The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-09
Arrested by Officers at Home of
Mother, 716 Topeka Ave.
Was Hiding With Companion,
Who Was Under Davenport.
CHARGED WITH EMBEzzkEMENT
Also Said to Have Cashed $500
Check Without Funds.
Clever Ruse by Sheriff Larimer
Captured Two Men.

For ten months fugitive from JUS
tice, with peace officers holding war
rants for his arrest for the embezzle
ment of nearly $4,000. Raymond D.
Merritt was arrested before noon to-
day under a bed in the home of his
mother, Mrs. Arthur Merritt. 716 To-
peka avenue, and is lodged this after
noon in the county Jail
Along with Merritt a companion,
whose name has been given as Claud
Poole. was arrested. Poole was hid
den behind a davenport in the same
room in which Merritt was concealed.
Sheriff Hugh Larimer. with Depu-
ties Robert Miller and r. o. Garrod,
made the arrest. They had been
tipped off few days before that Mer-
ritt was supposed to be in Topeka, but
had been unable to find him.
This morning a colored man was
sent to the Merritt home with instruc-
tions to ask for a job of work. raking
the leaves in the yard. the sherlt1
and his deputies were concealed where
they could see who came to the door
Poole answered the door. He was
armed with revolver. and sent the
colored man roughly about his bust
ness.
Satisfied that the men he wanted
were IN Lnt hOuSSt EACAAAA A@eAA 4AASA
posted a deputy at the front door and
another at the rear. and knocked on
the door.
Found Under Bed.
There was no answer and Larimer
entered In the first bedroom which he
entered, he saw Merritts head stick
ing out from under the bed where he
had taken refuge.
The sheriff covered his man with a
nd Merritt ralunfa ntlV
emerged. He declared that he did not
know what had become of the man
who answered the door when the
negro rang He was making good his
denial when Larimer caught sight of
Poole doubled up behind davenport
in the same room. The deputies were
called in and both men were arrested
and taken to the county jail.
Merritt, who was once employed in a
Topeka bank. was cashier of the Grove
State bank. at Grove. Kan. last Febru
airy. when 1t became known. officers
say. that he had been embezzling the
funds of the bank Investigation
showed. it is charged. that he had put
''phoney' notes and had faxed loans
and overdrafts, in order to cover his
alleged deficits.
Cashcd $500 Check Here.
Warrants were issued against him
on the charge of embezzling the bank $
funds, and also for having caShed at
the Kansas Reserve State bank, in his
capacity as cashier of the Grove State
bank. a check on the Grove bank for
the sum of $500, when there were no
funds available to meet the check.
Wandered Over Couptry.
Since that time, he has been sought
by the officers. Letters found in his
possession today indicate that he has
been in Kansas City, Minneapolis
Mimi. and in other parts of the coun-
try, tho the history of his wanderings
is yet far from complete.
Merritt has not yet been arraigned
Ed Rooney is his counsel, and visited
arrest. Merritts mother. it is said. is
employed at the state printing plant
She was not at the house this morning
when the arrest was made. Her hus-
band, believed to be the adaptive
father of the absconding cashier. is
said to be in California at the time.
Wife Divorced Him.
Merritt, who is a young man, wa.
reared in Topeka. He married a To.
peka girl, Miss Opal Granteer, who re
comfy, during his absence, secured 9
divorce from him.
The state banking department inter
ested itself in Merritt's case when h,
absconded. and the amount of his de
falcations was made good by tn,
stockholders of the bank of which h,
had been cashier.
Sheriff Larimer said that, to tn,
best of his knowledge, there is no re
ward offered for Merritt's arrest.
Is ANnTHFR Fn0TRAII VICTIM