The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-08-26
Paid His Wav with Checks on East.
ern Banking Houses.
WEALTHY SON OF MIssouRIAN
he Claimed to be and Had the Stubs
to Show for 1.-THE Merchants He
Worked Still Have the Checks
Marked N.G., NJ. r.

| United States, and as memento of
his visit few of the business houses
| OF the city mourn the loss of good
money given in exchange for checks
drawn on various eastern banks that
have proven to be worthless. The
smooth young man accompanied by a
woman he called his wife blew into
Kalispell on No. 4, and after remain
Ing here for a few days the couple
left via the lake route for the Yellow
| stone park, or at least that is where
they said they were going. During
their stay in Kalispell the couple at
tracted considerable attention, and
theer was much speculation as to
there was much speculation as to
at the West hotel they gave their
names as G. P. Bray and wife,
with st. Louis, Mo-, as their home.
Bray has a striking appearance
and Inferred that he was the son of
wealthy Missourian, and he and his
wife were on their bridal tour. Armed
with a camera the couple put in much
of their time taking views of the diff
ferent points of interest in and about
Kalispell, and created on the whole
a favorable impression. After few
days Mr. and Mrs. Bray left on their
journey to the Yellowstone park and
in short time evidences of their
meteoric career began to appear.
/ The first was when the checks they
had given different parties were re-
turned from the various banks, mark
ed mo good and later on when
newspapers from Portland arrived in
Kalispell giving the particulars of his
career in that city where he had
swindled numerous credulous people
on bad checks. Evidently he was not
hard up when in Kalispell, as so far
as known he secured only about $45.
In the New York World of Sunday
August Is, is an account of Brays
former life, and if the account is a
true one, Brav or Philip Watkins is a
little bit the warmest number that
ever struck Kalispell. The story of
his former life and experience is as
follows:
Montclair N. j., with it's perfect
streets, it" park-like spaces, and the
Jersey Ridge looming up behind it
capped with verdure, was too dull a
place for Philip DoremUs Watkins.
He was young, handsome, petted by
society, and the apple of a fonu
fathers eye.s He was a atudent of
theosophy and the mysteries. Hyp-
notism and psychology fascinated
him. He longed to get out in the
: great world and do things. In his
fond fancy's eye he could see his gen
ius and ability making a great sensa-
ton in this wearisome old world.
He has left Montclair and his
fathers roof, and his dream has come
2 true. He is making sensation.
Many men, including Pinkerton de-
tectives search up and down for him.
Y Out west there is an angry man who
threatens to kill him at sight He is
5 the angry mans son-in-law.
He suddenly left Montclair, send
ing back from Massachusetts. 'etter
to the effect that New Jersey was too
3 commonplace for him. During the
3 later days of his stay in the Jersey
4 town he had made times lively and
t interesting by giving parties in UNITY
Hall These affairs wer, quite the
most startling that calm and dignified
+ Montclair had over known.
A Watkins was manager of the Ames
5 bury File Works for three or foul
l months. This happened through the
/ interest taken in him by Clifford A
q Moore, of Lowell, the owner-a mar
of sound mind and accredited iudg
ment Mr.. Moore still admits thai
: Watkins wasA great talker.
4 1t was while the boy held this place
that all Montclair was made to fluttel
by a ru1hor that he was engaged tt
marry the belle of Lowell, daughter
of rich Massachusetts, business mar
and tug boat owner. Ethel Boardman
daughter of millionaire and an &C
complished young woman, was fasci
mated by his polish and many accom-
III plishments, and allowed her engage
ment to Watkins. to be announced b.
ner family.
III But one day Mr.. Moore, owner o
the file works, visited his plant Som
of the workmen were so thoughtles
as to approach him upon the subjec
of their salaries. He was astonishet
| He had always paid them promptl!
| He supposed that his manager, Wa
| kins, had done so too.
III A considerable number Of the1
| were found to be in arrears, and Wa
kins was allowed to slide out of tow
| in the cool of the evening. He e.
/ capped. After he had gone there wa
much sorrow in Massachusetts, fc
aside from being a jolly good fello
and having many friends, there wei
many who had loaned him their So
II - 4h0rn hQ01