Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1902-04-23
TAnPfRING WITH THE HALLS.
CHECK EXTRACTED FROM A
PRIVATE LETTER.
William Simpson. OOlored, Endeavors To
Pass 1t For Store Clothes Arrest
cd On Serious Charge.

eu Ou oeIlOub OnarEe.
William Simpson, colored, was arrest
ed here yesterday by Deputy Sheriff ~
w. Bryan for trying TO cash a check OF
$500, which was supposed TO have been
taken from the mails. Tie was taken
before Magistrate John Davis. who COM
miiied him to jail tor hearing today.
Simpson. who IS a laberer in Annap-
oils. ard an old offender OF the law,
being frequent inmate OF the county
al and city prison. From the facts that
have since come out in the case it appears
that on April 2. Prot. p. X Alger.
U. 5. N. who resides at No. 9 Blake
Row. in the Naval Acad .my. mailed a
letter Containing a check OF 81 90 to the
order OF Woodward x Lothrop, dry goods
merchants Of Washington, ID. C.. with
card attached stating enclosed please
find check OF 81 TO cover bill attached.
rhe letter was mailed at the Naval
Academy between the hours OF 3 and q
p. M, and was collected by the Naval
Academy carrier, who delivered same to
the postoffice in Annapolis, as the letter
bears post-maTk OF having been stamped
at clock the same afternoon. MessTs.
Woodward * Lothrop received the letter
with card and bill enclosed, but there
was no check. The following day they
returned the envelope and contents 10
Prof. Alger, remarking on the absence
OF the check. Professor Alger reported
the matter at once to the authorities
here, who have been working diligently
on the case, and have succeeded in fer
reting out the culprit.
On Thursday night, the 3rd OF April, a
colofed man appeared at the store OF
Aaron l.. Goodman, on Market space,
and purchased suit of clothes. stating
that he had nothing but check and
u he, Mr.. G. jodman, would cash IL he
would pay Tor the clothes. Mr.. Goodman
asked him the amount of the check, and
the man replied 1.-TWO hundred dollars"
which he no doubt thought was right,
owing to the fact that the check was
made out thus-S2 90, with a small DOT
after the 2. Mr.. Goodman asked him TO
show him the check. and upon examin-
ing II told him it was only for two dol.
lars and made out to the order OF firm.
Simpson Immediately took the check and
stated he would have it cashed in the
morning and come and get the clothes.
He next went to the store Of Louis
Stearns. where he again asked that the
check be cashtd to pay for clothes. Mr..
SteaTns asked him the amount of the
check, and Simpson replied Two hun
dred dollars, "whereupon Mr.. Stearns re-
Piled that he was unable to cash it, but
would try and get it cashed. Mr.. Stearns
took the check, not noticing the amount,
and went to Mr.. Goodman's store, who
has an interest in the store Of Mr.. Stearns
he was told OF the occurrence in Mr..
Goodmans store, and both returned to
find that the man had left. As the
amount OF the check was so small the
gentlemen did not think the matter OF
any consequence. Three days later two
colored boys appeared at the store OF
Mr.. Slearns and asked for the clothes
and balance OF the money for "Mr.
Simpson" They were told that the check
was only foi s. 90 and to tell Simpson
TO come alter It.
AS he did not appear Mr.. Stearns
showed the check TO Pay Director Casper
Schenck, retired. who reported the mat
ter TO Professor Alger, who made known
the same to States Attorney Daniel K.
Randall. Every effort was made to locate
Simpson without letting the matter out,
thinking II it did, he might leave the
town. Mr.. Stearns yesterday recognized
the boys on the street and was taking
them to the States Attorneys Office,
when one Of the boys said "There is
the man now that sen, us" Mr.. Stearns,
who was accompanied by Mr.. Goodman.
started to go toward Simpson, who i'm
mediately took to his heels and turned
into the narrow street leading off the
State Circle, followed by crowd. Dep
uty Sheriff Bryan came along aud made
the search, finding the fugitive secreted
in the stable loft Of Mr.. b. Wiegard, and
was Immediately placed under arrest.
The deputy sheriff has made every effort
10 draw out from Simpson as to how he
secured the check. but Simpson has re-
mained as silent as clam.
Immediately after his arrest he was
asked about the check and stated that
he had received it from a marine station
ed at the Naval Academy, but directly
afterwatd denied the same. Postmaster
w. G.. Tuck has reported the matter to
the United States authorities, who are
working on the case.
Simpson had a hearing this morning
before Justice Davis and was committed
to Jail in default Of bail TO await the &C
A.. At.