The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-08-12
A FLIM-FLAMMER IN BELFAST.
He also Visits Castine and Victimizes a
Few People in Each Place.


July 29th stranger called at the grocery
store of Swift & Paul in Masonic Temple and
asked if they knew of furnished house or
cottage that he could rent. He gave the name
of Milton E. Davis and said his family were at
Rockport, Me-, and he wanted to bring them
ferred to Mrs. Rose Fahy, called on her and
engaged her cottage and gave her a check for
$50 on the National Bank of Syracuse, IN. "
in payment for months rent. He then re-
turned to Swift & Paul and ordered groceries
to the amount of s17.16, giving them a check
on Syracuse for $40, and receiving the diff
ference in cash. He had Swift & Paul
call up the Belfast Fuel & Hay Co. and
order half a cord of stove wood, and
called there later and paid the bill of So with
check on Syracuse for Sc, receiving the
change When he left Swift & Paul he told
them he was going to Rockport for his family
and on his return should have telephone in
stalled in the cottage and would give further
orders through that Not hearing anything
from the parties Mrs. Fahy, who had mean
while deposited her check for collection, went
down to the cottage to investigate She found
the cottage open, with the key table in
side, and the wood and groceries ordered were
there. But when Swift & Paul went down for
their goods they found that all but about SIS
worth had been taken away, with some articles
belonging to Mrs. Fahy. How the trick was
done is at present mystery. Whether this
"Mr. Davis had an accomplice, and whether
an automobile or power boat was used to
carry off the goods is still matter of con-
lecture. The following specials from Castine
to the Bangor News indicate that the same
man, under another alias, played the same
game in that town:
Last Friday man giving the name of C. P.
Palmer and claiming to hail from Syracuse, N.
Y, called on c. H. Hooper and inquired for a
furnished house that was for rent Mr.. Hooper
showed him the W. G. Blake cottage on the
waterfront and the season was advanced
he offered it for the remainder of the season
for $125, which offer accepted and the
stranger produced very fne-looking check
book and with the remark that as it was a
small matter he would pay the whole of the
rent in advance, proceeded to make out
check. Mr.. Hooper gave him some informa-
ton as to grocery stores and other matters
and Mr.. Palmer bought something over $40
worth of groceries and made out another
check, this time for $40, and asked if it would
be all right for him to take the difference in
cash, which he did. He ordered ice coal and
wood and beefsteak, and had them sent to the
house. The check for S125 came back with
costs of protest. Mr.. Palmer was to arrive
here by Sunday morning with his family, but
up to this time he has not appeared.
CAsTINE, August sth. Saturday morning
Postmaster c. H. Hooper was called up on the
phone by some one from Hancock Point, Me-.
who said they saw the article in the News
about the film fammer and they informed him
that the above mentioned Mr.. F. had worked
c. B. Young & Co. of Hancock Point by the
same trick. Had hired cottage of Bangor
parties, bought Sl3 worth of groceries, gave
check for $40 and took the balance in cash. Mr..
Hooper gives good description of the man.
He says he is about 45 years old, five feet ten
inches tall, weighs about $50 pounds, smooth
face, and had mighty fine fountain pen knew
how to it, and good check book. The
check for rent was drawn the National
Bank of Syracuse N. Y, was dated July 80,
and was protested August 3rd. Mr.. Hooper
did not lose anything except the cost of pro-
test. The grocer here stands to lose little
over $50, besides the trouble of putting up the
goods.