Evening star., 1909-05-09


His brother declares he had heard O
John Davis prospective troubles and hat
been searching for him several hours be
fore he finally found him. 1t was hi!
purpose. he says. to make an effort II
give bond rather than to assist him ou
Loss of Quarter Million
Estimated by Investigators
While the investigation has only begur
and there is no way yet to arrive at ar
accurate estimate of losses, the predic
ton is ventured by detectives Investigate
Ing the case that Davis has obtained
something like S256,0O0 from his clients.
1t is believed that many Of the larger
notes given by Davis have not become
due and are held by persons to whom
they were given.
Fears Loss of Home.
Pathetic among the numerous COM
plants is that of Mrs. Annie M. Merrill
a widow, sixty-five years Of age. She
was seen at her home 425 P street north
west. last night by Assistant United
States Attorney Perry. Detectives Corn.
we'll and Berman and Star reporter.
i, Her statement is that she gave Davis
investment TO pay well. Mrs. Merrill IL
affected with heart disease
I'm afraid she said, that people will
Try to get my house from me when they
learn / had invested money"
Her condition was such that the police
deemed it inadvisable to question hel
closely about her dealings with Davis.
Miss Ella NJ. Austin. clerk in the Agri.
cultural Department and boarder at the
home of Mrs. Merrill, also had q com.
plaint to make against Davis. She hai
given him $500 to invest, she said, bur
now has no hope that she will receive any
returns from it.
Her father. T. M Austin of Parsons
w. Va. also gave up about $500, thu
daughter says. Her father had more
than $500 in the hands Of Davis at one
time, she says. but has succeeded in get
ting back all but about $500.
Miss Austin says she signed what she
thought were blank receipts for Davis,
but has since been informed that they
we're notes. One of them, she learned,
was made out for 1880 and was turned
over to DR.. Wilkins of Alexandria.
Others. Prosecutor Perry was told, have
financial ruin to those who signed them. !.
While investigating the complaints OF
Miss Austin and Mrs. Merrill the authori-
les were told that the names of Miss
ural Department, and Miss Bertha F..
Wolfe, clerk in the pension Office, 629
18th street, had been mentioned as hay
ng had dealings with Davis.
Gives Up Trip to Europe.
Detectives working on the case were
;eld last night that a young woman, en-
oloyed in one of the department. had
abandoned a trip to Europe because OF
The arrest of John C. Davis. Another al
eyed victim told the story to the detec-
ives and said she knew the other woman
we'll, but refused to give her name.
She said the clerk had obtained leave
IF absence for the purpose of taking a
European trip and had gone to New York
made preparations to sail today. There
she learned yesterday of the develop
nents against Davis and Immediately ar
ranged to return home to interest her.
self in the prosecution. having been q
aeavy loser.
Brothers. Lose Heavily.
Shortly after the offices of the Potomac
Building and Loan Association had been
'ansacked by the officers from the United
states District Attorneys Office yesterday
afternoon ]. A. d. Turner of 124 Mary
and avenue southeast a proofreader in
The government printing Office, appeared
1t the association office and told Detec-
live Grant that John C. Davis had OBJ
aimed $4,000 from him. OF this amount
ie said $210 had been given last Thurs
lay on three notes.
j. A. D. Turner and his brother, w. A
II. Turner, who states he gave Davis
their dealings with Davis. w. A. H
Turner was the more communicative. He
said:
Davis got money from us at variou,
times in the past two years. l be-
lieved that more honest man never
lived. and let him have as much as
could spare. thinking / could make a gooe
percentage on 1t.
.'One Of the schemes 1 went into wa.
q lumber deal, in which Thomas Owen
Owan would buy some lumber down ths
river and would sell 1t at a profit.
The money he got at times was Sc
cured by notes signed with Owens name
C. Austin,' or something very similar
and p. c. Wilson. ! do not remember
ever seeing any of these people.
''At other times he got me to inves
in buildings. l don't know whether tn.
buildings ever went up or not But
do know that some of the money he Dor
rowed for building purposes came bacl
to us.
"At one time / hunted up the man VIII
son. and got him on the telephone. ask
He said he would rather refer the Who'll,
matter to Davis"
An attorney interested In one Of tn,
largest claims against Davis says tina
l.. C. Miller. whose name Is also signeS
to several notes figuring In the transac
tions of Davis, resides In Denver. Colo
Among Davis papers. taken during tn,
raid yesterday on his office. there wal
discovered a letter from Miller. datet
about a month ago. calling on Davi.
for money. which Miller indicated had
been loaned by him to Davis.
P. G. Wilson. who declined yesterday
to talk for publication. also claims. Il
Is understood, to have been a loser by
reason Of his transactions with Davis.
Clients in Alexandria.
Claimants against Davis residing In
Alexandria, Va, known of at this time
are Chief Of Police Charles 7. Goods