Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-23
POLICE THINK CALLER
INTENDED TO SW|NDLE
Arrest Henry M. Thornton and
Save Representative Howard
From Loss, They Say.

II. n. Randolph member Of the firm Of
Brown & Randolph. Atlanta. Ga. hap
pened to call on Representative William
Schley Howard in his room in the House
office building this morning at an inop-
perfume time for a young man who was
there, the police charge for the purpose
of perpetrating a swindle. The caller.
whose name WAS given as Henry NJ.
Thornton. the police say, admitted having
previously obtained $3.50 on "A worthless
check by obtaining the Endorsement or
Joseph Aranoff, private secretary to Sen
ator MARITIME of New Jersey.
Only yesterday the man called Repre-
sentative Howard on the long distance
telephone, told of his acquaintance with
Lawyer Randolph and asked that he be
permitted to have his mail sent in care OF
the member of Congress.
Representative Howard was only too
glad to be of service to a friend OF the
lawyer and so stated This morning when
Thornton arrived with what purported To
be letter from the law firm Mr.. Ran
dolph accidentally called to see Repre-
sentative Howard The incident in which
Joseph Aranoff had figured had been re-
called and Detective Hewlett was on
hand to see If swindle was to be at
tempted upon the Georgian.
Denies Knowing Thornton.
Thornton displayed signs OF nervous
ness when he learned that Mr.. Randolph
was in the room. The latter quickly de-
MED having ever seen Thornton before.
and also denied that the letter he dis
played had been given by his firm.
Before Mr. Randolph's appearance.
however. Thornton had opened his mail
and displayed a draft for $500 which was
supposed to have been issued by the
| Lowry National Bank of Atlanta. He
pretended to be surprised when the draft
dropped from the envelope.
| He was then arrested.
! Accused of being the individual who
| the latter part OF February obtained
| Aranoff's Endorsement to worthless
check for $780, and getting the money
from a local bank. Thornton, the detec-
| tive says, admitted he was the guilty
| person.
! The latter part of February Thornton
| is said to have called at the office of
| Senator MARITIME with what purported to
| have been a letter from & Jersey City
n. J., law firm. II. NJ. Wallace was the
| name used in that deal. and it was set
out in the letter that he was from
| Orange, N. j.; that he was the law
| firms representative. and that favors
| shown him while i'm this city attending to
| the firms business would be appreciated.
Aranoff Endorses Check.
Senator MARITIME was not in his room
when Wallace called. Aranof was
there. however, and soon the stranger
succeeded in winning his confidence. He
mentioned that he was DESTROYS of getting
the check for $3.50 cashed, and Aranoff
did not hesitate to make 1t possible for
him to get the money.
Later the check was returned from the
Second National Bank Of Orange, n. j..
as a forgery. and the police were asked
to make an investigation.
All he would say of his identity was
that his name was Henry NJ Thornton.
though he admitted he had obtained the
$3.50. The police are satisfied that his
name is not Thornton. however. as he has
used several names. and signed his in
itials III. s. W. to letters found among
his effects that he had addressed to q
woman in New York.
In conversation with Inspector Board
man and Detective Hewlett. 1t is stated.
the prisoner told OF having had stationery
printed to make it appear that his let
tiers of introduction were genuine. Some
Of the stationery and several checks were
found in his suit case, taken from his
room in a local hotel.
Inspector Boardman telephoned the New
York police Information of the arrest. and
asked that they conduct an investigation
| In that city to determine the prisoner
Identity The police learned that the
stranger had arranged to go from this
| city to Norfolk.