The Washington herald., 1913-08-09
AUTOS MISSING;
DEALER in COURT
Pittsburgh Man Makes Charge
Against I. Oliver
Prodigy.
SLEUTHS HUNT MACHINES
Il Don't Believe Myself Responsible
to Edward L. Gerber"
Says Agent.

Following close in the wake of a re-
plevin suit calling for the seizure of
eighteen automobiles said to have been
in his possession, T. Oliver Prodigy, pro-
prietor of the Prodigy Carriage Company,
at 12S0 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, was
arrested yesterday on a charge of EN-
bezzling $11,2So The warrant for his ar
rest was sworn out by Edward F. Gerber,
a wealthy automobile dealer of Pitts
burgh, who, with Cora L. Gerber, trades
under the name of Edward F. Gerber
* Co
Prodigy was taken before the Police
Court at its session yesterday morning,
but waived preliminary examination. The
case was held over for the grand jury,
and the defendant was released on 81 coo
bond.
The entire police force and the officials
of the United States MarshaIs Office now
are securing the city for eleven auto
mobiles that were consigned to Prodigy.
but which. it is alleged, belong to Gerber.
The law firm of Douglas. Baker, Ruffin,
and Obear. which is representing MIR.
Gerber, has offered reward of $3.50 for
the recovery of the machines. 1t is alleged
by Gerber's attorneys that Prodigy has
secrCted them in various sections of the
city.
Rcplrvin Suit Filed.
The litigation commenced last WedLcs-
day. when Gerber filed, through his l.
toIreys. a replevin suit for the seizure
Of eighteen Michigan cars that had beer
consigned to Probey. According to coIli-
sci for the complainant, the Michigan
PugST Company recently consigned TWEEN
i"-siN machines to the PRODIGY Carriage
Company. Soon afterward the cons';r
ment was purchased from the buggy
COMPANY bv Gerber. thus making Pror":'
responsible to the Pittsburgh dealer-lor
the tWenty-siN machines
Several days ago Gerber came to Wa sh-
inCtOn for the purpose either of collect
ing the money for the machines from.
PRODIGY or OF receiving the automobiles.
IL IS said by the complainant that Pro
hey had already sold eight of the m.
hines and refused to tyfn the money
fer them over to him. 1t is upon this
ground that the embezZlement charge is
based. the eight machines being WALKED
at SIl.2SO.
Gerber contends that Prodigy refused t.
turn the eighteen other machines over to
him. He then filed the replevin suit This
WAS Wednesday morning, and the work
of attaching the automobiles began i'm
mediately. During the night FIVE private
detectives in the employ OF Gerber had
been watching the establishments of
Probey.
Prodigy, it is alleged, rushed the eighteen
automobiles away from his establishment.
The five detectives started in pursuit..
Persons driving some of the cars rode
around the city all night Wednesday. it
Is stated. and the chauffeurs of others
took their machines 10 points of apparent
safety in various sections Of the city.
Have Merry Chase.
The five detectives had a merry chase.
and soon discovered that they were
badly foiIed. for the chauffeurs soon left
them far behind. Wednesday morning
the Marshars party started out. II was
composed of Assistant Marshals Cusirk
ard Farmer. Detective Wade Wells and
two assistants. Attorney John Doyle
''armody, Attorney Leonard J. Mather
Gibbs L. Baker. and Attorney
Thomas Rufin. Three automobiles car
ried the party.
After searching the city for some
time. the detectives got a clew that
some of the machines were in an alley
In the downtown section OF the city
between l and X and Fifteenth and Six
teenth Streets NOrthwest-almost under
the windows of the offices of counsel
for the complainant in the Southern
As the party reached the alley, II is
stated. they heard the sound of six ma
hines all tuned up and manned by
husky chauffeurs, ready to run the
blockade. The chauffeur of the taxIcah
carrying the deputy marshals ran lis
machine crosswise in the alley, thus pre-
venting escape. The alley was Of tie
blind type, and the occupants of the six
automobiles found themselves
utterly foiled. The machines were at
.ached at once.
A trip was then made to Probey's
in Wisconsin Avenue. The
visit revealed the fact that every ma
chine had been removed, 1t is alleged.
Prodigy could not be found. The DEPUTY
narshals and detectives continued to
scour the city, and after a long march
1ne more machine was found in a differ
INT locality.
Eleven automobiles still remain un-
seized, and their whereabouts are un-
known. There are four black Michigan
,ars, bearing factory numbers, 5341, $3.50.
1873. and $3.50: four gray cars with fac
Tory numbers, 5076, 5l92, 1918. and 1863:
TWO green cars, numbers 1896 and 542l
and ore brown machine, number 5lA
Warrant Sworn Out.
A warrant for Probey's arrest was
,ould not be located. persons at his home |
that he was out Of the city. |
rhe arrest was made yesterday morning |
It his home, as Garrison Place, Tennelly- |
own. by Detective McNamee. He went |
It once to Police Court, where bail was |
arranged. He is represented by Attorney |
Wilton ]. Lambert.
Mr.. Gerber was stopping at the New |
willard, but he left yesterday on a |
usiness trip to New York. Prodigy will |
e given twenty days in which to file an
wer to the replevin suit.
Prodigy refused yesterday afternoon to
liscuss the case with a representative |
Il The Washington Herald any further
han to declare that he did pot believe
himself responsible to Gerber for the ,
machines. He intimated that the entire |
litigation was for the purpose Of en-
him. He declined to say any |
more, referring the representative to
lis attorney. Mr.. Lambert was not at
lis office late yesterday afternoon and
.ould not be located last night.