Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-20
DeN0UN cED BY CARDINAL
GIBBONS AS iMP0STER
When Captured, Clever Swindler Was
In Act Of Stealing Blank Checks For
Use In His Game-Tries to Commit
Suicide In Baltimore Police Sta
ton.

cashiers checks for use in bis clever
swindling game, and while posing In
the role OF a Catholic priest, Paul
West, alias Frank Hume, alias Lieu
tenant-C Commander Henry Knowleson,
L. S. NJ who, it is alleged, swindled
business firms in Washington, ID. T.,
out of $3.50 worth OF securities and
other valuables last month by the use
OF forged cashiers checks on the
Powell Trust Company, Inc. of this
ci'y, was arrested yesterday in aBlti-
more, Md. When taken TO the police
station there he attempted to commit
suicide. but was disarmed before ne
harmed himself.
West, or Knowleson, as he Is known
here, is regarded by the Washington
police as one of the cleverest swind-
lers in America. He visited This city
on October 16. registered at the War
wick hotel and later called at the Of
flee of the Powell Trust Company. He
told Secretary Treasurer J. Z. T. Hun
ter that he was "Lieutenant-Co Com
mander Henry Knowleson, u. s. NJ
hat he had been assigned to duty at
the shipyard and wanted TO open a
checking account at the bank and a
.small savings account Of $4,000.
Makes Good Impression.
With his pleasing manner. tasteful
dress and refined bearing, Knowle-
son made a very favorable impression
on Mr.. Hunter and was introduced by
the secretary-treasurer to Vice-Presi-
dent w. Lee Powell. Knowleson told
the bank officials that he had been
stationed in the Mediterranean for
several years and had been doing his
banking business through New
York bank. He said THAI he would
immediately have his account trans
ferred to the Powell Trust Company
here, as he expected to be stationed
here several months
. He then asked for some stationery
and was shown into Mr.. Powells Of
flee. where he wrote for half an holr
or more. He left the bank about GAS
o'clock and proceeded to the postof-
fee, where he mailed the letters be
had written. Leaving the posioffice.
be hurried to the depot and boarded
the 1906 train for washington
Learn That He Is Swindler.
Two days afterwards. the bank Of
ficials learned that knowieson was a
swindler and that while writing in
The bank he had forged Mr.. Hunters
name to two cashiers checks. enc for
$4,000 and the other for $3.50. On the
first check he secured $4,000 in United
States , per cent. bonds from the
brokerage firm OF Crane, Paris & C1sn-
pany. of Washington, and on the $3.50
check he secured diamond ring from
Gault & Company. jewellers on PENN
sylvania avenue. Washington
Subsequently it was learned that
before coming here, Knowleson had
visited the brokerage firm and the
jewelry store and made arrangements
TO buv the bonds and the ring and
had told the managers Of the firms
that he would have his bank in New
port News seHd him cashiers checks
covering the amounts, the letters TO
be addressed 10 him care of the firms.
IL was those letters he wrote
while in the Powell Trust Company
He beat the letters to Washington
and. after waiting for them to be de-
Ifyered In that city, he went to the
brokerage firm and called for bis let
. ter. It was opened. the cashiers
check produced and accepted in pay.
ment for the bonds. The same TRICK
was worked on the jewelers.,
DISCOVERIES Two Days later.
The svindle wss not discovered IN.
til two days later. when the checks
we're sent here for collection through
Schmelz Brothers Bank When the
checks were presented at the Powell
Trust Company they were pronounced
fcrgeries.
The checks which KnoviesoE used
bore the stamp Of a Baltimore engrav'
ing house and evidently we're sample
checks. as the Powell Trust Company
has It's cashiers checks engraved BY
3 New York firm
When arrested yesterday. knowle'
son v1s IL an engraving shop and. y
Is charged. was trying TO steal similar
checks
Probably Disposed Of Bonds.
At this time Il Is not known here
whether OF not Knovieson disposed Of
the bonds and the ring. which he So
cured in washington but the supDosi
ton Il that he had made arrangements
10 dispose q them before making the
~purchasss~ and he probably sold
them for real money before the swim
dc vas discovered.
Arrest " B=ltirnorc.
The arrest of West, or Knovlson