Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-05-14
BOLD ATTEMPT
TO SWINDLE LOCAL
BUSINESS men


BUSINESS Men
Two Couples Come From Lexington
Tn Auto And Purchase Several Hum
dred Dollars Worth of Goods For
Which They Give Spurious Checks
On Richmond Banks.--Captured By
Harold Oldham's Quick Work.
One of the boldest swindling opera
tions that has been attempted IN
Richmond in long time came within
an ace of succeeding Tuesday after
noon, when two couples drove over
hore ~ from Lexington, bought about
s300 worth of goods from half a doz-
an stores. gave spurious checks for
them on two local banks and were
about to make a gateway when their
work was discovered and they were
arrested.
Arranged for examining trial in
Police Court last night, they gave the
names. of. Floyd Mccall, Hattie Hat
ton. Coy Hatton and Alice Mccall.
They made no effort to evade the
charges against them but pied guilty
and were held to the grand jury this
morning under $500 bond. Appear
inp as witnesses against them in
seven warrants which were sworn to
before Judge Smith, were Harold
Oldham. of W. D. Oldham & Sons,
Webber Hamilton. of Hamilton Bros,
R. ]. Mckee, q. T. Rice, of Rice q
Arnold, E. v. Elder. They also gave
spurious checks to George W.. Pickles
for a saddle, which they had not TAX
en- out, and to T. G. Moberly for har-
ness goods.
But for the supicious of Miss Eliz-
abeth Adams, saleslady for w. ID.
Oldham & Co., and the prompt action
of Harold Oldham, the swindlers
would undoubtedly have made clean
sweep" and have gotten safely away
with little chance of detection, once
thew had gotten out of Richmond. AT
ter buying lavishly, and without
seeming to care for the price they
paid, they prepared to give Miss
Adams check, and she called atten-
ton of Mr.. Oldham to it, with slg1-
fcane. He took their checks and I'M
rnediately began an investigation
Although it was past banking hours,
he found Spears Turley, of the State
Bank & Trust Company, upon which
the women had given checks. signed
by "Sallie Johnson" and learned
that the checks were supicious. Mr.
Oldham then hurried to find the
women. Thinking they would endeavol
to get out of town on train, he anc
Patrolman John Worrell hastened tc
the depot, and looked all over the
East End of town but were unable te
discover them. Coming back to town
he met Weber Hamilton, and he tole
the story and Mr.. Hamilton asked d
two men were with them. He sale
that two men and two women hae
come into Hamilton Bros. store ant
the men had bought heavily but the
women had gone elsewhere. He sooI
identified the two women and Mr
Oldham continued his search which
was quickly rewarded when he dis
covered them coming out OF p. v
Elders store, their arms full O
bundles. They had paid for thes'
with checks on the Citizens Nat1ona
Bank signed by Birdie Riddle q
mounting to $40.65, which cashie
John W.. Grooke quickly pronounce'
Mr.. oldham informed the womel
they would have to go with hlm h
Meanwhile, Mr.. Hamilton s began
search for the men, reinforced D,
his BROKER, Shabby Hamilton. The,
discoveted thenin an automobii
on Sec64d street. just prepar14g T
start it. They took the men ~ charg
at Police headquarters with the as
sistance of Patrolman VIII Maupin.
>f nt& fod rUhnIaSQI
swindle spread around town rapidly
and other victims soon appeared
Rice & Arnold had been visited; shoe
to the value of $40 bought and a 81
check on the Citizens Bank signe
by "W. F. Thompson" rendered
payment. They asked for and N
ceived $5 in cash, after paying fo
their shoes. - ss lssfG5
From r. J. McKee's they bought
total of two waists, underwear an
sllirtwaists to the value of $23.4
giving checks on the State Bank
Trust Company signed by "Salll
Johnson" in payment to Miss
Rose Alyerson and Mayme Campbell
who waited on them.
From E. v. Elder they had bougi
goods to the amount of $40.65 col
sisting of silk dress, millinery an
silk underwear, rendering a check
the Citizens Bank, signed Bird
Riddle" in payment.
From w. D. Oldham & Co.. the
had bought two ladies tailor-mat
suits; two pair of kid gloves, tv
pair Of silk hose, two pair of Oxfor'
and silk dress, amounting in Z
S96.5O. One of the women gave
check ON the Citizens Bank for S.
signed LENA Cassell," and the OF
er gave check on the State Bank
Trust Company for $3.50, and sig
ed it "Sallie johnson"
From Hamilton Bros. the m
bought $25 suit, $35 suit, two pc
of So shoes, and q S. hat, tenderil
checks on the Citinzen's Bank, sil
ed ssCharles h. johnson" and HW.
Thoupsou.S They had even left o
pair Of trousers here to have the
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