Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-10-21
Washington Hacker Claims
Alleged Naval Officer We'd
To Win inheritance
BORROWS MONEY
Strange Tale Told to Washington Po-
lice Couple Married in Alexandria
Yesterday.

The Washington police are looking
for man who, it is alleged, worked
new and ingenious confidence game
on Washington hacker, a part OF the
game being the marriage in Alex
and,ia of the alleged confidence man.
The man, who gave the name OF
Jack J. Lerada, and his residence as
Dallas. Texas, made the acquaint-
ance few days ago of Joseph Tom
aka. a public hacker of Washington,
and quite friendship sprang up be-
tween the two. Lerada, who was stop
ping at the Harrington Hotel IN
Washington and who represented hlm
self as lieutenant in the navy, show
ed Tomaka kilograms from Dallas,
Tex, indicating that Lerada had fall
en- heir to $4,000, a condition OF the
legacy being, however. that Lerada
must be married before his twenty
fifth birthday, which was rapidly ap-
preaching. He promised Tomaka ST.
600 to help him find bride, which
the hacker agreed to do, and the two
set out in search of ''Wi!lin' Barkls."
According to the tale told by Tomaka,
they located Miss Margaret q. Dlcker-
son. who agreed to marry Lerada,
and the three entered Tomaka's car
and came to Alexandria.
Deputy Clerk Ashby f. Bladen IS
sued license to the pair, and they
set forth in search of a minister TO
perform the ceremony Policeman
Lawrence Padgett, it is said, kindly
volunteered to help, and summoned
Rev. Dr.. +. V. REGISTER from the
Kiwanis Club luncheon. Dr.. Regester
performed the ceremony and the
happy couple went on their way.
Just before reaching Washington
the bridegroom informed the accom-
modating hacker, so the latter says,
that he needed some money to pur-
chase a new uniform, and that II
Tomaka would advance small
amount. say $3.50, Tomaka could ac-
company the bridal pair to Dallas.
where he would be given 81 1000 OF
the LEGACY" Tomaka said ne didn't
have the money, but could, and did,
borrow it. The lieutenant" then stop
ped in a Pennsylvania Avenue Mill
tarv Shop, and shortly afterward
came out dressed in brand new
naval uniform, and the party then
proceeded TO the union station TO take
the train for Dallas. They stopped at
North Capitol and H streets. north
west. where the bride left the car.
saying she must get her clothes.
Tomaka and Lerada went on TO the
Union Station, where Lerada told
Tomaka to wait while he got tickets.
Right here the sad tale ends, ac-
cording to Tomaka. After waiting two
hours for the lieutenant to show up
with the tickets, and for the bride to
show up with her clothes. Tomaka de
cided that further waiting was use
less He reported the matter to the
police department, who started an In
vestigation which developed the fact
that Lcrada had been guest of the
Harrington Hotel. but had left with
out the formality of paying his board
bill
Dr. REGISTER maintains that for
man in hurry, and one without pre-
vious experience in picking brides, as
claimed by Lerada, the latter. to all
appearances. was "some picker" In
the application for the license the
bride gave her residence as Louis
Vile Ky. and her birthplace as Stat
ford County, Virginia.