Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-05-22
EXAMPLES OF CONFIDENCE.

a notable instance OF this conf
dence in the man was brought 10 the
attention OF the district attorneys
Office in the case OF Mrs. Anita II
Greaves, who has suffered a loss of
something like $4,000 at the hands
or Davis. and who holds nothing but
batch of worthless notes as security
given by man who did not know he
was issuing them. and had no knowl-
edge whatever Of the purpose for
which he was signing his name to
the papers.
The signer is Capt. Thomas c.
Owen, at first suspected OF being in
Davis conspiracy to defraud. but
since shown to be absolutely inno-
cent OF any criminal act. and who has
been completely exonerated BY the
district attorney. instead of being a
party to the frauds Capt. owen is
one of Davis most unfortunate vic
Tins, and a heavy loser by reason of
the trust which he reposed in the
swindler.
Despite the fact that both she and
her daughter, Mrs. Hortense Shelton.
were defrauded out Of many thous-
ands of dollars by Davis. Mrs
Greaves was most reluctant wit.
ness against the man before the
grang JURY. Mrs. Greaves is a widow
and is said to possess considerable
means. Her first husband was Rem
resentative Mickey. OF North Caro-
lima. Some years after his death she
married Gen. Greaves. a well-iSnown
Confederate soldier, Of Mississippi
whose widow she now is.
IL is said that she met Davis at
a time when he was convalescing
from a severe illness. and. moved to
sympathy for the man. and also bav.
ing gained confidence in him bv his
apparent earnestness and pleasant
manners, she intrusted a large mart
OF her business 20 him. Little nv lit-
tie he obtained various sums from
her. and finally the amounts grew 10
thousands. From time to time he pre-
sented her with statements showing
the profits which he had accredited
10 her on account Of her invest
ments. These were so allurinr that
Davis had no difficulty in Inducing
her TO dip deeper and deeuer into
her money bag and turn it's contents
over TO him. Whenever she wanted "a
sum for expenses OF any sort. Davis
always supplied IL. usually with sucb
promptness and such willingness that
she had implicit faith in his integ.
rity. Her daughter. Mrs. shelton. al
so widow, and employed In. one of
the government departments. parted
with the $4,000 insurance money left
her by her husband. by giving IL to
Davis for investment. upon recon-
mendation OF her mother.
While Davis had little trouble In
popUlariZing himself with a class of
women. all OF whom he made his
victims, he never would have made
much of a success with a worldly
wise woman. or with one with anv
knowledge of business affairs. He
was too good TO be true. and would
have been suspected. To those whom
he selected TO Gefraud he appeared
10 be the model man. He was a strong
churchman. He was a total abstain
er, and could boast that never had
a drop of liquor passed his lips. He
neither smoked nor chewed tobacco.
Never was he heard to utter a pro-
fame or obscene word.
His dealings with women were
purely of a business and social ma
ture. and there is no evidence any
where OF any immortality in connec-
ton with his transactions with his
female clients. They regarded his
moral character as above suspicion.
There Is evidence. however. of the
fact that in several instances in or.
der TO inspire confidence he proposed
matrimOny. which helped to per-
suade his various finances to intrust
their money to him.
The Widow Karrich. in an action
filed against Davis since his arrest.
charges that she was engaged TO
marry him. and was only awaiting a
suitable time to elapse after the
death of her husband 20 become his
wife. BY making love 10 the widow
Davis had ingratiated himself into
her favor and obtained the money
lett to her upon the death OF her
husband.
At least two otner women who
nave enJoined secrecy as to their
names have also made statements to
to the eject that one of the allure
ments presented by Davis which in
dueed them TO place their possessions
IN his hands was the promise of mat
rimony. When their manner indi-
Gated doubt as to the security of the
investment. Davis would reassure
them with the statement that If they
could not trust to the business capa-
city OF their Intended husband. then
there was no one upon whom they
could rely. This line of argument
won the confidence OF the women
and also got the money.
DIPPED CAPT nVVEN