Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-12-29
YOUNG White man
HELD FOR Theft
Of j. 5. MAIL
G. M, Topp, Jr.; Arrested as
He Signs "E. G. Russell"
to Stolen Check.
ACCUSED ROBBTNG
HOTEL MAIL BOXES
Prisoner l. Wanted al Newport and
BrinElcy and Clarhs.'aie, Miss. ON
lharges of Forgery, Robbery
and Larceny.

tho correct name Of q youn@ white
man VINO was arrested shortly before
. o clock yesterday afternoon by Chi #
CT Police Frank Stewart. at the Sim
mons National bank, and who is TO be
turned over to the federal author-
ties, although there is said to be d
string of charges against him at
Glarksdale, Miss, Brinkley, Pine
Bluff and other places.
Topp arrived in Pine Bluff early
yesterday. He is said to have gone
10 the Arlington hotel, where. it IS
aileSed, he took all the letters out ,f
the hotel letter box, and then removed
suitcase from the room of a guest
at the hotel, c. o. Brooks. Then, It
is said. he went to the Hotel Pines.
Where he registered as e. c Russell.
1t was some time after . O'Clock
wAen Topp went to the Simmons
bank, and sought to cash a check on a
Newport bank. The check was made
payable to E. G. Russell for s17.65.
Cashier 10 Nichol refused TO cash the
check, because Topp was a stranger
to him. At Tops request, Mr
Nlchol wired the drawer of the check,
at Newport. and received reply. to
the effect that such Il check had been
issued to E. c. Russell, ana that It
was all right. The reply obtained
no instructions TO the bank to waiyo
identification, however, SO Mr., Nichol
sui refused to cash it. At Tops
further request, another wire was
forwarded. asking for this waiver of
Identification.
Shortly thereafter. NJ. Nichol was
summoned by long distance telephon,
by the Newport man, who said he had
lust wired waiver of Identification,
but that after sending that message.
he had learned thatiC Fl. Russell was
in Brlnkley and not in Pine Bluff.
Mr.. Nichol also was instructed not 70
cash the check, but to take it up and ;
cause the arrest of the man present
ing it. Before leaving the telephone.
Mr.. Nichol telephoned Chief Stewart,
who went to the bank at once.
Uses Pen Teo Often.
AS Chief Stewart entered the bank, |
Mr.. Nldhol handed the check to Topp,
for endorsement. and Topp is said 20
have signed the name, '"E. G. RUSSELL
On the back OF the paper Immediately !
thereafter being taken into custody
by the chief On a charge Of forgery
Earlier in the day, Chief Stewart
has received a telephone MESA &c
from The city marshal at Brinkley. !
asking him TO lockout for Topp and i,
giving description of the man. All
Erinkley, TopD is said TO have stolen
several letters from the mailbox at /
he Hotel Rusher, and also he is ,
wanted there for beating his hotel T
bill, according to the marshall
Shortly after Topp had been placed
n q cell at the police headquarters.
Sheriff r. H. Williams received the
following telegram from j. O. Baugh.
sheriff at Clarksdale, Miss: >
ARREST c. NJ. Topp, alias Clinton
Saunders. small blond, 90 years old,
neatly dressed, blue eyes. light hair,
rom Brinkley today. Charge with
'craery robbery, grand larceny.
Wire me # arrested"
Had Order Payable Here.
Among. the letters taken from the
nailbox at the Arlington hotel here
'rd which. with Brooks grip, were
'ound in Tops possession when he
vas arrested, was an envelop Jontain
ng pOStOfflce money order for 73
cents. payable to J. @. Kieff here. the
1nvelop also being addressed to J. O.
<ieff. Eight CT ten other letters.
aiken from the same mail box were
n Topp!s-Gaat pocket when he was
searched at the police station.
Chief Stewart said yesterday that
FEDERAL officers will be given custody
If Topp. who is said to have violated
United States laws when he ste
etters from the hotel mail boxes, and
against whom charges will be pre-
erred today, before Commissioner A.
L. Burnett, of robbing the United
States mails, and Opening letters adj
dressed to other persons.
Topp would not say mucE. about
limself to Chief Stewart, although he
admitted his home is in the vicinity
If Clarksdale, Miss. and admitte1
'urther that he has been working the
same "gane" at a nu.nber of cities
and towns. He is an attractive younB
fellow, neat appearing. and not the
sort of man one would expect to be
caught in affairs of that nature. !
A device called detectaure has
irv