The Washington times., 1921-12-24
Z ARRESTED
FOR GIVING
BAD CHECKS
Detectives Say New York Men
Held Here Are Wanted in
Many Cities.

In the arrest yesterday of Will
liam Nathaniel McGrath, fifty
eight years old, and Charles Her
bert Washburn, 'twenty-nine, both
Of New York, the police believe
they have in custody two of the
cleverest and shrewdest bad check
operators in the country.
Wearing silk shirts and scarfs,
spats and other expensive clothing,
and valuable diamond rings and
scarf pins, the men would never
appear to the uninitiated as bad
check operators.
Came Here Week Ago.
AS a matter of fact, all of the
clothing and the jewelry the men
wore had been obtained through
bogus checks and drafts that they
passed in various sections Of the
country, declared Inspector Clifford
l.. Grant, chief Of detectives, this
morning.
The two men. made their appear
ance in Washington a week ago,
registering at the Willard Hotel. On
Wednesday they went into the
Willard shop on Fourteenth street.
opposite the hotel, and purchased
number Of articles, including several
six shirts, and gave a check for
500 as payment.
Several days later it was found the
check was worthless and Nathaniel
Kahn, proprietor Of the shop, notified
the police. The men were traced to
the Willard Hotel by Detectives
Kelly and Scrivener and it was
found that they had left the hosiery,
also after they had paid their bill
with worthless draft.
The arrest OF the two men yester-
day by Detective Sergeant Frank NJ.
Alligood is the result of the caution
Of Mr.. Kahn. After they had pur-
hasel the articles at his store, giving
the worthless check, Mr.. Kahn took
mental note OF the license tag on the
automobile the men drove off in.
Arrested in Car.
When it was found the men were
worthless check operators, Kahn gave
the license number to the police. ALI
good yesterday saw a car bearing the
cumber and he gave chase, arrestinl.
McGrath and Washburn who were In
The machine.
When the baggage found in the
machine with the men was searched
at police headquarters by Inspector
Grant, 1t was found that they COO.
tanned dozen or more plates for the
printing of business cards, checks and
crafts. 1t was the same sort of checks
Fnd drafts that the men used in no.
only Fleeing the Willard hotel and
the shop, but Gait 4 Bro, Jewel.
'rs, 1907 Pennsylvania avenue, where
they obtained diamond ring on
worthless paper. The Gait shop is
controlled by Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.
wife Of former President Wilson.
the genteel appearance of the men
as they staggered into a hotel or shop.
swinging their sticks and displaying
confidence, made it easy for them to
pass worthless checks. Most pro-
prietors OF shops were happy to do
business with them and were ever
ready to convince them by cashing
their checks.
Wanted Elsewhere.
Inspector Grant declared this morn
ing that the men were wanted in Balti-
more and other cities for passing
worthless paper.
The men admitted that when they
were taken into custody by Detective
Alligood that they were on their way
to Richmond. Inspector Grant charged
the men with passing three worthless
checks in Washington.
Pinkerton detectives, who have been
trailing the men for several months,
urged Grant to turn the men over to
the Baltimore authorities, who are
anxious to try them. Grant refused to
do this, however.
Among the cities the men are alleged
to have operated in are Baltimore,
Philadelphia, New York, Pittsburgh,
Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago.