The Washington times., 1901-12-30
HIS PACKAGES
ARE MYTHS.
Al Alleged SWindlG With
Novel Features.
VICTIMS lose THEIR DEPOSITS,
Fraudulent Operations in Baltimore
Declared to Have Been Continued
Here Charges Made by a Boy
Lead to Arrest OF George 81.
Donahue.

George H. Donahue. who is charged by
fhc police to have been operating a
shrewd and novel swindle in Baltimore
and this city, was arrested by Detective
Bauer about . O'Clock yesterday after
noon and now occupies cell at No.
police station. Donahle denies the
charges.
Donahue is probably thirty years OF
age. He is about fve eight inches tall,
slightly built. and wears a sparse Eight
brown mustache He has straight hair OF
the same hue. He claims to be news
PAPER man. though he says he has not
been connected with paper for a couple
OF years.
How Alleged swindIc IL Worked.
His alleged swindle is TO meet man or
boy ou the street. and in a hasty and
businesslike manner engage him to 90 for
r package for him. He offers good pay
for the service asked, and then demands
deposit for the safe delivery TO him OF
the goods sent for. setting high value on
them. when the messenger calls at the
address given for the package be discov-
ers that nothing is known about it. When
he seeks his employer it is to find him
missing with the deposit.
The local police were notified by the
Baltimore authorities about week ago
of the mans operations and that 1t was
supposed he had come to Washington.
story of Young Rhodes.
Yesterday morning a lad named Morris
Rhodes, fourteen years Of age, who lives
at 1920 Rosedale Street northeast, report
ed to Captain Boardman Of the local de-
tectiye bureau that about $3.50 O'Clock
Saturday afternoon a man stopped him
near the corner OF First Street and Penn
fylvania Avenue and offered to give him
10 cents if he would go TO 925 Twelfth
Street northwest and get package for
him.
The boy agreed TO do the errand. and
then was told the package was worth sl6,
and that he would have TO deposit 50 to
ensure its safe delivery.
Young Rhodes says he put up the
money. but On going to the house on
Twelfth Street was informed the man
was not known there and that there was
no package there for him. Rhodes says
that when he got back to First Street
and the Avenue the man had disappeared.
Arrest Quickly Effected.
Rhodes could not describe the man, but
Captain Boardman at once arrived al the
conclusion that he was the same man
who had been operating in Baltimore. He
furnished Detective Bauer with the de-
scription furnished by the Monumental
City police, and started Bauer oGt IN
search Of him.
The detective mad not been out az. hour
before he saw man who seemed 10 an
swer the description, standing on the cor
ner OF Sixth Street and the Avenue. and
placed him under arrest
The description sent from Baltimore was
found to tally wiz that Of a Philadelphia
crook known as George II. Donahue, and
when Bauer got his prisoner 10 Police
Headquarters he accused him of being the
Quaker City man. At first Donahue de-
med the accusation. but later. the police
say. admitted il. and acknowledged that
he had served two years in Pennsylvania
Penitentiary Cor highway robbery.
miscellaneous Contents of Package.
In his overcoat pocket Donahue had a
large, heavy MANILA envelope. In it were
found three :airs Of gloves, all OF which
had been worn. a half dozen keys of diff
ferent kinds, d shell game and crap out
fit, fountain pen. and a picture OF
good-looking young woman. The latter, ne
said, was a likeness of his sweetheart
Eighiy-seyen cents made up the amount
OF his cash.
Donahue denies that he cheated young
Rhodes or that he is guilty OF any OF the
similar jobs OF which the Baltimore police
complain.