The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-11-15
MYSTERY MAN
ET.J.E. YOCUM
Owner Of Numerous Bank
Pass Books Finally Dis
closes Identity.


utHN IL NV MNVl LNIEO
After "sllence strike" lasting
from Friday afternoon, when he was
arrested, until Sunday evening about
Y o'clock John Doe" alias g. H.
Chase, finally unloosed his tongue and
admitted he was none other than 4. J,
H. Nocup.
Although put through a workable
fusillado OF questioning since ho was
picked up by Detectives Dodson and
Paradise and patrolman Williams, the
Identity OF the mysterious stranger
proved baffllnE argument tor two
days. Although a little tnlkativo about
things IN general he refused point
blank TO give the slightest hint that
would throw any light on his Identity.
After supper Saturday night no was
brought to the office OF Chief w. III.
Haokett and again questioned by r. N,
Fem, assistant superintendent OF Pink
erton's National Detective agency; the
chief, and Dodson and Paradise. The
''sasslonH lasted an hour or moro with
no fruitful result,
Supt Fem had suspected almost
from the first that John Doe was r. J..
" Yocun, and on sunday evening
about z O'Clock. when the prisoner was
given another work out" the sharp
witted Pinkerton official secured what
IL considered ono OF tho most vital adj
missions the man OF silence could have
made.
Fem opened up on yocum by talk
Ing 10 him OF interesting cases on which
he had worked, After pleasant oon-
veraation OF several minutes along this
lire. during which Yocum quoted Vic-
tor Hugo. Latin and Greek authors and
the worlds greatest poets, the Pinkor-
ton man said TO him. We'll. we've
talked for about an hour about diff
ferent things and havo gotten to be
pretty good friends. don't like TO he
your friend and have TO call you John
Doe. haven't hoaltated about tell-
Ing YOU who am and what | am"
Prisoner Breaks Down.
The prisoner then broke down, soD-
bed and replled; ''rm going 20 ten
YOU. My honest to God namo~s II. D..
u. Yocum."
with this admission. an avenue was
opened for clearing up tho strangers
past. and Fem at once got busy. A
short time later. after communicating
with his agency IN Atlanta, he was
called over long distance telephone and
told that Yocum. under the name Of
William NJ. Benson, alias g, y. J. lion-
ner, was arrested IN Norfolk, Va. on
FEB. 20, 1913 and sentenced 70 1--WE
yaurs In the virginia pcnitertinry on n
c',arge OF swindling.
Information IN the hands ~ Fem n
that focum disappeared from Blair's
MN, Pa, several years ago. and the
re asou for his long absence from that
place was that he was serving tlmo IN
Virginia.
That yocum was IN tho clear here
I aA "A In la A
neon established, but the belief ls that
,hp ground work was already laid for a
'clean-up" that would have netted
several thousand dollars, according to
conservative estimates.
According 10 Fem yocum is wanted
at Clifton Forge. East Radford and
Wytheville, Va; Bethlehem. Lancas-
Ter and Allentown, PAT and Albany.
Troy and Schenectady, N, y,
Ray bryan, secretary 70 Chief
Hackott and IN charge OF tho finger
print and photograph department, dis
patched Il photograph Of tho prisoner
along with a description 70 Schnectady
expected 10 reach It's destinations Sun
day and Monday Returns are already
coming In.
Yocum II credited with being one Of
the sharpeHt aud most Intelligent men
ever questioned by Fem, Chief
Investigation OF him.
His hobby seems 10 be reading tho
works Of the worlds greatest writers.
Ne has wonderful mystery Of Green
and Latin and Is very fond Of Victor
hugo, quoting frequently 70 hiS aues-
tlonera from Les Miserables."
When Secretary Bryan passed by the
prisener's cell sienday niofhisR and
spoke 10 him as Yocum he Informed
the detective he had peculiar feeling
In his head lie appeared to he on tho
verge OF a breakdown and there were
traces Of tears around his graylah blue
eyes,
The man tho detectives believe TO bn
one 0f the HmoothaAt bank awindera
that has ever operated In this country
IL about 80 years OF oRo, II foot Sh
lnchos tall, weighs 1ig pounds, has
grayish black hair, a Hnllow com-
plexion. and II slightly bald In the
front and on tho crown OF his head.
lie IL OF very slender build and ehab.
ilily dressed His fnce Is furrowed and
there are deep. wrinkles In tho center
of his forehead
About noon Monday Carl Abcrnnthy,
attorney Tor Yocnm, talked 70 his client
for short while.
Yocum may be taken bcfore Judge
Martin Fleming In city court Tuesday
morning for commlttal hearing
Declines 20 Talk.
After comforting with Attorney Aber.
nnthy. the prlsonr said no had been nd-
vlaed not 10 talk, Before mat, how
ever. he admitted serving Time IN VIZ.
Rinia and characterized prison life M
damnnbo. He IN IA bad shape physl.
caIiy
Yooum'R photograph md nnEmr prints
reached pinkeraton'H Now NOfk Office
on SUNDAY and he was immediately iden
titled, the Atlanta Office being wired soon
aftorwnrd.
Yoeum has about $500 In local
banks, u was stated, About $500 ~
cash and choeks made up the amount
found IN books taken from him,
A warrant was received by the de-
tectivo department from Huntington,
w. VA, on sunday,
Yocum's admissions regarding his
prison life were made sunday cvc-
ming and today.
II was believed that tho aliases un.
q hich he prisoner went wnen he
was sentenced in virginia has not
betn used hy him since, thus keeping
dark his Identity in that state.
Aftor being returned 20 his cell
Monday afternoon Dy Joe Paradise.
ocum was given some blankets and
offered good feed. llo accepted the
blankets with warm thanks but de-
olined tho TODD. He explained that he
~ moderate eater and douH not
pnrtAko Of coffee or tea.
n N MI IN