The Washington herald., 1911-03-10

told him they would tak6 only a certi-
fled check. They say ne told them he
would so to Newport News, where he had
been stationed. and had a bank account.
and get a certified check. He came back
in a few minutes, they say, and said he
would wire the cashier of the Newport
News bank to send the check.
On leaving the place he is alleged to
have gone to Newport News, and stiiI
posing as Lieut.. Commander Knowlson
is accused of going into the bank and
saying he wanted to open an account
1t is claimed he asked to see the bank
president, and after a few minutes con-
versation the president introduced him to
the cashier and the other officials Later
he obtained cashiers check, and then
asked the bank president if he would
have any objection to his writing a let
ter. He was given bank stationary on
which to write a letter to Crane, Paris
& Co, of this city, and fncIosed the cash
ier's check.
Then he took the first boat for Wash
ington and went to the Office of Crane.
Paris & Co. The letter ne had written
and the cashiers check were thereupon
produced. When it was seen that the
check had not been certified to. KnowI-
son was profuse in his apologies and
loud in his attacks on the cashier. who,
he said, was guilty of gross stupidity.
Aroused No Suspicion.
His actions were so genuine that they
aroused no suspicion, and after a few
minutes conversation It was decided to
accept the cashiers check and turn the
bonds over to the reputed naval officer.
In few days the check came back, and
the police were requested to look for
Knowlson.
About a month after the transaction
Knowlson was reported to be in Brook
line, Mass, and one OF the members of
the banking firm here was sent there to
identify him. He called at a house in
Brookline and was told that Knowlson
vas not there by a woman who said she
was Mrs. Knowlson. When the police
visited the house the next day to arrest
him he had gone. The house in Brook
line was large, and had been fitted up
handsomely.
No trace of Knowlson was obtained for
a month, when he was traced to Balti-
more, masquerading as Catholic priest.
The police OF Baltimore picked him up
on the description furnished by the
Washington police. At first he insisted
he was Catholic priest, and demanded
to be taken to Cardinal Gibbons to be
identified. The police were on the point
of letting him go when it was decided to
take him to the cardinal. The cardinal.
after a few questions, denounced Knowl-
sen who was then taken to the Baltimore
County jail. He also was wanted on a
small charge there, and was tried, con-
victed, and sentenced to term in Jail.
While in the Baltimore Jail he told
how he had eluded the police for months.
He said he went to Philadelphia the night
he obtained the bonds and sold some OF
them. Returning to Washington, he went
to his home, near Franklin Park. and
took daily walks. He said on number
of occasions he had talked with park
policemen.
Attempts to Make Escape.
About a week ago he made a daring
attempt to escape from the Baltimore
Jail. and it was deemed advisable to send
him to this city to answer the charges
against him.
In the Baltimore jail he procured a
rope ladder and fastening two hooks on .
the end. thew them to the top of the
wall. The hooks caught on the top OF
the wall and he attempted to climb up.
When near the top the hooks gave way
and he fell to the courtyard, a distance
CT moro than twenty feet. He was badly
bruised and one leg was broken
Detectives Hewlett and Pratt had to
drag Knowlson. as he was
unable to walk He was turned over TO
the Cnitedk States marshal. as he has
already been indicted here by the, grand
Jury.