The Washington herald., 1907-10-12

Clad IN ? brown suit, tan shoes, and
brown Stockings. and wearing a brown
hat and veil, over hair of the same color,
mysterious woman visited several stores
In the residential section of the city yes
terday afternoon. and, representing her
self as being Miss Emily Berliner. the
daughter Of Emile Berllner, the inventor,
Of 145S Columbia road northwest. sue
ceeded in passing two checks, which were
afterward found TO be worthless.
The police first learned of her opera
tions about 1 clock yesterday afternoon
when a message was received from J. II.
MagTuder, proprietor of a grocery at the
corner Of Connecticut avenue and X
street northwest. Mr.. Magruder stated
that the woman had visited his establish
ment but a short time before and had
ordered some groceries, saying they were
TO be delivered TO her home. at 1858 Co
lumbia road. She came TO the place in
an open surrey, and, stepping from the
vehicle, entered the place with an easy
air After questioning as to the merits
Of different brands Of goods, she gave an
order Of considerable size
When about to leave the place she in
formed the clerk who waited on her that
she was Miss Emily Berliner, and asked
If the proprietor of the store would be
so kind as to cash a check for her. On
being Informed that he would be willing
TO do so. she presented a check for IS
on the National Exchange Bank, of New
port, r. l.. indorsed by "a. Lloyd"
When the amount was handed TO her she
promptly left the place. and. getting into
the carriage that was sull waiting for
her, hurriedly left the neighborhood
Suspicion Is Aroused.
The woman had been gone but a few
minutes when d representative OF the
catering establishment Of Charles Raus-
cher, Of Connecticut avenue and L street,
came into Magruder's store and said that
such an individual had tried 10 pass
check with them. and that she had also
ordered a bin of goods at that place.
When the manager of the establishment
refused 10 cash the check she had left
Immediately. On hearing this, Mr. Ma
Bruder called up the residence of Mr..
Berliner by telephone. only to learn that
Miss BeTliner was in Europe, and that
the woman was a fraud.
This report had been received but a
short time when further evidences of the
Woman's operations were learned. The
second report came from Edward r.
Lewis, the proprietor Of a grocery store
at 26l2 Fourteenth street His story was
identical with that told BY Mr. Magrud-
er. The same stunning woman. clad in
brown, representing herself as Miss En-
hiy Berliner. had visited his store and
after ordering q bill Of groceries TO be
Galivered G. o. d. presented a check
dor 50 and asked that It be cashed. The
check was drawn on the same bank as
was that given to Magruder. and was
indorsed by the same person. Thinking
II 30 be correct, Mr.. Lewis fell victim
20 the womau's clever scheme.
Apparently Wei Educated.
Both Magruder and Lewis reported that
the woman IN brown" was very at
tractive individual. and that she had given
the order with q free and easy air. Her
manner Of talking indicated that she was
well educated. and. to the mind Of the
police officials, every indication showed
that she was no amateur at the game.
The police have also learned OF several
other stores that We're visited by the
woman yesterday afternoon but as yet
have not heard that she succeeded in
passing other checks. She called at all
of the places in the same surrey and, in
general, followed the same tactics in her
endeav0r 10 get checks cashed. Although
all of the gr0cers and proprietOrs were
able TO give a good description Of the
woman, they seemed to have taken bat
little notice of the driver Of the sJxrey
she used, and were unable TO furnish his
description