New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-04
"Boy Wizard" of Boston,
Charged with Larceny Of
$4,000 Securities.
MOVED IN SOCIETY AT HUB
Warrant for Arrest of Robert E.
Davie, Who Has Been Absent
from City for Four
Months.

street, where he has been popularly
| known as A .bov wizard" and has main
tained a high standing with various
| financial institutions. is missing. accord
ing to the police who have sent out cir
/ culars, calling for his arrest on the
| charge of the theft Of securities valued
at $4,000 from Anna L. Greenwood, If
No. 800 Broadway Somervil1e- It is al
legged that the claims against DaVle
amount to from 100000 to $5OO,co0.
Davie has moved in high social cir
cles of Boston and Brookline. and al
though only twenty-three years old he
held prominent positions with two lead
ine brokerage houses before he opened
9 stock brokers Office for himself four
| years ago.
For four months Davie has neen ao-
sent from the city, but it was only TO-
dav that the police announced that they
held a warrant for his arrest
| Some time ago he began the erection
of = magnificent mansion in the million
aire colony of Weston. but work on the
building was stopped after MS dlsap-
pearance. Recently he is said TO nave
been seen in Mexico
| Davies mother. who lives in Allston.
said to-day that she does not Know
where he IS His wife who was MISS
Anna Cotter. daughter of James Cotter'
a wealthy attorney. has made her nome
with her parents for year or more
Some OF His Creditors.
| Davies Offices were at No o3 state
street. Some of his alleged creditors are
| Constantine, the opera singer; Harry
Lauder. the comedian: Alexander Nc
Gregor. several prominent clergymen
ond q score of Back Bay people Of social
! prominence.
| Scores of firms in the financial olstrlcl
and brokers are losers through Dawes
epecuiation. His business acquaintance
| ship was with the best class of bankers
| One prominent business man is said TO
be a creditor for 100000.
Davie entertained Harry Lauder at
his home. at No. los Winthrop street.
R-ookIine. at two elaborate dinners
Shortly before his departure for Mexico
where he is now said to be, Davie gave
= dinner at his home, at which were
nresent nearly all local and Brookline
pastors of prominence Among the
guests were the Rev. stephen H Rob-
lin. who had taken a great interest IN
| Davies affairs.
Ahout two years ago Davie married
Miss Anna Cotter. the daughter of James
e Cotter. a wealthy lawyer and man OF
affairs. with an Office in the Sears build
| ing Love had ripened from boy ano
| girl friendship. The wedding Was
fashionable event of the season in Hyde
Park For six months the couple lived
together at los Winthrop street, Brook
line Suddenly ii, young bride packed
up her belongings and left for her
fathers home in Hyde Park.
To-day her father was dumfounded
when Informed Of young Davies disap-
| nea-ance He would not talk 1t length
regarding his son-in-law's domestic
troubles
Rapid Rise in Business.
Al tn. age of sixteen Davie entered
! the Office of a Hyde Park real estate
firm. So extraordinary was the amount
/ nf business done by him that he was
offered a partnership at that early age
He declined, having d better chance with
the State street firm of r. L. Day & Co.
He went with them as a bond clerk.
So rapid was his success that he was
offered a high -salaried place, with the
stock brokerage firm of Wiggin & Ell
well when he was eighteen years old.
little over year later he started
| in business for himself. with an office
at No. So State street. At the age of
twenty apparently prosperous man
| of affairs. building magnificent estate
at Weston, owning a large touring car
and employing a chauffeur to take hlm
| between his offices and his Brookllne
home. he married Miss Cotter-
Some time ago Dayie went TO William
II Jackson. a well known business man
or Roston. and asked for the loan of 1oo
shares of stock which the latter held IN
the American News Company. Jackson.
who was interested in the young mans
career and believed in him. assented. He
held about ], 100 shares. Davie obtained
more than LOCO shares, instead Of 100.
took them to the Federal Trust Com
many and borrowed $4,000 on them. AT
present this transaction is IN the courts.
Another incident in the career of Davie
shows his methods. Desiring to pur-
chase real estate in Weston, he ap-
nroached the owner and stated that
while he did not have the ready money
at the time he desired to purchase the
property and wanted to begin building
operatfons at once. The owner assented.
When il came time for Davie to pay he
told the owner that he would have the
money for him the next day and asked
him to leave the deeds with him. The
owner did SO. The deeds, il is alleged,
are now held by a local bank as security
for a $4,000 loan made 10 Davie.
Davies mother. Mrs. Lucy Davie, who
resides at No. Ashford Court, Allston, |
was left a widow when the boy was
very young. Wrapped up in both Rob |
ert and his younger brother. she went |
TO work teaching music to help support |
them
Robert was good boy said a fam |
,,y friend to-day. THAT was one of the |
reasons I helped him. He was mar |
vel that boy. He went to work for the |
Jordan Marsh Company as a bundle boy
during one vacation, showing no false |
bride. He saved every dollar and loved |
That's uhV liked him " |