The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-05-14
MYSTERIOUS Man
UNDER ARREST.
WOMAN IN CASE
M, D, Ledbetter'S Actions
Create Suspicious,

nURANTF Okla, May l4-(Spe-
cial)- NJ, d. L-dbct,cr, Tor the past
three months III business mere as a bi-
cycle salesman and repair man, anl
who has called himself tine worlds
greatest bicycle man" was yesterday
placed under arrest by Chief of Police
Dave Wright, the charge at the time OF
arrest being carrying pistol
Made Big Display.
When Lcdbcttcr came TO Durant he
rented the lower floor OF one OF the
largest business buildings in the town,
made a considerable display of bicycles
and parts, and was a liberal advertiser
in the local papers. His business was
such a comparatively small one to vol
ume when considered with the prenten-
NionS made, that the suspicious OF off
GERS were excited Chief Of Police
Wright had been giving the mans ac-
ilons and business careful espionage,
and found in several instances that all
was not as it should be.
For some time Ledbe,tcr has been
paying marked attention to a Mrs. Bur
riS OF this city widow who had a nice
little farm on Blue river. Saturday the
woman disposed OF the property for
$1,000 and deposited the money in a
local bank In the afternoon lust before
closing time she appeared at the bank
and stated that she wiSed to withdraw
her funds Upon being asked il it would
not be best Tor her to take a cashiers
check instead of the cash, she responded
that she would see about il. and went
out, In a little while she returned and
stated that she would have to have the
cash. Chief Wrlgh, was aware OF the
sale of the land and the receip, by Mrs.
Burrls of the money, and was keeping
an eye on proceedings.
Chief Investigates.
Upon finding that she had withdrawn
me money from the bank, hc> imme-
diatcly began TO look up Ledbet,er.
At the depot il was learned that Led
better had been making inquiries about
a ticket for one person 10 some point
in West Virginia; also that he had
bought a suitcase, and had disposed OF
his bicycle business to a Denison man,
IL also tranSpired that telegram had
been received by Ledbetter, stating
that All uncle had died in San Fran
cisco; very wealthy, and that all the
other heirs are here" and for him to
come at once. However the message
was sent from Dallas, Texas, As Led.
better had been in that city the day
previous everything pointed to the fac,
that lcdbe,ter had been instrumental
IN having the telegram sent to himself
If indeed he did not send it himself.
This message he displayed to Mrs,
BuriS.
She says that they were TO have
been married at Dallas IN a few DAYS
Officers do nc>~belleve that ledhetter
had any intention OF marrying the
woman, though he insists tina, he was
on the square.
Two Women Visit.
Two women have been here visiting
Ledbst,er recently, one from West Vir.
ginis, claiming to be his niece. and
another, "a Miss Buick OF Philadelphia
whom Ledbetter introduced as hi,
cousin, and a member Of the Buick
automobile manufacturer family The
Buick woman disappeared last week
and the niece is still IN the city
At the time of his arrest ledbeuer
had on his person large six. shooter
which the officers had observed hin
taking IN trade iot smaller weapun
&,4ll in cash, also about 81 O0O worth
of diamond jewelry and one unse
stone lie had been posing as de
,eetive and was often seen carrying
weapon. Also claim, TO have been