The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-12

TO THE OFFICERS
Alleged Fugitive From Justice From
Wheeling, West Virginia,
Detained Here.

Sergeant Matthews was in charge OF
the First Police Station yesterday morn
ing about II o'clock when splendid-iook-
ing young man, giving the name of ]. NJ.
Harris, entered and stated that he under
stood warrant was out for his arrest,
and that he was there to give himself up.
Sergeant Matthews offered him a seat,
and Detective Hall was notified OF his ac-
ton. He had been looking for him since
last "Wednesday, at which time tele-
gram was received by the Chief of Police
CT Wheeling, W. Va, asking that the
man be arrested and detained for Wheel
ing officials, on the charge OF enoezzle-
ment.
On last Tuesday the young man reached
Richmond from Charlottesville and went
TO the Jeff .rson Hotel, where ne engaged
q room and registered. He had Deen
detaired in Charlottesville by the police
of that place on a similar telegram to
that sent here, but, it was beEeved
by the Chief at that place that the man
was wan. ed on a circular descriptive let
ter sent cut from GAINESVILLE. O.. and that
the description was not accurate enough,
he was allowed to come on to Richmond.
he declared that he was not the man
wanted. and told the Charlottesville Off
GERS that he was coming here and would
put up at the Jefferson.
A iong-distancc phone message was
sent here to police headquar ters front
Charlottesville, asking that the poll take
steps III the matter. and on Tuesday night
Detective Hall went to the Jefferson Ho-
tel and found that Harris was there. but
asleep in his ROOM He communicated
with Chief Howard. who advised him to
make no arrest on telephone message,
S,,,3 So. IN
Wednesday the telegram from Wheeling
came On this telegram Detective Hail
swore out the warrant. He Went TO the
Jefferson that day but Harris had lett.
He had, however. had a draft for 500
on New York cashed at the hotel. His
whereabouts from that time to yesterday
morning were unknown to the police.
Yesterday morning he Went into the Of
flee of the Farmers Supply Company.
where he was told that a warrant was out
for his arrest. He then went to the First
Police Station and gave himself up.
Harris. it is alleged, is an eN-11ll, form
erly belonging to the GAINESVILLE Lodge.
a circular has been sent out by that lodge
to every lodge in the United States,
warning them to look out for him, as he
has been going through the country pass
ing himself off as an Elk and securing
funds on bad checks and drafts He
has been traced around the country, and
it Is thought by the police here that he
worked this game in Wheeling.
Secretary Archie Burke, OF the local
Lodge Of Elks. called to see him at the
station-house yesterday morning. He felt
doubtful to the identity of the man
when he him, for there was dis
crepancy in the description given in the
circular and that of Harris. The name
is the same and the general descriptions
tally, except that the man under arrest
has dark hair and complexion, and the
one in the circular has light hair and
complexion.
Mr.. Burke. said he would telegraph
GAINESVILLE that "a Harris had been ar
rested here, but nothing more.
When Harris was seen by a Times re-
porter he said he WIS a traveller for The
American Furniture Company, of New
York, up to a short while ago. but that
he supposed this affair would cause him
to lose his job.
He was quite communicative and told the
story of the affair at Charlottesville as
related above
Il am not an Elk he sad, but would
make no reply to the question as to wheth-
er he had formerly been an Elk. II know
nothing about this Wheeling matter, ex-
cept what l saw in the telegram. but L
will go back there to prove my identity.
This is an uncomfortable position to be
placed in. but I feel able to get out of
the trouble MI right, and want to so
through with it.
Il have no statement to make he
said. But do you believe that if l had
done anything wrong, the Charlottesville
officers would have allowed me to get
away from them. and do YOU think I
would have told them where l was COM
ing? l feel safe in this respect
Chief Howard telegraphed the Wheeling
officials that Harris was under arrest.
and an official from that place will reach
here probably later in the week.
Harris said that he had taken care OF
himself since he was very young, and felt
able to continue to do So He said that
his home was i'll Flint, Mich. and that
he was born in Western Indiana. He
said he had never been in trouble before.
ard his manner at the Station-houSe car |
ried out the assertion.
The officers at the First Station gave
Harris the utmost consideration. and al |
lowed him to spend the night in the Of /
fee.
Mr. Harry NJ. Smith was retained as
counsel for Mr.. Harris and will repre-
sent him in the Police Court this morn
ing.