Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-31
ACCUSE YOUNG MAN
Of FLOATING CHECKS
FOR ABOUT $4,000

run ADUUl UIO,JUU
Pinkerton detectives are search
ing for r, N. Bright, who for some
four months has been a popular
to detectives, left Atlanta Saturday
night after giving various people
checks aggregating around $4,000,
which they have been unable to
cash.
Three warrants charging cheating
and swindling have been taken out
for Bright and half a dozen or so
weIl-known Atlantians are wonder
ing whether Bright is really the
swindler some suspect him of being
or whether he gave the checks in
good faith and will soon return to
Atlanta.
The checks given by Bright be-
fore his departure from Atlanta Sat
urdav ran from SIS TO $4,000, and
involved something like a dozen At
lanta people. some of whom believe
Bright Intentionally sWindled them
and others of whom stick to their
belief that the likable young man
acted in the belief that his wife had
amounts involved in her own name
and that Bright thought the cash
was safely in his name and would
speedily return to make good the
shortages.
Tells of Sale
Bright made it known some days
ago, it is said, that his wife had sold
considerable property for him in
Pennsylvania and that the receipts
had been deposited by his wife for
him. Some of those who received
checks maintain that Bright really
believed that his wife had made the
deposit and accordingly scattered
checks broadcast, buying diamonds
and motor car, as fancy struck him,
whereas they believe Mrs. Bright de-
posted the money in her own name.
Still others contend that Bright is
really a reckless swindler, The one
thing that seems to be certain is
that they all have checks they can't
cash and no one apparently knows
where Bright happens to be.
According to the detectives, Bright
established himself in offices in the
Gambler building about four months
ago to sell an air cooling device for
automobiles. Soon after he moved to
retail offices on Peachtree street and
was underwater for considerable au-
tomobile paper. r---"----r---'
Bright and his wife liv-d at the
Georgian Terrace hotel, where they
soon became we'll known and quite
popular. According to Albert n. Bar
nett, of the Georgian Terrace, he
claimed to have patent on a spark
plug which was to be manufactured
IT 81
company. on Forsyth street.
Paid Bills Promptly
He had considerable business deal
ing with the Jones Machinery Spe-
cialty. company, where, according to
officials of the company, he always
paid his bills promptly.
Some days ago friends of the
young couple heard that Mrs Bright
had gone to Pennsylvania to close
the sale of property, for her husband
and few days later they heard that
the property had been sold.
\ Many acquaintance congratulated
the young man on the sale and exz
soon return to the Terrace.
According to Frank Etheridge,
president of the Atlanta Trust com
pany, Bright appeared on Friday or
Saturday of last week with a check
for $85. 600 drawn on the Mellon Ma
tional bank. of Pittsburg. The check
was accepted for deposit, subject to
payment by the Mellon bank. This
is the amount some of the acquain-
tances of Bright believe his wife has
really deposited in her own name in
Pittsburg, and which, they contend,
Bright thought had been deposited
in his name.
Anyway, Immediately after leaving
the check, which, according to
telegram received Monday from the
began writing checks on the strength
of his deposit with the Atlanta Trust
company.
Various Checks
According to detectives, he. gave ].
P. Hays a check for $4,000 for two
for 5000, part of which was paid in
cash; Henry Sage a check for $500
for a diamond stud; the Georgian
Terrace hotel a check for 500, which
was cashed. and a second check for
500, $50 of which was paid in cash.
Robert Gordon a check for $500,
which was cashed; Lester Prince, a
chauffeur, a check for $50 for serv-
ices; a stenographer a check for $l5:
woman who was not named a
check for 500.
Bright then, according to officers,
bought Lafayette automobile from
L. L. Halle, distributor, and with a
driver and a woman who was not
named, left for Chattanooga about 6
o'clock Saturday night, registering
at the Patton hotel Sunday after
noon.
On Monday morning, according to
detectives, the chauffeur found that
Bright had left the hotel, leaving a
note directing him to take the auto
mobile back to Atlanta and put it in
garage. The chauffeur brought
the car and the woman back to At
lanta
Following these developments war
rants charging Bright with cheating
and SWtndling were taken out by AL
bert n. Barnett. j. P Hays and H
NJ. Sage and detectives began their