for time, at least, the
service of process In another action at
law, as the result of issuing sight draft
which, il is said, he had no money to meet.
DIR. Davis drove to Police Headquarters
yesterday to talk with Inspector Board
man concerning some papers which he
thought had been taken from him at the
time of his arrest. The knowledge of his
visit reached the ears of Attorney Vernon
NJ. Dorsey, who Immediately proceeded to
a magistrates Office and filed suit against
Dr. Davis to recover the sum of s53 He
hoped by this means to secure service of
process upon the clergyman for whom he
had been searching for two days, before
he could again escape.
In some manner DR.. Davis was warned,
and when the constable sought him he bad
left. The officer hastily followed him to
the Hotel Bancroft There he was in
formed that DR.. Davis had come in hur-
riedly and given orders that under no cir
cumstances should anyone be sent up to see
him. The constable remained about the
hotel Office for some time, hoping that the
clergyman would again make his appear
ance. Finally he was rewarded by seeing
Dr. Davis climb hurriedly into his carriage,
having made his exit without the officers
knowledge The constable rushed out in
time to see the driver apply the whip to
his horse and drive off. He commanded
him to stop, but the negro, who was look
ing to DR.. Davis and not to the officer for
his remuneration obeyed the orders of the
former, and continued to apply the lash.
Then the chase began In earnest, the
constable shouting TO the driver to halt and
| the latter paying no heed to the command.
The carriage had a handicap. of several
hundred yards, but for two blocks the foot
| man continued the race By this time he
had become fairly well distanced. Then
he waited for an electric car and at the
| same time watched the fast disappearing
| vehicle. For few moments he was able
| to keep 1t in sight, but then the driver
failed to keep to the course of the car
| tracks and it was lost sight Of The officer
! went 10 both railway stations In search of
| the clergyman, but could find no trace of
| him. At the hotel 1t was stated yesterday
| that Or. Davis had left the city to spend
| Sunday in the country with friend.
| The plaintiff in this the second suit at
| law filed within two days against DR.. Davis
| is Mrs. May Rosina Pratt, of New York
1t Is alleged that she advanced him $50 on
a sight draft, dated April rs, 1899, drawn
upon the First National Bank of West
minister, Nd. II was returned to her May
2 protested for non payment. and learning
of DR.. Davis arrest here she placed the
| matter In the hands OF a local attorney for
| prosecution.
| DR.. Davis made statement yesterday
] in reference to an article printed in New