Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-05-10
he GOT THELR MONEY.

with obtaining money under false pre-
fences.
Following the arrest of Davis, his
brother, Martin T. Davis, secretary OF
the Potomac Building and Loan Asso-
cisiou, was taken into custody Saturday
on charge OF conspiracy, and In addi-
lion the police that night arrested Thomas
A Owens, captain of river steamer, on
the conspiracy charge. The amount in
voived is now placed at nearly $500, 900.
Seventy cents Ia the snm total assets
which the police have located and this
was found in the pockets of John O. Davis
The police declared that Ovens has In
dorsed notes negotiated by the DaviSes
aggregatlng 5000, 900, and that the
Dsvises have obtained large sums for
investment purposes, operating through
the Potomac Bailding and Loan Asso'
citation. While District Attorney Baker
of Washington declares that the Davis
brothers have obtained about $276, OOO
from widows and married women of that
city, the police make the additional
charge that the brothers have secured at
least $50, 600 from persons living 10 Al.
exandris.
Claimants against Davis residing 10
Alexandris, known of at this time, are
Ohiei of Police Charles 7. Goods,
$4, O0O; Mrs. Sarah Goods aud family,
81. 400; DR.. r. Lee wilkins, $4,000;
w. E. Sisson, Sc. 700; @. w. Goods,
brother of Chief Goods, Man sssas, 3d.
900; Miss Ella M. Austin, q young en-
ploye of the Department of Agriculture.
told the police that she had leaned
Davis $500 and that he had induced her
to sign papers which afterward proved
to be blank notes. These were SLED IN.
and, NJ ss Austin says, were gIlsn to DE-
Robert l.. Wilkins, OF Alexan' tls, VIII
now holds notes for $500, signed ~
Miss Austin.
Chief Goods, when seen by reporter,
said he had been investing with Davis in
small sums for the past five years and
continued to do so until last fall, when
be made several Intellectual efforts to
withdraw his money. He secured notes
and at times received Interest at the rate
of six per cent. Recently, however,
the interest ceased to be paid. Believ-
log Davis all right be st times let the
interest remain with Davis with the un-
deretsnding, of course, that 1t would be
added to his account. The chief said
that he was introduced TO Davis by bis
uncle, O. L. Pritchard, of Front Royal,
and that the latter Is believed to have a
large sum invested With Davis. The
chief also explained that the total
amount secured from members OF his
family in Alexandria and vicinity will
reach $40, 900. This amour, included
what was invested by his r4oGher, broth
ers and sisters. The a1ount he placed
with Davis was SO, 600 and the interest
at the present time would make the total
"a, 900.
DR.. r. Lee wilkins said that he had
been investing With Davis for the past
two years. Davis, he said, promised
interest at the rate of 6 per cent together
with profits accruing from buildings 10
which the money was to be used In
erecting. He also secured notes which
he does not believe are worth the paper
they are written on. DR.. Wilkins said
he was in Washington all day Saturday
looking after his Interests. He explain
ed that ne also received some interest
from Davis.
| w. E. Sisson, who resides at 27l9
Duke street, and whose loss Is Sc, 200,
also spent Saturday ia Washington. he
said that he had been investing with
Davis for the past three years. Davis
also guaranteed him 6 per cent interest,
together with the accrued profits other
wise made. On several occasions he re-
ceved interest. .
Davis has other clients Ia this city.
Davis secured something like $40, 0OO
from Aexandrians, 1t is believed. 1t ID
also reported that number of his VIC
tins reside 10 Front Royal.
Letters taken from Davis at the time
of his arrest show that several of his
patrons were crOydIng him for money,
some threatening him with prosecution,
others with civil suits and one young
lady iutimsted that he might be vio-
lently dealt with should she run across
him.
Davis, it is understood, praciiced the
same game in North Carolina several
years ago. He raised large sums oil money
and gave much of it for church build
ing. When the crash csme he was
tried and sent to an insane asylum where
he remained for some years.
Because of his peculiar demeanor, and
fearing that he may do himself bodily
harm, the police last night placed a
special guard over John O. Davis, who
is held prisoner a! the First precinct
station.
The accused lawyer processes regret
that he cannot attend church services.
He says he paid bis Wilmington, N. O. f.,
customers, and can repeat the operation.
The police of Washington yesterday
succeeded 10 locating several more OF
Davls's victims.
No assets Of any kind-ueither money
mortgages, deeds of trust or real estate
have been discovered by the local
authorities. The police express the
belief that the financial tansle in which
Davis Is now involved is the result of a
Systematic Exiting" of accounts, and
that Davis has used the money of new
investors to settle accounts of his earlier
clients.
Martin I. T avis, brother OF John
Davis, is silent in regard to- the case.
Ga the ether hand, John O. Davis is
talking freely, but his explanations and