The sun., 1916-12-22
FOR POSING AS
U. s. NAVAL OFFICER
Robert L. Peterson Accused Of
Soliciting Money for
Fake Charities.
GIRL FIGURES IN CASE
Bail Set at $4,000 After the
Prisoner Is Identified by
Several Persons.

Robert T.. Peterson, a rather good look
Ing young man.. was arraiened in the
Yorkville police court yesterday. charged
with forgery. and then things began to
happen to him 70 fast that those in
terested in Mr.. Peterson could scarcely
keep up. 1t ended with him being locked
up In the Tombs under $4,000 bail on a
charge OF i~mpersonatins a naval Of
ficer to collect none for fictitious chari-
ties.
Peterson's career began several months
ago In Brooklyn. where. dressed In q
natty white uniform that looked like .
naval Lieutenant. he solicited funds for
the United States Junior Naval Reserve.
an organization to train young men for
the merchant marine. He turned the
money over TO the organization. but a
recruiting officer decided his uniform
was too much like a naval officers. and
he was arrested. lie was held in $500
bail. His case was put off several
times and then he disappeared. leaving
his wife in their home at 764 Fifty-frst
street. Brooklyn.
That was about a month ago. and at
the same time Miss Lillian Meyers. an
stenographer in the Junior Naval Re
serve offices. left home also. She had
known Peterson there. and they had be-
come friendly. her mother. Mrs. william
Meyers of $50 Rogers avenue. told Capt.
Onley OF the Department of Justice. WIN
Investigated Pcterson's Brooklyn record.
Turns Up at Hotel.
Three weeks ago Peterson turned W
at the Marseilles Hotel. 1884 street and
broadway, where he lived with n young
! woman under the name Of Mr.. and Mrs
Crane. At the anne time, ii is charged
under the name of Lieut.. X. l.. Peterson
OF the United states navy he began &c
| call on business men to solicit money
lie Is alleged to have said the none was
to establish a hospital for infantilt
paralysis victims at Plum Island or a
sanitarium for tuberculosis patients al
New Lcndon. Conn.
Capt. Ofney estimated Yesterday thai
Peterson a obtained about 500 from
"A dozen business men. Several OF then
were in the Office building at % Madison
avenue. where Peterson. IL is said. per
suaded George W. Middleton. a raw Sill
merchant. to give him a check for 800
The check was made ou. to Lieut.. r. |.
Parks and Peterson. Il IL related. In
dorsed the name Parks on the back an'
had It cashed AT a cigar store. When h
went back to the building on Tuesday
somebody became suspicious and cailei
i'm Policeman Stcmmerman, who place.
Peterson under arrest.
When he came up for examination "
the Yorkvllle court Assistant Dis'ric
Attorney Daniel Direrzp was , bit doubt
Cll what charge to mate against Iotcr
son. hut finally preferred n OF forgery
haeed on the farks Endorsement on tn
Middleton check.
In the meantime Capt. Ofney ha'
heard from the navy yard that a mar
rcpresenting himself AZ n naval leu
tenant was in the Yorkvllle court and III
quickly learned that the man was Peter
son. wanted In Brooklyn. so he For
Special Agents Adams and GrcurcNicl
with "A warrant charging Peterson VIII
being a fugitive from Justice. They
marched into the middle OF a lively time
Nrs. Meyers There Too.
Mrs. Meyers also had. heard tina
Peterson was to be arralgncl and sh,
went there in the hope Of getting SOM
trace of her daughter. She showed
picture Of the girl to Lieut.. .Mdgl!n q
the court squad and he told her the CIR
had been In To see ~ prisoner and Nigh
come again. 4 few minutes later Ms
Meyers CGme and waved n greeting II
Peterson. Her mother saw her and III
next moment grabbed her In "A big hu,
as II she were going To make sure tha
she didn't get away again.
After several persons had ~idonti1e,
Peterson as the man who had ohta.ue
money from them by representing hin
self as a naval officer and a taNica.
man had presented a bill for $3.50 whiC.
ne said Peterson owed him the Fedora
agents produced their warrant and Mag
istratc krotel decided they had frs
claim on the prisoner. They took hit
downtown. made "a new charge of i'm
~p.rsonating IA naval officer. because IA
evidence here is %stronrer than in Brook
Ign, and United states Commissions
Houghton held him In 10000 bail FOR
hearing on Tuesday.
As for Miss Meyers. she was taken I
the office Of District Attorney Lewis 1
Brooklyn for the purpose of making
complaint of abduction against Petersen
hut did not see the District Attorney an
left after waiting \ few minute
Whether the charge viii he made Coul
not br Learned. Mr.. Lewis said ho di
not anticipate a complaint would he mad
to him. peterspu's wife has not bee
heard from. At her former address
was said last night sne had moved.
Peterson. who /, sad 10 he the 50
, OF "A wcll-to-do man living IN brooklyn
told Capt, Of'ey he had served in N
army, but had been rishonorably di,
charged after Deserving. lie served
short time. he said, in the military prise
AZ Fort I~eavcnworth. He Is "a year
l.fJ