The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-02-17
A SMOOTH ARTIST
Separates DR.. BiddIe From
$S6 and Mr.. w. P. VOL
bridge From Sis.
SIVES HIS NAME AS 4. ]. DAVIDSON.
Tried to Escape, But Makes a
False Move and Lands
In Jail.

j.. Davidson and Buffalo, N Y. as hi
, home, got In bad at this place Monda
evening, while DIR VIM. Blddle Is Oui
$S5. 20 and MI. W. r. WoldTidge i
minus fifteen plunks.
Davidson arrived in Columbia Sun
day and registered at the Rethell. H,
Is q man of fair address, good appear
ance and is we'll dressed.
Monday he called at the Wcldrldg,
drug store and asked to see MI.
Wol0ridge. That gentleman was busy
but Davidson was In no hurry and
waited. He stated to Mr.. Woldridgt
that he had been appointed agent for
Maury county OF the Manhattan Life
Insurance Co and wanted to rent an
Office. Mr.. Woodbridge had two Offices
to rent and refused to rent them
separately. Two offices suited MI.
Davidson: In fact it would require two
for his business. He showed Mr..
Woodbridge telegram purpoIting to be
from the Manhattan Co., at Buffalo.
regarding Davidson's appointment at
Columbia. Incidentally the telegram
was dated at Nashville, but Mr.. VOL
bridge did not know this; neither did
he know that Mr.. W. g. McAdams
was the agent OF the Manhattan Co.
at Columbia.
The deal fer the offices was closed,
| type written leases were signed and
witnessed and Mr. Davidson took his
departure temporarily.
| DR.. Vim. Blddie was chosen as the
next victim. The lease contract with
MI. Woodbridge was shown and II.
Biddle was asked to become the exam
inIng surgeon for the Manhattan Co
tor Columbia for the next year. DR..
Biddle accepted and IN return agreed
to take out life policy with Mr.
Davidson. The application was signed
and DR. Bidlde was examined for the
insurance aid this feature of the bust
ness was closeo. Mr.. Davidson then
mentioned casually that he was
stranger IN Columbia and might run
short of cash before be got settled and,
would DIR. Riddle mind endorsing
check for HIM? DIR. Biddle would be.
glad to do so and did. The check was
tor $35. 90 and Davidson got it cashed
Returning to the drug store, David
son bought $1.00 worth of ten cent
cigars and stood about smoking.
Money came easy and he would afford
to smoke good cigars
MIR. Wolrdidge came up and David
son showed him Dr. BIddle's insurance
application. He stated that his Office
nxtuIes would arrive Thursday. He
Was little shy Of ready cash. Would
Mr. Woodbridge cash small check for
himy Mr.. Wolrdidge was glad TO ac-
cOmmodate him. The check was for
$l5. 90 and was drawn on the Fourth
National Bank. of Nashville. MI.
Woodbridge thought the bank was a
mighty good one and would have
cashed larger check assIeadiiy.
Things were coming easy and Dav-
idson concluded he would ~ some
new shoes. He had good shoes. but
wanted patent feathers. Addison
Bros. let him have pair and took
his personal check in exchange.
In the meantime, MI. McAdams
heard OF the new Manhattan agent. 1t
WAS news to him and he telegrApned TO
the state agent at Nashville. a out the
The state agent hadn't made any |
such appointment. A man answering !
Davidson's description, had passed
through Nashville a week or two since
and had called upon him and stated
that he was on his way to Dickson
county and il given a tate book and
application blanks would write some
insurance for him in Hickman. The
request was granted. Mr.. McAdams
got onto the fact that Davidson had
secured money from MI. Woodbridge
and DIR. Biddle and warned these
gentlemen.
1t was after dark then and Davidson
was still at the hotel. He found that
be was under Suspicion and gathering
up hts grips gave a bell boy 50 10 with
which to pay his hotel bill, and left
BY the side entrance.
A buggy and horse was hired from
Will Matthews fol- $500 and he was
% pe driven to Culleoka. The driver
asked Davidson If he might go by
nome and get some wraps. Davidson
and after starting again told
he driver he would just as soon go 30
and gave him $500 to take
lin there. He soon repented of his
however, and stole the bill
way from the negro.
Tie negro thought this suspicious
ind drove to police headquarters.
where he called for an officer and
urned Davidson over to him.
Dr. Biddle, MI. Woodbridge and str.
IicAdams soon learned OF tine arrest
ind confronted Davidson.
He admitted that the two checks he 3
,avc were no good, but said If Mr..
Voldridge and DR.. Biddle would get i
nm out of touble he would secure Q
money and pay Them they said had |
lot helped 10 get him into trouble and
nd NOT see why they should Interfere
With the officers or the courts t
ounty jail for safe keeping. The c
Ulcers found among his effects tele- v
rams and correspondence which they S
lain indicate that he has partner.
nd that the two are working Middle /
Tennessee 1t seems that he had Al i
anged to meet this partner IN Nash
lille tonight. and the Nashville officers Q
ave been notified so that they may be
n the look out ana make another 8