Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-30
". B. PURDY, WHO
BROKE JAIL HERE,
IN TROUBLE AGAIN
Arrested in Philadelphia Yes
terday on the Charge Of
Forgery.
ONCE A WEALTHY BUILDER

William r.. Purdy. who was rsIea sed
from the New Castle county work
house a week ago last Monday. after
completing sentence on n forgery
charge In this State, is in trouble
again. After leaving Wilmington ne
went to Philadelphia, mis- home town
forgery charge, after leading Motor
cycle Policeman Gibbs a lively chase
and yesterday he was arrested on q
According to the police Purdy is al
legged TO have given a check for $50
drawn on Richmond Va, 5ank, II
Charles Schloss. an importer a. 1886
Walnut street Philadelphia. on Tues
day in exchange for a dress valued
at $40. He obtained the dress and
Detectives say Purdy was apparent
" under the impression that the pro-
prietor of the shop had not learned
the check was spurious and returned
Ia. the same store yesterday to pass
another check. this time for 800.
Purdy figured wrong. however, as
sehioss had teiephoned the Richmond
bank. 80 when Purdy appeared
Schloss summoned Motorcycles Police
man Gibbs. Realizing he was trapped
Purdy attempted to escape and dashed
from the store. West on Walnut
street, which was reasonably well
filled with shoppers. ran Purdy. The
motor cop took up the chase and as
Puroy turned to run through Ritten-
house Square, Gibbs jumped from his
machine and leaped upon Purdys
back.
When taken TO City Hall Psrdy Is
said to have been recognized as a man
sought by the Pinkerton Detective
Agency. whose officials aliegc that
purdy is also wanted in Richmond on
suspicion of passing a $500 Lad
check on another bank there De-
tectives who searched the prisoner
say they found check books and stubs
which indicate that the man has OPP
Grated extensively in the East with
a series of bad checks.
/ Said to BE Jail Breaker.
Warden NJ S. PIurnmer of the New
Castle County Workhouse today said
Purdy is undoubtedly the man who
was released by him last donday
week. after serving his sentence.
wv. b. Pu. dy." Plummer said. was
the first man to break the honor sys-
capped after it went into effect who
and he was captured there and
brought back by me-"
Plummer says the Elkton authori-
ties had a charge against Purdy, but
en- his promise to 'go straight" they
did not press the charge ard his
freedom was not interfered with after
he had served his time here Now
however it is likely that the Mary
land charge, as we'll as one ir Vir-
ginia. will also he pressed. Plummer
believes Purdy is the man who was
collecting money for a prisoners
fund" after he left the work house
here. Plummer said. however. that
he lad not authorized anybody to
make such a collection.
Once Man of Afiluence.
Fifteen years ago Purdy was a
prosperous builder who erected many
rows of houses in the West Philadel-
phia section. Later he was employed
at a salary of $4,000 a yea. by the
+. r.. T. Company as traffic en-
gineer and still later by The Pennsyl-
vania railroad N a similar position
IN former days Purdy was rated as
a wealthy man, a member of several
prominent clubs. He always appeared
well groomed as a prominent figure in
the city's life. He appeared yes
terday in Central Police Court Phil
adelphia before Magistrate Mecleary
shabby of appearance, unkempt and
SO entirely different from his CID self
that several former friends seated in
the courtroom had difficulty in rec
ognizing him. He was led to a eel
after he had been held in s1.s00 bal
for court.
Bad investments arc said to have
caused a large portion of his wealth
&c dwindle. Purdy was a close friend
of the late John b. Parsons who al
that time was president of the street
car company. His friendship Tor G. O
Kruger who succeeded Parsons as
head of the company, was responsible
fors Purdy continuing with the street
car concern for many years.
Purdy yesterday told detectives
who had known him in days of hi.
affiuence in Philadelphia that things
had not gone well with him after
leaving the service OF the railroad
and he drifted around the coun-
try. He blamed his troubles ON
drink
When first questioned at City Hall
Purdy gave as mis- home an address
cn Angora terrace near F'ifty-eignth
street. Later he changed to the
years of age and unmarried.