| Show JtJs VON GROTTA ClEMK He Was Going to Open a Jewelry Store ORDERED LOTS OF GOODS But the Merchants Would Not Bo Swindled The Singular Actions of a Jan Who Claimed to Hail From Hawaii Ho Left for Denver on Saturday Satur-day Night A few days ago an individual calling himself Joseph Von Grotta arrived here from the west and calmly announced an-nounced that he was just from Hawaii where he had been in command of the troops of the provisional government but had grown weary of life on the islands and had concluded to settle down in Salt Lake and open an extensive ex-tensive jewelry establishment He incidentally in-cidentally stated that his father was worth 300000 and conveyed the impression im-pression that he was rather a high roller in his way and intended to make things hum He rented a house at 24 East Sixth South street and began be-gan house keeping with his wife and child After looking over the town he settled upon Mr Dimvoodeys store in the B Y Trust companys building on First South as a suitable location and last week rented i and put a sign in the window stating that he would soon open there with an extensive exten-sive line of jewelry Afterwards he purchased some furniture from the pD Dinwoodey company which was sent to his home placed advertisements in all of the papers stating his business and having laid this foundation for his operations commenced work He visited the stores of J B Farlow the Utah Book Stationary company the Seat Glass Paint company and many others and ordered goods lavishly l but in every instance failed to put up any money The Salt Lake business men are not accustomed to transact business on the peculiar system sys-tem of Mr Grotta so his patronage was in all cases declined His manner however aroused a suspicion that the man Was either insane or a bilk and some inquiry was made by parties interested i concerning him Nothing of advantage to the enterprising jewelry j man could be elicited however how-ever and on Saturday Mr Dinwoody sent down to Von Grottas house and removed the furniture On Saturday evening the stranger Informed his landlady l who resided next door that he was going out visiting and requested re-quested her to inform any parties who might call that they could see him today to-day dayYesterday Yesterday the police learned that On Saturday evening Von Grotta went to a pawnbroker on Second South and purchased three watches and some old coins amounting in all to 20 and ec rr nfhn J gave his check on the Union National bank for the amount The check proved to be worthless and last evening even-ing i Detectives Rhodes and Sheets went down to the mans house They found the place locked up but effected an entrance and there discovered that Von Grotta with his wife and child had left on the Rio Grande Western on Saturday night for Denver I is possible that the man may be stopped at Denver but so far as has been reported the only losses through his operations is the pawnbroker who accepted the check A piano and baby carriage are now at the house but they will of course be obtained by the owners |
