New-York tribune., 1910-03-21
AN ARDENT AOT0lST
SLY HE STOLE THEM.
Young Harris Held to A1c0't
Manu- COmplainaHtS.

Possessed with desire 70 own autoIno-
biles. Robert Harris. clerk In the orunaii' 70
department OF the United States proyhl@
grounds at Sandy Hook. was arralsnea IN
the West Side court yesterday. charged Wi'n
grand larceny. on complaint of the l.oskaln-
Scott Company. OF No. 1890 Broadway tha'
Harris had presented "A forged check 1oI
S3.l75 as payment for Packard machine
A. =. Hsrtcorn. "a lawyer. of No. 20 Mas
sau street. and "a neighbor OF Harris al
Atlantic Highlands. said that Harris was
as fond % the cars which he possessed as
he WOg.d De OF children II he were married
ana nal any. At the proving grounds ne
was regarded as a clerk of ability ana IN
tegrity. the lawyer said. having thousands
of dollars intrusted 20 his care
''The cOmmandant Of the proving grounds
called me on the telephone Saturday night.
added Mr.. Hartcorn. Ito say that he had
report that Harris was under arrest IN New
York. Neither of Us could believe IT, We
were both confident that somebody else had
given his name until we received descrip-
tion OF the prisoner.
MY only explanation OF the trouble he Is
In is that a mania for automobiles has
seized him. and. II he is guilty as charged
that he adopted crooked means 10 get
money % permit him 60 crafty a morbid
desire 10 own them. So far as his friends
knew ne never left Atlantic Highlands ex-
cept on short automobile tours. and j can
not believe that ne IS the man who has
obtained any number Of machines fraudu-
lent!y and sold them 20 other dealers at
sacrifice prices"
Detective Boyle who made the arrest.
said Harris made "A payment OF 500 to the
RosIlam-Scott Company last Monday on
contract to buy a machine. giving the name
of John M. Wilson. on Saturday he ap-
peared after banking hours with a certified
check purp0rting to be drawn on the First
National Bank OF South Amboy. ". J. Dur
Ing the week. however. the automobile firm
had become suspicious OF the prospective
customer. and when Harris appeared to cake
the car away Detective Boyle was there 10
act as chauffeur for him
Boyle said yesterday that as soon as the
prisoher learned who his chauffeur was he
admitted that n had planned 10 get possess
sion of the automobile without paying any
money for IL. and then sell it I'm Philadei-
phia.
Harry Pike. Of the Chalmers-Detroit
Company. said that Harris was the man
who had attempted 10 purchase a machine
from that company about year ago. Using
simila- means. He said that several deal
ers from Philadelphia would be in court to-
morrow. when Magistrate COTrigan will
hold q final examination in the case, 70
attempt 10 identify the prisoner as the man
who has offered 10 sell new cars TO them.
giving various excuses for having 10 make
quick sale at a sacrifice. The American
Bankers Association also is expected 20
take hand in the case.
Pike said that automobile dealers had
been on the lookout for a swind1er who has
come 10 be known In the trade as ''The Ger
tited Check Man" His plan was 10 write
on letter head bearing the name OF some
manufacturing concern that ne was in the
market for a car. Later ne would appear.
select a machine and leave a small deposit.
returning a few days later, after banking
hours. with a certified check. Meanwhile he
would he negotiating with dealer in an
other city for the sale of the car at low
price.
Magistrate Corrigan held Harris I'm So, 500
bail FOR eXaulina tiOn tomorrow