The Washington times., 1912-09-06
ALLEGED SW|NDLER
ON COLLAPSE VERGE
IN PRISON CELL
Henry Eaves Arraigned on
Charge of Passing Worth
less Checks.

Robbed of his dapper appearance as
a successful business man, in which
guise he has for several years succeeded
in swindling real estate and automobile
dealers throughout the country, Henry
A. Eaves, who, the police say, is a con-
fessed confidence man, arrested in CO.
lumbus, Ohio. several days ago on a
charge of defrauding a local automo-
bile dealer of $125, was only a shadow
of the man he was seevral weeks ago,
when arraigned in the United States
branch of the Police Court today.
Nights in a police cell had wrought
a pathetic transformation in the man
who, during the latter part of August,
by his dapper appearance and suave
conversation and manner had COINED
the confidence of nearly every local
business man with whom he came in
contact. Eaves, thorugh his attorney
o. H. Osterman, waived preliminary
hearing Of the charge of obtaining the
s15 by means of a worthless check
from Ralph C. Smith and was held in
$500 bonds for the action of the grand
Jury.
The prisoner was completely unnerved
when arraigned and appeared on the
verge of a collapse. He was only ar
ralRneO on the one CnarRe, atnOuEn
Assistant United States Attorney Way
rick explained to the court in asking
that bail be fixed that the man was the
perpetrator OF series of similar Of
fenses.
Central Office detectives who were in
court to testify against the man in
case of preliminary hearing displayed
as evidence a complete check making
outfit, which they claim was taken from
Eaves' belongings.
There wer a number Of rubber stamps
used for certifying" checks, blank
checks on banks in all parts of this
according to the police. the prisoner de-
clared he used to keep his head warm
in winter" but which it is thought the
man in reality used as disguise.
mitted that he had passed checks on
real estate and automobile men in New
York, st. Louis. Philadelphia, Cincin-
natl. and number of other cities. His
automobile or a parcel of real estate,
give a certified check for a few hun
dred dollars in excess of the selling
price and collect the difference in cash.
Eaves, it is said, blamed the Mexican
revolution for his downfall. He is fifty
five years of age, and, according to the
detectives, he said he passed bad
check on real estate man in Texas
years ago. He was not prosecuted. he
said, and went to Mexico, where he be-
gan life anew. He acquired a small for
tune, he said, in the real estate busi-
ness in that country. He married and
was living happily and honestly when
the revolution broke out.
The war wiped out his fortune. but he
managed to save few thousands from
the wreck. he said, and went to Texas,
where he lost what he had left in poor
investments. Without funds. he again
started the check business, the police
say he told them. From one end of the
continent to the other. through Canada
and other countries, he has Travelled,
according to his story to the police.
passing checks and living easy"
He said he was glad he was ar
rested in Columbus, for the Washington
police. because he knew the detectives
had been on his trail for long time,
and he was tired OF lodging them.
Twice during the night Eaves be-
came i'll in his cell at the First precinct
station, and 1t was necessary to sum-
mon a physician. The police believe
from the mans own story that he has
q long criminal record, and they have
telegraphed over the country for in
formation about him.