Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-10
YOUTH CONFESSES
CHECKS WERE BAD
Charles Allen, Now in Jail, Tells
of Defrauding Many Los
Angeles Merchants
POSED AS SCHOOL STUDENT
Detectives Make Arrest as Boy
Is Endeavoring to Make
Clothing Purchase

After euding the police for more
than a year and half, during which
time he passed 6S fictitious checks on
various Los Angeles merchants,
Charles Allen, alias Lawrence Gray,
was taken into custody yesterday by
Detectives Home and Carroll, while
attempting to pass worthless check
on w. A. Hunter, clothing merchant
at 525 South Spring street.
Allen is not yet 20 years old. He
came from Carthage, Mo-, to Los An
geles two years ago and entered the
Polytechnic high school. After at
tending classes for several months he
obtained employment with the Los An
geles Desk company, 117-119 South
Broadway. He says he was unable
to earn enough to pay his expenses
and decided to pass bad checks to
defray the cost of showing his friends
a good time and to buy flowers and
bonbons for his sweetheart.
The young man started on his career
in January, 1909. by passing worth
less check for SO on the Beacon Shoe
company 313 South Spring street. On
this occasion the accused represented
himself as a school boy. He stated
that his name was Lawrence Gray ana
that he was the son of S. A. Gray, a
retired capitalist. When the safes
man declined to cash the check the
lad produced several school books and
showed his name written on the fly
leaf of Latin book.
GIVES CHECKS IN STORES
Finding that he had no trouble In
passing bad checks, the youth contln-
ued his operations and mulcted several
business men out of amounts ranging
from 50 to IS. The lad made prac-
tice of entering the various places with
a bundle of school books on MS arm.
He explained that he was on his way TO
school and that his father had given
him the check to purchase various arti-
cles. In every case he was successful.
The victims, noting his youthful and
apparently innocent appearance, lost no
time in selling the youth what he
wanted and giving him money for the
difference in the amount of purchase
and the check.
The checks in each case were made
out to Lawrence Gray and signed >. A.
Gray. They were drawn on various
Los Angeles banks.
Last night young Allen entered the
store of w. A. Hunter at 525 South
Spring street and ordered several artl-
cles, such as ties, hosiery, collars ana
handkerchiefs Then he presented
check for 81 as payment. The proprle-
tor. evidently having read the exclusive
story in The Herald of the escapades OF
the Young man, hurried to a telephone
and notified the detective bureau. me
officers reached the place and found the
proprietor forcibly OBTAINING the young
man.
Allen was taken to the central police
station. where he confessed to the de-
tectives to having passed many bad
checks during the last eighteen months.
EXPLAINS USE OF ALIAS
"The merchants of this city are the
easiest marks imaginable" SAID tne
Youthful culprit. 81 was earning only
a small salary where 1 was employed
and decided to pass bad checks to keep
l1p my end with my companions. 90
not know how / came to sign the name
of &. A. Gray to the checks. IL was
the first name that came 10 my Illhu
and the name of Lawrence Gray
seemed to appeal to me as peihs
proper name to use.
II never experienced the slightest
difficulty in cashing the checks and
the merchants seemed glad to accom-
modate me. 1 never had any narrow
escapes of being taken into custody by
detectives, and feeling secure l con-
tinued issuing the worthless paper
until was caught last night Since I
began I have passed slxty-elght pau
checks.
IT came to Los Angeles two years
ago from Carthage, Mo. l attended
the Polytechnic high school for short
time and then went to work. do not
drink and have not been entertaining
nv friends on joy rides. During the
rast six weeks 1 have been employed
nv the Pockels-B Bishop Desk company,
325 West Third street. I earned $1050
a week from that firm.
"My only reason for passing the bad
checks is that 1 did not earn enough
money to live as I desired. I have a
sweetheart and the money obtained
Nv means of the worthless checks was
used in purchasing her candy, flowers
and small presents"
Allen is an intelligent looking boy.
He has dark hair and brown eyes and
his complexion is fair. He has the
appearance of schoolboy and is an
il interesting conversationalist. He lives
with his parents at 21O7 West Twenty
eighth street.