Evening star., 1953-02-13
Cox Returned,
But Movements
Are Mystery
Alexandra Dealer
Nubbed at Airport
By FBI Agents

during which he was the object
Of a Nation wide search re-
mained shrouded in mystery.
Cox At, was arrested by FB1
agents yesterday as he stepped
from a plane at Washington
National Airport. He was ar
raigned before United States
Commissioner Stanley King in
Alexandria on a charge Of
transporting across State lines
property obtained by fraud,
valued ct more than $1,000.
He spent four hours in Alex
andria city jail before a bonds
man posted surety for his ap-
pearance III Mr. Kings Office at
Q pm Monday fol a preliminary
hearing MI. King said he will
have to decide whether there is
sufficient evidence to return Cox
to Philadelphia, where the
charge was filed.
Cox, who lives in the exclu-
siye Hunting Towers Apartments
and heads the Gateway Motor
Co. in Alexandria. was genial but
nom committal yesterday and re-
fused to I'LL in the details Of his
two-week disappearance. The
search for him began after he
walked out of a Philadelphia
hotel on January 90, hatless and
coatless. and disappeared.
Only $237 in Pockets.
An FBI spokesman said Cox
had only $237 in his pockets
when he was arrested. At the
time of his disappearance, Phila-
delphia police said he was be-
lieved to have been carrying q
large sum of cash, possibly as
much as $4,000. with which he
planned to make auto purchases.
Federal agents refused to dis
close how they knew Cox would
arrive at the airport yesterday
The suspect told reporters he had
notified his wife the night before
by wire that he was coming
home. His wife was not at the
airport. however.
Asked to comment on the
charge against him, which in-
wolves cars bought In Philadel-
phia and transported to Alex
andria. Cox said:
II think Il can be Strengthened
out one way or another"
He said ne was surprised
the charge was placed. Police
said Cox gave two& worthless
checks and a money draft to-
falling slightly more than $18. 900
for the cars.
Came From San Francisco.
Cox began his trip home from
San Francisco. an FBI agent
said. He said Cox used the name
RAY Butler" while on the West
Coast but declined to comment
on his activities while there.
The FBI was equally close
mouthed about details Of the car
dealers movements from the
time he left the hotel in Phila-
delphia.
Reporters questions were
brushed aside good-naturedly by
Cox. He refused to say why he
shaved of his mouStache, where
he bought the new trench coat
and hat, why he disappeared
and why he suddenly reappeared.
"Who ever told you had that
much money!" Cox asked laugh
ingly when questioned about the
large amount Of cash he was re-
ported to have had with him.
Cox said he was unaware Of
all the newspaper publicity his
disappearance caused. He said
he had not been aware Of the
widespread search and asked re-
porters to tell him about all the
developments which had led to
his arrest.
After his disappearance, his
financial dealings came to public
attention through court actions.
He was accused of trying to sell
used cars with fraudulent titles
after first obtaining loans on
them. A short time after the
court action, General Credit,
Inc. Of Washington, 'towed away
,35 cars from his Alexandria lot.
Ten other cars were frozen by
General Credit under an attach
ment order.
officials Of the finance COM
pany said a check for 5000
given the company for six cars
bought by the Gateway firm had
failed to clear the bank a few
days after Cox disappeared.
A temporary restraining order
preventing sale Of two cars was
obtained by a Darlington Is. c.
firm which said q check for
$4.010 given by Cox for the cars
was returned stamped insuffi-
cient funds.
During his disappearance on
cials Of the Securities and Ex-
change Commission began in
vestigating the sale Of stock in
the Wheel Finance Corp, which
Cox was reported to be organiz-
ing in the District.
FBI oficials said Cox was SEN
fenced in April. 1941, to eight
years in prison In Tennessee for
conspiracy to defraud, involving
use Of the mails. He was paroled
in 1943. the FBI said.
Futher- Daughter Bouquet
The annual father-daughter