The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09
Smooth Crook is
Ahead 1917 Result
of Casting Check

cities have been asked tc keep
sharp watch for man giving his
name az 8 s. Douglas and who pass
ed worthless check ON the Baggctt-
Nethesby Furniture Company Sa;ur-
day and half at one OF the leading
hotels in Seabreeze.
Posing as an Elk, man who had
maize his fortune in oil and as an at
tornev who had assisted in the lie
Tense Of Harry X. Thaw in New York,
Douglas arrived in the Triple Cities
Friday. accompanied bv woman. ans.
took room at hotel in Sea5reeze.
He mad with him check FOR 5000
made oct to $. A. Pierce and drawn
on bank in Arkansas. lie rendered
cashetl.
Douglas next approached S. S.
Pierce. of Saahrecze, and offered TO
Buy house which MIR. Pierce had for
rent at the corner Of Atlantic avenue
and Oak Ridge. The terms were ac-
cepted but no cash changed hands.
Douglas In the meantime had gone to
the branch store Of Baggeit-Wetherby
in Daytona Beach and inquired about
some furniture for the house. When
Mr.. Bagget learned of this he went to
see Douglas and found him with Mr.
Pierce at the house which Douglas
had agreed TO buy.
Mr.. Ea2gett and Douglas then went
to the store where Douglas selected
his furniture The bill amounted to .
little more than $500. but the cash
discount cut it to $3.50. Douglas ten
dered his 5000 check and Mr. Haggett
have him another check for 1917 To
cover the difference
After getting the HaggettWe the.by
check Douglas immediate began max
ing efforts 10 cash it. He went to sew
cral places. but did not succeed in
getting IT cashed until ne tried An
thony Bros, where he bought So
oyercoat
The suspicious Of SIR paesctt and
Mr.. Wetherbv were aroused when
various merchants hogan calling up
and asking about the check The speed
with which he was trying to get the
money on the check caused them 10
suspect something was wrong and
Mr.. Basgett Immediately started on
the trail Of Dougias. He was just Il
little late. however. az Douglas mad
just left the hotel few minutes al
ter Mr.. BaeSett entered it..
II later developed TIA; Douglas had
! gone to bingham " Maiey's and bought
some Iinoleum ard rendered the check
in payment. but the check was declin-
ed as the exact amount Of the bill
had not been determined
Douglas told several parties Satur-
! day that his wife was with him but
had gone to St Augustine for day
| or SO. However Douglas and wn-
man are sail t. have been seen in
| front OF tie pcaree louise in road
ster late Saturday afternoon Douglas
| is believed to have hid another man
! rs an accomplice and these two are
suspected OF being the same pair that
pulled similar trick n St Aa2ustine
not long ago. Tho man inspected OF
f, being his asscc.uta = reported to b.
Of luw stature and lightly crippled
and Was said t. have been seen i re
! SATURDAY, although Re IS not known
TT have taken any active port IA the
I, affair here
| douglas Is dcecsl@t as being ratll
/ or tall and weighing about III pounds
! His halr Is iron gray. etos bro@n.
/ xmooih-shaven. lie has scar on the
right side o. MS neck When he visit
ed tie Baggc;t Wethcrby store he mad
| on q brown checked >ut but l. said
! to nave Worn a piue suit Saturday
morning He wore Kid glove on his
| left hand aud carried the right hand
| glove an Tie l"it. On his card Mas the
inscription: & < Douglas. Attorney
and caunscllor-ttLaw. Washington
I'D G. and New Gyieairl IN" He u
J said to have talked with great prid.
81 dog valued al 81 500 and fof
| wIiah ne said ho had tried to engage
4 special room e the hoiel btt With
out saecess. as the hotel at which he
was st1ying dii not rcnt rooms &c
dogs
On" feature Of the $500 check
which aIr. Eagertt did not notice ~.
I'll after II was oasiied vas that il va,
dated January which w9s SUNDAY
art iega! holiday
Grand Rapids. Mich. claims tn
distinction Of never having panl
failure