Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-04
Charges Against Him Were Settled
Out of Court.
His STATEMENT OF THE AFFAIR
The Accused is Well Known in
Many Cities
ART EXPERT

me case OF Rev. DIR. wesley Reid Davis,
who was arrested yesterday afternoon by
Detectives Browne and Horne on a warrant
charging him with obtaining $50 by means
of a bogus check from Mr.. F. r. Parks.
ticket agent at the Pennsylvania station,
was today nolle pressed by Assistant Pros
ecutor Muilowny.
After hearing statement of the case
made by former Solicitor General Holmes
Conrad Mr.. Mullowny decided that there
was no evidence of crime against the
Cused, and DR.. Davis was released. He left
the court house in company with former
Senator Faulkner of West Virginia.
Among those present at the investigation
were Admiral Stewart and several prom
inent ministers 1t is understood that Mr..
Parks was reimbursed.
Mr.. Lemuel Wilmer, the Pennsylvania
railroad agent at Baltimore. who also cash.
ed a check for Mr.. Davis, reached Wash
tngton shortly before noon. He told Star
reporter that Mr.. Davis had secured $85 on
check on New York bank from him.
This afternoon efforts were being made to
settle the Baltimore case. and later in the
day the matter was adjusted and Mr. Will
mer agreed to withdraw the warrant he
had sworn ont.
Mr. Geo. W. Albaugh Of Westminster.
Carroll county, Md. who is a boyhood
friend of DIR. Davis. reached Washington
lOudy anu placed MS SntlT6 mSduS at Inc
command of the accused man. DR.. Davis
when arrksted claimed that the affair was
an error growing out of the failure Of a
person in New York to make an expected
deposit to his credit at the bank.
DIR. Davis Statement.
After the settlement of the cases today,
DR.. Davis made the following statement to
a Star reporter:
The gentleman associated with him in
business was to make a deposit for his ac-
count in the National Union Bank. This
had been done by the same party before
several times DIR. Davis left the city of
New York under the impression that the
sum of money alluded to had been passed
to his credit. He had no knowledge of
any failure to do so until late last Saturday
evening, when the notification which he
should have received several days before
came into his hands. At the same time
notices of several checks returned were re-
ceived. AS ne expected to leave for Wash
ington by the sleeper leaving New York at
l2:3O Sunday night, he decided to take up
the matter of the returned checks at the
earliest possible moment after his arrival
in this city. This he proceeded to do. He
had already cared for one cashed in the
Post Office Department; the money was in
his pocket to care for the other, cashed by
the ticket agent of the Pennsylvania rail-
road.
Notice had been given by him to Mr..
Van Horn that his way back to New
\ Ork nc would stop IN the station ana take
up the obligation waiting there. 1t was
his purpose to do the same with MIR. VIII
mer in Baltimore. He was en- route to the
station with his luggage in his victoria,
stopping only al the Metropolitan Club OF
which he is a member, to eat his lunch,
when notice of q warrant for. his arrest
was served upon him by detective of the
Washington police force. Upon his arrival
al police headquarters DR.. Davis sought
the courtesy of sending for his old friend,
Holmes Conrad. solicitor general under MI.
ClevelaHds last administration, and one
of The most renowned of the pleaders ap-
pearing before the Supreme Court.
This courtesy was denied him. He then
asked to be permitted to the solicitor
general in company with the detective who
served the warrant on his way to police
station No. |. This courtesy was also de-
MED him. Upon arrival at the station he
was not searched. but simply confined In a
room of detention. In d few moments Mr.
conrad came TO him and at once, as a
friend. took charge of his case. A bond
was quickly secured and DR.. Davis was
released. His arrest caused great surprise
III prominent circles of the capital. where
he has so many warm friends. He has
recently twice leCtured In this city under
the special request of members of the cab
met. DR.. Davis is about to sail for Eng
land, whore, it Is said, his entertainment is
already provided for in notable houses of
the country. He goes to GOdington in Kent
for six weeks the middle OF June Here is
the Dover House, formerly owned by AL
fred Austin, the Poet Laureate who has re
Gently sold ii to the friends of Dr. Davis
.. under the purchase contract which secured
GOdington.
Later he is to be the guest of Sir Thomas
Barrett Leonard at Belhus in Rumford
Lady Leonard is the sister Of Sir Evelyn
wood, who is about to displace Wolseley
as commander-n-chicf of the army of
Great Britain. Still later he goes to Zeals
House in Bath and to HOrsfOrd Manor near
Norwich. as the guest Of the eldest son of
RAJ hi-
COmrade on the Nile twelve years ago. DR..
Davis is to lecture before the scientific ard
archaeological societies of Great Britain
under the special good neighDorhood and
fellowship of his friend. Ian MacLaren who
has been his guest in Washington and New
York. Later in the season DIR. Davis goes
to the city of Tyre in Syria. where for two
months he will he entertained by Michael
Farah the representative art connoisseur
of the east, who has palace there by the
sea. Dr.. Davis returns to New York in the
late autumn to formally open house of
arts and treasure, the capital for which has
already been subscribed by the leading art
patrons of the United States.
The last service rendered by DIR. Davis in
his relation to the Post Office Department
before resigning his position was under the
Craftsmanship of tie entertainment commit
tee of the universal postal congress.
Through his efforts the appropriation of
So0.OU for the proper care of these guests
of the nation was secured. This occurred
only the day before the formal opening of
the congress in the old Ccrcoran Art build
ing His service was recognized by the
hundred and sixty delegates to the con-
gress with most cordial appreciation.
In brooklyn.
DIR. Davis was formerly an active minister
in Brooklyn, and the Brooklyn Eagle has
the following in regard to him:
In Brooklyn DR.. Davis was connected
for time with the Reformed Church on
the heights pastor, and before that as
pastor of the Simpson NJ. E. Church here
He first came to Brooklyn in 1873 as pastor
of the Simpson Church. In 1879, when he
was forty-two years old, he succeeded the
Rev. DIR. George H. Hepworth as pastor of
the Congregational Church of the Disciples
in New York. The New York conference
dropped him from the roll of membership
but he declared he was still a Methodist
and for some time persisted in that declara-
ton. He resigned in 1882 and became pas-
tor of the Reformed Church at Albany. N.
Y. While he was in charge of that church
he accepted call to the Reformed Church
on the heights here and assumed charg, Of
his new position in October, 1888 being
succeeded by the Rev. ]. Douglas Adam.
DIR. Davis then moved to East oath street.
Manhattan.