Is Young Man Passing Bad Checks a Pro Baseball Player from L.A., or Professional Thief? March 14, 1922

Young Man Held Here for Passing Bad Checks

A young man who gave his name as R.M. Black Jr. was hauled before Judge R.R. Ingram in the county court here last Friday on several charges, among them being check-flashing and attempting to beat a board bill. He pleaded guilty to the charge of giving a worthless check, and waves examination on the other charges. Upon default in giving bond in the sum of $1,000 for his appearance at the next term of Stanly Superior Court, Black was sent to jail.

The young man, who is of about 27 years of age and fairly good appearance, says that he is from Los Angeles, California and that he is a baseball player by profession. He told Judge Ingram this morning that he was out of work and was looking for a job and that this was his explanation for being in Albemarle. It is reported that he told others that he was a representative of the advertising department of some shoe shine establishment. He seemed very anxious to suppress publication of his name in connection with his trouble, telling Judge Ingram that it would hurt his reputation of his good name as a baseball player. He talked very glibly about baseball and other sports, and seemed to be well versed along this line.

Young Black came to Albemarle a few days ago and got a boarding place at a boarding house, giving a check for $20 covering payment in advance for his board. In the meantime he deposited a check of $100 on the Commercial National Bank of Charleston, S.C., and opened up a checking account with the Stanly Bank & Trust Company, of this place. It is thought that he gave other worthless checks here and at Badin, but up to this time they have not turned up. In the meantime the $20 check and the $100 check have both been returned by the banks on which they were drawn.

From the young man’s appearance and demeanor, Judge Ingram is rather of the opinion that he has a professional crook in hand. Black says that he will be able to arrange the bond of $1,000 within a few days. He is a medium sized fellow, fairly well dressed, and talks glibly. Judge Ingram is of the opinion that he is pretty well versed in court procedure, too, as he seemed to e able to conduct his own case, which he did without assistance of counsel.

From the Stanly News-Herald, Albemarle, N.C., March 14, 1922