The Detroit times., 1914-03-20
HOTEL BANDIT
DIDN'T EXHAUST
NERVE ON JOB
Has Enough Left to Summon
Another Taxi and 'Joyride"
To Wyandotte
INDUCES DRIVER TO
CHANGE COATS WITH HIM
Sought in Toledo by Chauffeur,
Who Drove Him to Metro
pole, and Detective

James b. Fortan." that very cool
and deliberate person who held up
Night Clerk w. H.. Burns in the Hotel
Metropo.e. early Thursday morning.
obtained about 1926 In cash. and then
forced taxi driver. at the point OF q
revolver. to speed him to Piquette-
ave. and John R.-st.. fingered in our
midst until o'clock, Thursday after.
noon. and then took another 10y
ride" in taxicab from the same 6rm
that furnished his chauffeur Of the
morning.
Tho bandit had breakfasted In the
home OF Mrs. James c. Roberts, No.
$40 Scotten-ave., at 4:46 o'clock. Fri.
days morning. II Is thought that he
rode freight train across to the Tar
west side of the city, from the point
where Driver Robert Smith. OF the
Yellow Bonnet Taxicab Co., left him.
Immediately after the Metropole Job.
He enlisted a. q regular b0arder IN
Mrs. Roberts home. paying her 81 in
advance. She referred him to Mrs. j.
F. Abbott, of No. 1879 Michigan-ave..
for room. After breakfast. he went
there. arriving at o'clock. and stay
ing until 4 In the afternoon. He paid
Mrs. Abbott IS, and stated that he In
tended to work In . shop and room
there steadily. At 4 O'Clock he called
up the Yellow Bonnet Co., which the
police regard az the acme of nerve,
as he might have had q meeting with
Driver Robert Smith. But another
chauffeur was aent
"Mr. Fortan" told the driver to
take him to the Union depot, which
was done. After moment In the
depot, "Mr. Fortan" came out. and
said his train had left.
Il want to get to little town about
10 miles from Detroit and forget
the NAME" he remarked to the chauf-
feur.
"Wyandotte? suggested the latter.
and the fare" answered, Eyes, that's
1t. Drive me there
He had the driver stop at several
saloons on the way, and bought cigar
cites, cigars, and soft drinks for him
self and the driver. In Wyandotte.
he aroused suspicion in the drivers
mind, by asking him to trade coats
and hats.
"Ill give you IS to boot, and you
get the best of the trade besides"
he remarked. Tho driver started To
protest against such generosity, sbut
the passenger had an insistent way
with him, and the trade was effected.
"Ecrtan'' was left at. the, Wyandotte
depot, where he was waiting for .
train to Toledo.
The driver, realizing that hts
flare" was the Metropole bandit,
drove to Ford City, and. notified the
Detroit police. Nearby towns were
at once warned to be ON the look.
out, and Detective Donovan, and
Monroe and Toledo to search for the
man.
The coat that "Fortan" traded with
the chauffeur, was identified % that
worn by the Metropole bandit.
Local police received word that Q
very calm bandit had held up". drug
store In the outskirts Of Toledo, Thurs
day night, and they believe u probable
that mr.. Forton," Lite Cadillac
guest, was the man behind the gun.
They believe that he 10 q Ciucin-
patti man. 90 he left q pair Of gloves
In the Michigan-Ave. house, with the
name OF Cincinnati dealer. and his
ties. seized In the Cadillac, were also
sold by Cincinnati firm.
The detectives think II very prob
able that II he did 90 to Toledo, or to
his Cincinnati home. he will probably
double back" to Detroit, ~ he had
probably arranged several ''j0bs" dur
Ing bis two weeks stay here. - =
g6est OF the Cadillac. ~