The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-04-24
OFFICIALS BELIEVE
captain" LAYTON
AND HIS CO-WORKERS
GROUP OF IMPOSTERS

That Captain Layton, his alleged
wife, daughter and two children are a
group Of imposters, and are falsely rep.
resenting themselves in the various cit
les and towns which they visit, as mem
bers Of the organization known as the
Volunteers of America" is the belief
of the local police authorities and citi-
zens Of the city who have been observ-
ing their activities.
Captain" Layton and his group were
common sight upon the streets of the
city during the past two months, hold
ing religious" meetings on the street
corners, and soliciting funds from mer-
chants and others during all hours of
the day. The captain" will be remem.
bered as man Of small stature, with
large nasal features of a bright rel
color He wore a uniform cap. Several
of the feminine members Of his organ
ization' wore grey uniforms.
The captain and his army" have
left town. They left here in a hurry
after an official Of the Yeomen's organ
ization had informed one of them that
AhANiibNA ~ lHN0SllSdAt illtll DIlOI
TO the issuance of policy in the organ.
ization for which the leader of the
army" had made application. The "cap.
tain had also at various times claimed
that he was a member of the Masonic
order and other organizations.
One Of the members Of his army"
however, is in this city and will remain
here until Probation Officer Effie Wilkes
is able to obtain for her a decent home
or Captain Nobbs Of the Salvation
Army takes her in charge. This sole
remaining member of the organization
IN Ardmore appears to have been the in
nocent tool" Of Captain" Layton, who
was using her to solicit funds for his
personal use The girl, whose name is
Annie Candy, is 10 years old. She is
now being cared for at the home of Mrs.
Sutton of 221 Thirteenth avenue, norta-
west.
According % the story told by the
girl, she joined Captain" Laytons out
1T about a year ago. She had been
living with her father at Quincy, Fla.
and had made up her mind to lead a
religious and pure life. Layton, she
states. had approached her father and
obtained his permission to have her ira
vel with him in the religious" work.
They had Travelled to many places,
states the girl, and in all the towns and
cities which they had visited Layton
had introduced her as his sister
The girl alleges that some time last
week Layton attempted to insult her,
and thaf sha fattobt
eye and then ran away. She went to
the home of a widowed woman on North
Washington street and hid. In the
meantime Layton and a member OF
his party, whom he had alleged was his
wife, searched throughout the city for
her, and even rode in service cars 10
nearby oil field towns in an effort to
find her. Layton even approached Pro-
baton Officer Wilkes asking her to aid
him in the search. At the time Mrs.
Wilkes was not familiar with the facts
OF the case and did aid him, but for
tUnately the girl was not to be found.
A few days ago, the widowed woman
with whom the girl had sought refuge.
permitted the girl to solicit aims on
the streets, and while doing this the
girl knocked on the door OF the home
Of Mrs. sutton. In whose care she
now is, and begged some money Mrs.
Sutton asked the girl several questions
and as a result, told the girl that she
would not permit her TO beg any more.
end after taking her in charge. reported
the case 10 Mrs. Wilkes.
Layton had represented the compan.
ions who We're with him as wife. and
three children. one Of the children"
being is years old, while the other two
were much younger. Police officials b.
leve that these representations were
false.
While in this city the group resided
at 102 First street southeast states Mrs.
Wilkes. When Layton suddenly left. af-
ter fearing an Investigation by the rep-
resentative Of the Yoemen he did 50
without informing his wife" where ie
was going. However. she received
phone call from. him the next day, and
left few hours later, presumably to
,oin him.