Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-21
Hume H. West DeCeives Bank
er He Is Accused of SWindIing.
MAKES QUICK GETAWAY.
Trip Made by Albion K. Paris Was
Fruitless.
DEFENDANT TO BE TRIED HERE
Baltimore Authorities Arrest Him,
But Will Surrender Him to
the District.

BY having his mustache closely crop
ped and wearing no coat, 1t was revea'eo
today Hume H. West, alias Lieutenant
Commander Henry Knowlson. L. 5 N,
who is wanted here to answer charges OF
false pretenses and theft and VINO Is
now in custody in Baltimore, escaped
arrest ten days ago.
A circular issued by the local pohce.
bearing a picture of the man who had
victimized several local business firms,
led to locating a man thought to be nm
near Boston. The circular fell into me
hands of the cashier of a Boston ',ank,
and he recognized the picture as that OF
a man who had recently opened an ac-
count and who said he was a repre-
sentative of the Department of Agricui-
ture Communication with the depart
ment here disclosed the fact that 1t mad
no such representative, and the Boston
police were notified. They in turn noti-
fed the Washington police.
Banker Fails to Identify Him.
A. X Paris of the banking firm of
Crane. Paris & Co., victims of Knowi-
son. accompanied Detective Pratt OF TINS
ity TO Boston. Through the aid of the
police of the Hub. Mr.. Paris learned the
lame of the real estate firm from whom
West had rented his new home in Brook
line: and it was through the real estate
firm that Mr. Paris and a Boston de-
tcctive gained entrance 10 the house.
I'VE talked with the man for ABOUT an
hour" said Mr.. Paris today After
we had left the Boston police wanted
me to swear positively that he was the
man We wanted. His moustache was cut
much shorter, he persisted i'm talking to
Us in his shirt sleeves and there seemed
10 be a change in his complexion; there
fore, felt / could not swear positively
that he was the man. I did not want
to take the risk OF causing the arrest
unless / was positive"
Shortly after the visit TO the Brookline
residence. Mr.. Paris explained further.
information came to him that convinced
him that the man he had seen was the
one wanted; but return visit to the
home found him gone.
Glad He Enlisted the Police.
Although We have, had some notoriety
out, of the case, sMf. PARIS continued,
Il am glad called in the police.
think that many bankers are victimized
in the same way, but prefer to take the
.oss instead of the advertising II I had
lot reported the matter to the police 1
aelieve the man would have continued to
NictimiZe Others"
Crane. Paris & Co. hope to recover
part Of their losses.
When il became known that West had
q safety box full Of securities in a Bos-1
ton bank there was q scramble for it's
contents. Through a Boston attorney
Mr.. Paris secured a writ, prohibiting the
disposition of any of them until the legal
ownership had been definitely established.
The writ was secured, said Mr.. Paris
this morning. only a couple of hours be-
fore representative of West went to
the box. probably with the intention of
removing its contents.
West is to be surrendered to the local
authorities to be brought here for trial.
Detectives Pratt and Hewlett of the CEN
tral office force and Maj. Little, inspector
in the postal service, were in Baltimore
yesterday at the hearing given West.
Later they conferred wtth the Baltimore
police. pointing out that the offenses
charged against the prisoner I'm this city
we're more serious than those in Balti-
more.
Baltimore to Surrender West.
The police authorities of Baltimore
could not tell yesterday what would be
done in the matter. This morning De-
that city and renewed the request.
States Attorney Owens. who was away
from the city yesterday. conferred with
detectives today and agreed to permit
West TO be tried here. but said he
would probably not be surrendered to
Washington officers until Wednesday or
Thursday.
Learning that the federal officers would
not press charge of passing stolen
nr14 IN. pntt
United States Attorney Harvey Given to-
day telephoned the United States attor-
ney In Baltimore to lend his good Offices
in securing the transfer of Knowlson to
this Jurisdiction.
bench warrant and a copy of the
Indictment returned by the local grand
jury Friday was sent to Baltimore
Two cases are included in the indict-
ment. one growing out Of the securing
OF the bonds from Crane, Paris & Co.
and the other concerning the purchase of
a diamond ring from Gait & Co.
II developed at the hearing in Balti-
more yesterday that West is a victim
of the morphine habit Attorney RAN
aolph Barton. jr, who had been re-
tanned through a Boston law firm to
represent the prisoner. made a state
ment to that effect
THE fact Is" the attorney said. that
my client is addicted to the use Of NOR
phine and has been deprived OF il since
he has been locked up here. He is in
such nervous state that, il he is held
further I shall ask that he be sent i'm
mediately to jail. where he will receive
medical treatment
Shortly after noon the prisoner reached
the city Jail and was attended by the
prison physician. Justice T.. 4. Grammar
heard the charges made against the
prisoner by Baltimore officers One is that
he obtained diamond ring worth SIS
from the Arm Of Lewyt & Salabes. 1
North GAY street. in Baltimore and the
other alleged that he secured $40 from
John Tjarks, proprietor OF the Raleigh
Hotel under false pretenses.
Charge Of Forging Money Orders.
In each instance it was charged that
the prisoner gave a forged money order.
using blanks he is alleged to have stolen
from the drug store of w. p. Kenealy.
North Capitol and / streets. Justice
Grammar held the prisoner for the action
of the grand jury in the two cases. Bond
was fixed at 5000. Being unable "a
furnish the security, West was sent to
jail.
The prisoner heaved q sigh of relief
when Magistrate Grammar directed that
he be taken to Jail. He was first escorted
TO the ONCE OF Lieut.. Casey. superinten-
dent of the bureau of Identification. and