The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-03-24
SHERIFF GRABS THREE
SLICK CONFIDENCE MEN
Who Were About to Pluck
a "Rube" from Green
Cove Springs.

Sheriff Kennerly performed a live
ly stunt on Tuesday, when with Depu-
ties Howell and Minton, and Chief Of
Police Livingston, he captured three
of those Smooth guy" confidence men
who blow into Florida from the north
every winter, following the crowd.
The men arrested gave their names
as H. Raymond Stout of Kentucky,
Fred Wilson of Michigan, and Har-
vey Hartwell of Pennsylvania.
The trio reached Palatka on Mon-
day, and soon after met one j.. D.
Blocker of Green Cove Springs, who
was not adverse to making little
"easy money" on the side.
The first man to meet Blocker was
the nice young man from Michigan,
who passed. himself off as son of
the proprietor of the Putnam House.
While walking about the streets they
met quite accidentally, the actor Of
the trio, who posed as a simple
minded "Dutchman," friend of this
alleged son of the Putnam House own
il er.
The "Dutchman," who was desig-
mated by his co-conspirator, as SIM
Pile minded party, soon had the man
from Green Cove matching coins, In
which game the Green Cove man won
$3.50 The "Dutchman" wasn't sat
isfied- still wanted to gamble, and
here the man from Michigan, who
posed as the "son," quietly informed
the Green Cove man that the Dutch
man" had $1,250, and that if he, (tAe
man from Green Cove could raise
$1,000 he could guarantee that they
could pluck the "Dutchman" OF his
wad. 1t was an easy way to get the
money, and if they didn't get it some
one else would.
Blocker was out for easy money,
but he didn't have the necessary ST.
900 with him; he could get it IN his
home town.
They made some kind of bet.
The "Dutchman" was to wait until
Blocker could go to Green Cove
Springs and get his money. AS an
evidence of good faith the Clutch
man" handed a package to the son OF
the Putnam House owner, who was
to place it in the Hotel safe until the
return of the Green Cove man. The
three walked to the Putnam House
and as they were going up the steps
thew met, "quite accidentally" thu
proprietor and father coming out
The matter was explained to him
He was to put the "Dutchman's'
money in the safe and hold until the
roturn of Rlocker who was to cover it
Mr.. Blocker left Immediately tol
Green Cove Springs. There as he
was about to draw his money fron
the bank, he told the cashier OF ms
"cinch." The cashier advised him tt
beware; that he had better see tht
sheriff. He saw that official ant
then over the telephone Sheriff.
King of Green Cove advised will
Sheriff Kennerly, with the result tina
Blocker returned to Palatka and ap
peared to be carrying out his plal
with the men. A counterfeit pack
age was placed in the express oftlc'
at Green Cove addressed to Blocker
and as Blocker and the "son" OF tn
: Putnam House owner came from TN
local office with it they were met b.
Sheriff Kennerly and his lieutenants
who placed the alleged son of tn
Putnam House owner under arrest.
The other members of the gan'
were waiting up on Reid street, an
: when they saw their partner In tn
clutches of the sheriff, they skiddec
| They ran toward the Squiers mill an
under threats of death compelled
4 IL. 10 ,,l1 thnn1
the river. The sheriff had a ne
chase and when he arrived at tn
river front the men were some dis
tance out. He called on them
| come back, but they declined. The
Sheriff Kennerly secured launch an
went after them, caught them an
brought them to the city.
| The capture was made about moor
| Bv two o'clock the trio were befor
| I,Judge Marshall charged with consp1
| racy to rob. They were a cresttalle
| bunch. The "son of the Putnai
! House owner" was an innocent pal
: tv," he didn't appear to know tn
: others, not till after he was safe !
iail. At the hearing the Dutch
I man" of the party, who played tn
| lIsimple-minded one of the party, show
| ed the greatest ability. He asked 10
| a postponement of the hearing on tn
| ground that they were far from hom'
| Without money or friends, or law
| yer. The request was granted, an
the examination was postponed I
Tuesday morning of next week at l
! a. M, and the men placed under bond
| in sum of $500 each.
II Without doubt Sheriff Kennerly ha
| caught three of the smoothest swir
! dlers and confidence men in Florid;
| a number of whom have been opera
| ting in the state all winter.
| Blocker was not caught, but ths
| is not his fault; he would have bee
| had he not unbosomed himself to tn
| cashier of his bank. He is not niue
| better than the men who attempted
| pull his leg. He was quite willin
70 secure the "Dutchman's" none!
by fair means or foul, preferabl
/ fnu1