The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-13
MAN AND PIANO FOUND
The Missing Charles Holmes Ar
rested by Detectives.
His Name Believed to Re William
Gray-The Musical Instrument Sold
to Mrs. Jones for S1fc-Tbe Police
Think the Prisoner Hns Operated
Successfully in Many Cities.

The arrest yesterday OF William Gray
with many aliases, charged with grand
larceny and receiving money under false
pretences, is thought to clear up the mys-
terry surrounding the missing piano OF
William Knabe e Co., of 1909 Pennsylva
MIA Avenue northwest. The piano was
ren-ed on the 5th instant and disappeared
the day following from the lodging house
of Mrs. Mary Hendley, 327 Missouri Ave
and Lacy believe Gray, who is also
known as Charles Holmes, has duped
many persons both here and elsewhere,
and are now looking for the owner OF a
typewriter and other property found
among the effects Of the alleged swindler.
fession of his guilt.
1t is thought that Gray has worked
various schemes. He admits having been
arrested about year ago at Albany, N.
Y, for alleged swindlLg. At that time he
laid claim to a carload of oats, side
tracked in the railroad yards at Albany,
and sold the property to a feed firm, it is
closing the bargain it was learned that
Gray had no right to the oats at all, so
he was arrested, but succeeded in escap-
ing prison sentence through influence of
relatives and friends, who interested
themselves in his behalf. Since his re-
lease Gray says he has Travelled far and
wide
Gray was arrested at boarding house,
300 Fourth Street northwest, last evening,
and locked up. Prior to this. however,
the detectives had located the valuable
piano belonging to Knabe & Co., which, it
is claimed, the prisoner rented Tuesday
of last week and had placed in room
at the lodging house OF Mrs. Hendley, on
Missouri Avenue northwest. Early last
week Gray secured a room for one week
at the Herdley establishment, represent
ing to his landlady that he had expert
enced trouble with his sister, at whose
home he previously resided. Wednesday
afternoon he told Mrs. Hendley of an al
legged reconciliation with his sister, and
that day the piano was taken hastily from
the lodging house TO an unknown address.
Nothing further was thought of the matter
BY Mrs. Herdley until Detectives Browne
ard Lacy called Monday afternoon, in
search of the man and the piano. The
detectives secured q description of Gray
from Mrs. Hendey and started out to
find the man and missing musical instru
ment.
While pursuing the investigation, the
detectives noted several advertisements
in local papers, Offering for sale an "ele-
CANT, latest improved piano; reasonable
for cash" By enquiry they learned the
address of the party who had inse rted h.
advertisement, and found also the pur-
chaser of the property. Mrs. Lizzie E.
Jones, residing at 124 Massachusetts Ave-
nue. northwest. Mrs. Jones has a young
son, whose birthday last week brought
about the purchase of the piano by his
mother as a birthday gift. The instru
ment was moved in due time to the home
of Mrs. Jones, and the detectives had not
gone far before they found the express
man who transferred the piano to its new
home. Mrs. Jones was seen yesterday
morning and she readily related all she
knew about the piano. and, as she sup
posed, its former owner. She told the de
tectives that she had seen an advertise
ment in one of the newspapers, and had
answered il. with the result that she had
been invited to call upon certa Mr..
Gray, Of 500 Fourth Street northwest, to
examine the piano at her leisure.
Mrs. Jones went to the number given
and after seeing the piano, agreed TO buy
it from Gray, giving him check for $40
on the Washington Loan and Trust Com
pany for the instrument. Saturday alter
noon the property was sent to Mrs. Jones
residence. Gray had also told Mrs. Jones
that he represented butter firm. the
Rock Springs Creamery, of Wayne C0un-
~, Pa" and had bargained to sell her q
quantity of butter ct a very low rate.
With this information, Detective Browne
went to arrest Gray. The detectives
found him reading quietly in his room
The detective told Gray he must go to
headquarters. but the latter demurred.
and argued with the policeman. When h
saw he was trapped, however, Gray ac-
companied the detective to headquar ers
where he was arrested and then locked
UP. His effects were taken in charge by
the police, and 1928 found in the mattress
of his room. which is held as evidsn
1t is likely the piano will be returned to
Knabe & Co. today through an arrange
mHnt to be made through the police de-
partment with Mrs. Jones
Gray at first stated that he had the
piano sent here from Warren. Ohio. his
former home. but later admitted his guilt
Among his effects were found a number of
circulars. bearing the name of the Wayne
County Creamery. and containing inf r
nation regarding the class OF butter ard
dairy products supplied to customers
The detectives believe Gray has dure1
many persons by means of this circular
Efforts will be made TO obtain from va
rious cities the record of the prisoner
From papers found in his satchel it is
thought Gray has been in Baltimore,
Pittsburg and New York.