Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-13
RENTED PIANO AND SOLD IT
WILLIAM GRAY.e WITH SEVERAL
ALIASES, UNDER ARREST.
Alleged That He sO6ered to Bribe n
Policeman to Effect
Release.

William Gray, Charles Holmes and J. D..
Carroll are the names that have been given
by an aged prisoner who is under arrest
charged with the larceny of a piano from
the firm of William .Knabe & Co., No. 1909
Pennsylvania avenue, by renting it and then
selling 1t to Mrs. Lizzie E. Jones, living at
124 Massachusetts avenue northwest. The
latter paid him $11O for the instrument.
Nothing is known by the police concerning
the identity of the old man, although the
latter declares his real name is William
Gray, and that he is native of Rutland,
VT.
The prisoner told the detective number
of stories about his career and caused the
officer to believe that the man of several
names is an all-around crook, confidence
and green goods man. When placed under
arrest he made the detective an offer of
500 for his release, saying he had been let
go before for much smaller sum-
1t is stated that before the prisoner made
bargain with the piano dealers to rent d
piano by paying So cash and 81 a month he
advertised ali upright piano for sale. Mrs
Jones was among those who offered to
make the purchase, and her offer of $40
was accepted.
At the time the piano was rented the
man gave his name as Charles Holmes and
had the instrument sent to 327 Missouri
avenue, where he had rented a room.
Holmes. as he gave his name at the piano
store, was living at the house Of Mrs.
Maggie Hahn, No. 800 4th street north
west, where he was known as J. D. Car
roll.
Makes Sale to Mrs. Jones.
He had the piano removed to the 4th
street house from the house on Missouri
avenue, where 1t was delivered by the deal
er. Miss Jones saw the piano at the house
of Mrs. Hahn, and 1t was there that she
decided to make the purchase. To her
mind there was no question about the own
ership of the instrument, for the supposed
owner showed her shipping bill reciting
that he had received it from Cincinnati by
express.
After his arrest by Detectives Browne and
Lacy his effects We're taken to police head
quarters He had SIPS and a number of
receipts and advertisements in his posses
sion. One advertisement showed that he
had solicited shipments Of butter from
farmers by representing himself as an
agent of the Wayne County, Pa, Creamery.
Other papers found on him and In his
room indicated that he had shipped pianos
here from Baltimore and Pittsburg. One
bill showed the shipment by ]. Craig to j.
Craig of piano from Baltimore, while an
other paper showed the transportation
from Pittsburg of a piano for j. d. Carroll.
Other Developments.
During the investigation today the de-
tectives learned that there was no piano
in the box that the prisoner recently had
shipped here from Pittsburg. The freight
bill, it is said, had been "doctored' to
make it appear that it had actually con-
tanned an instrument. A Fischer piano re-
Gently received here from Baltimore by the
prisoner was found in the Pennsylvania
freight office, and the Baltimore authori-
ties have been asked to make an investi-
cation in that city. A typewriter found in
the room at the house on 4th street be-
Ionged to Newman & Brother, dealers on
It'll street, who had rented it to the man
who is now In custody. 1t is likely that the
prisoner will be given a hearing in the 20
lice Court tomorrow.