The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-21
WHY IS DAWSON
UNDER ARREST?
Some Mystery Surrounds Case
Peculiar Circumstances
Are Noted.

Something of a mystery surrounds TIE
case of A. Dawson, who was taken into
custody at police headquarters at an
early hour yesterday on complaint OF
George L. Gardner. Dawson is stu
confined in the Jail. but without any
charge against him, nor do the police
know what he is really wanted for, nor
who. If anybody. is coming after him.
nor when. The only thing that is known
is that Gardner said that Dawson, four
years ago in New Orleans, used his
name to secure $50 from the elder Gard
ner. Yesterday Gardner left the city
without so far as can be learned, Civ
ing any information as to where he was
going or what ne intended to do in the
case of Dawson.
Dawson is presumed to have prOmi-
nent relatives in Reno, New, aud tel
egram was sent by him yesterday
morning to a Dir. Dawson at Reno. that
he was in serious trouble, and asking
that 500 be forwarded TO him in care
of the chief of police. He did not eX-
plain why he needed 500. Gardner had
said he had obtained only $50. Chief Of
Police Barlow stated last night he had
heard nothing in regard to the case 50
presumably the money has not been
forthcoming yet.
To a reporter w. L. Gardner, who
states that he is at present Identified
with numbering interests in the state
of Washington, shortly after the deteu-
ton of Dawson. related the relations
that had existed between the two.
Gardeners Story.
"Some years ago, / was sportiiy in
| eIined and followed the races. While
down at FL Paso / met Dawson.
/ found him TO be pretty smooth, and one
of the biggest liars I ever fell in with,
| but his stories of what he had done
were amusing, even if stretched, and in
a way l took liking to him and cared
/ for him. When 1 went to New Orleans
took him along and found him useful.
He never had a cent of his own, 50
I took him into my room and fed him.
/ One time 1 was practically broke, only
/ had 30 cents, but was expecting at least
$500 that day from my father, wealthy
| lumbeTman of Minneapolis. I asked
Dawson if he had any money and he
said no, so We went out and had break
fast on the 80 cents, promising ourselves
a real dinner when the money came.
| when l went back to the room that
forenoon 1 found him there eating can
/ dy, and 1 asked him where he got this
| money. He said he had borrowed 2;
cents from a friend. but 1 knew he was
! lying, so I kicked him out of the room
Then he turned his trick, as I found
out afterward. While 1 was keeping
him he had been opening my letters
and one day when was out of town n,
telegraphed my father asking him t,
! mir n s.E- 81 A
] was continually getting money, fathe
thought nothing of the request and sen
it on. Dawson called at the telegraph
office, and showing some of the letter.
that he had stolen. identified himsel
as George Gardner
Although ! have crossed the cont
nent repeatedly. and always kent M
eye open for him, never caught sigh
of him until last night when, with ia,
wife. / walked into the Wilson hote
upon our arrival from Denver. Dawson
was sitting in the lobby and when
spoke to him he at first pretended 10
to recognize me, but later saw he couI,
not get out OF it -
Dawson, who. according TO his owl
story, has had wild and varied career
living at different times under tn
names of Ringing, Coin, Dawson an,
others, has been stopping at the Wilson
for the past three weeks, coming her
| presumably from<Nevada
He admitted that he had obtained tn
$50 in much the manner told by Gard
ner, but said it was "a matter Of Ijf
or death to a woman
| Dawson claims TO be a Drofassio7s
bicycle trick rider. as well as a racer
and asserts that under thename of Vo
Ian he introduced the '1eap-the-Sap.
. travelling with Barnum & Bailey.