Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-09-08
MINISTER A S[EUTH
HELPS nab A CROOK
Smooth Stranger Gets in Bad
While Attempting Shady
Operation Here Yesterday
He PASSED A BAD CHECK
Then Got Away With the Money,
Only to Be Captured BY Party
In Automobile at Fishersville

A young man, well dressed and
, with most agreeable manners, walk
ed up to the front door of the resi-
dence of one of Staunton's best
known clergymen yesterday and rang
the bell When the minister himself
responded the caller said he was
Mr.. Manning" and that he had been
requested by mutual friends in New
York to be sure and pay DIR.
Visit when he came to Staunton. There
Is sequel to this story which has to
do with the young man passing
worthless check for $50 ), son
local bank, his flight to Fishersville
where he had intended to catch an
eastbound train, and his capture
there by party which was led by
the minister.
Welcomed into the clergyman's
study "Mr. Manning" took an easy
chair and for two hours conversed
pleasantly and intelligently, showing
the while remarkable knowledge of
people in New York who happen to
be the minister's most intimate
friends. When he announced that |
1t was time for him to leave the |
clergyman got his own hat, and told
hs new friend that he would ac-
company him down street, at which
news the latter appeared delighted.
4, 1t was on the way down town that
Manning asked DR.. if he
would be kind enough to explain the
formalities which went with having
check cashed here. He was an abb
solute stranger, he said, and not at
al acquainted with the customs of
The town. Long before this time the
minister had begun to grow suspi-
'lous OF the affable stranger, and -.
when this last request was made his
ears were confirmed that he was :,
leal1ng with a crook.
lie did not want to make the mis- =
axe, however, of refusing to assist
young man who was really all
light, and after bordering over the :,
latter to himself, he finally decided ::
accompany his caller to a bank.
laying 1t safe at all stages, the a.
llnlster, when he introduced "Mr. y
tanning to the teller, made sua. :,
lat the man behind the window =.
nderstood the nature of his new ar -
laintance. ~
II !. Low, tt
IL Is long story and a very inter- .,
tlng one of how the teller decided ."
at Mr.. Manning" was O. H. wbi1e ~
e minister, growing more SUSPECT
is all the time, finally made up his
IND to leave the bank while the
eek was being written and make ~
visit to the Virginia hotel, where ~
learned that his new friend was y,
a guest there, and also learned -
a. ne had lied. 1t did not take ~
minister but minute to phone to
Dank IN an effort to prevent the ~,
vment of the check, but he was ~
late' for "Mr. Manning" had re- ,.a
Ved sixty dollars and had left the ne
ce. lie
rb;nk;na mo
asuro ro,n-,, Oeen Ill some the
ino ~. Aoi Tie Dank ha(
ing the stranger have the sixty. 49,
clergyman determined that he g..
Ald 40 all in his power to land the
Ok. 1t would take Conan Doyle - =
some OF those fellows to properly liz,
crlDe the methods of deduction ~,
ne followed in tracing the ,uoa
10Th one all over town, and in tnr,
lily learning that he had hired a foro
and buggy for drive to Fish oon,
Tile. Anyway, that is what the t,ro
gyman bFned sleuth did. and o,.u
Il d half hour later a big automo- n
came up with |Mr. Manning" at ~
# ~ o... "neie ne was Just para
ster was in at the death. er
ley brought "Mr. Manning" bark ~
taunton and put him in Jail. IN voh;
ID that he and another nice 1e,oR- coo
'oung man have been working a tive
estate proposition here within bro y
ast week which may also nsvelop md
ger ros,;.o, money that the ling
,eroa W 'ne cneck was featr
.o.+ :. ~ AT0m MIN and pleas
est OF 1t from his friend, who on Fl
arrested but who was later re- Ca
) e. gusta