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Show YOUTH APPREHENDED HERE AFTER ROBBING BENEFACTOR HITCH-HIKER CAUGHT IN MILFORD AFTER BEAVER CHECK THEFT D' 1Alel't,?,eave1, Coilnty Pee officers and Milford State fa ?o!"S Be, eX"CnViCt Wh rbbed a bene" 1 cash I ATI a"dKa"emilted to convert travelers checks into cash in Milford before continuing his travels. William Graves, about 25 : ' Wilham Graves, about 25 who gave a West Virginia address, ad-dress, is in the Beaver County jail under $2500 bond, awaiting trial for Grand Larceny after a "biting the hand that fed mm" escapade. P. A. Fischer president of the First National Bank of Wibaux, Mont., was the Good Samaritan who was victimized. vic-timized. Leaving his Montana home for Angeles, Mr. Fischer picked up Graves, who was hitch-hiking, in Idaho. A nice-appearing, apparently decent chap of about 25, Graves showed Mr. Fischer a service discharge, and soon had gained the complete confidence of the banker. Mr. Fischer paid restaurant and hotel bills, and even shared the same hotel room with the hitchhiker. hitch-hiker. While eating lunch in a Beaver Beav-er cafe, Graves excused himself for a moment, and after lifting Mr. Fischer's wallet fnntninincr a muiiieni, ana alter lifting Mr. Fischer's wallet, containing $900 in travelers checks, hitchhiked hitch-hiked a ride to Milford. After finishing his meal, Mr. Fischer returned to the car and immediately missed the checks. Highway Officers Pierce and Nowers were notified, and with the Beaver City Marshal began broadcasting the alarm to towns up and down Hiway 91. Mr. Sam Hickman, cashier of the Beaver Branch of the Milford State Bank, immediately notified noti-fied Joe C. Smith of the Mil- ford Bank, Graves, after cashing a cheel at Penney's, where he made i small purchase, attempted t pass two of the $50 checks a the Milford Bank. Mr. Smith and John H. Davis, assistam cashier, held the book of check; and asked Graves to furnish ad ditional identification. As the thief left, the bank officials notified no-tified City Marshal Dan Smith and Deputy Sheriff Les Clay, who began checking highway and rail exits from the city. Graves walked out on the hiway to Ely, where he accosted accost-ed Sheridan Rogers, asking "How far is it to the next town." Mr. Rogers explained the hazards of venturing out on the desert in winter time, and brought Graves back to Milford. Noticing the unusual activity of police officers, he informed them of his conversation with the stranger, and assisted the officers in the search. A few minutes later, the thief was arrested ar-rested by Deputy Sheriff Clay and Marshal Smith, near the Milford Hotel. Removed to Beaver by hiway patrolmen and Mr. Fischer, who identified him, Graves was questioned at length by County Attorney George Miller before being taken before Justice Ross Cutler. He pleaded guilty and was bound over to District Court. "Graves said he wanted to plead guilty to grand larceny charges as soon as possible," the county attorney said, "and he may be tried at a special hearing next week. If the district dis-trict judge is unable to hold the special hearing, Graves will stay in the Beaver County jail until the regular court session, January 27th." |