Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-10-27
EX-CONVICT WINS
BRIDE BUT ARREST
HALTS MARRIAGE
Finished Sentence at Federal
Prison for White Slavery,
Then Fitted Out Future
Home With Bogus Checks

In the person of a neatly dressed
young man lodged in a cell at police
headquarters Tuesday morning city de-
tectives claim they have an ex-white
SLAYER who celebrated his release from
the Atlanta federal prison by wooinS
and winning a young Atlanta girl IN
three weeks, fitting up a honeymoon
apartment in a fashionable north side
section and paying for its elabor-Te fur
nishings with a dozen or more worth
less checks passed on leading Atlanta
firms.
The young man is Hewett Radcliffe,
sent up from Savannah for year and
a day on a white slavery charge, fin
ished serving his term on October 2,
established the Hewett Parcel Delivery
company at 2S North Pryor street, met
1.-THE girl of his heart became engaged
to her and was to have made her Mrs.
Radcliffe on the very day on which he
was arrested.
Radcliffe admits he was a convict. buc
he declares he was going straight after
he got out of the pen, really loved the
girl in Atlanta and would have made
her happy if ii hadn't been for "the
other woman" who, he says, drew his
money out of the bank for revenge,
knowing that he would issue checks on
the account.
ORDERED BY WHOLESALE
Radcliff first made himself known in
Atlanta when he opened his business
on Pryor street and began a round of
several local stores, buying extensively
and giving checks for his purchases.
1t is alleged that he rented apartment
No. 10 in a new apartment house at
Piedmont avenue and Thirteenth street,
overlooking Piedmont park, and that
ne proceeded to fit it out in an elaborate
manner. He is said to have gone to the
grocery department of prominent
downtown store and ordered stuff by the
wholesale.
81 am going to get married and 1
want a lot of groceries," Radclin is
quoted as telling the clerk. Il don't
know how much 1 want, so use your
own Judgment"
HE WAS BOUNTIFULLY SUPPLIED.
Ratcliff is also charged with visiting
an electricians and a plumbers and a
prominent furniture house with the
same story, obtaining large amounts of
supplies from each one.
For all these orders, say the detec-
tives, he issued checks on the City Ma
tional Bank of Cleveland. Tuesday, it is
alleged, one of the checks came back
marked worthless" and Radcliff's de-
tention was ordered. He was arrested
Tuesday morning in his apartment on
Piedmont avenue, where he was super
intending the installation of the furni-
ture. He was brought to the Pryor
street delivery company, where several
creditors were awaiting him.
Radclift did not appear disturbed.
PLUMBER SAYS NIX.
81 seem to hav given checks to a lot
of people," he said, facing his creditors.
"Do you want one, too?" This to the
plumber, who said no, he didn't want
one if he could get his fixtures back.
The detectives have arranged to have
all the groceries and furnishings sent
back to the original owners.
When he was brought to police sta
ton. Radcliff asked permission to write
a letter. He wrote three pages to his
sweetheart, enclosing a watch which he
said belonged to her. The letter and
the watch were delivered by Detective
Gillespie.
In a long conversation with a Jour-
nal reporter Radcliff laid his difficulty
to "the woman who sent me to the
pen"
81 lived with her in Cleveland. o.,
he said. They called it white slavery,
and she got me in an awful mess AMI
they sent me UP for a year and a day.
when 1 got out, 1 determined to go
straight. 1 met the only girl right
here in Atlanta and 1 settled down,
opened up a business and was going TO
get married today. I knew L could
make good I'm a crackerjack sales
man. can sell anything from shoe
strings to lightning rods. And 1 loved
this girl, really loved her, and she loved
me-
'Then this trouble came. Last week
that woman in Cleveland called me up
over the long distance telephone at the
Piedmont hotel and asked me to let her
Join me here. | told her there was
nothing doing and she said, All right,
you'll pay for it,
"I know what she did. You see, l
had lot of money in the bank when
1 went to prison and / thought it was
still there. When l issued those checks,
thought they were good. But for re-
venge she drew my money out of the
bank, l believe, knowing that / would
draw checks and they wouldn't be good
and / would get in trouble. My inten-
lions were good all along. I'll ask the
public not to judge me till after the
trial. And I've asked my girl not to
believe wrong of me- and 1 don't think
she will. She is going to stick by me-"