SO MUCH FOR MR. NICE GUY
Continued from: Cashier Caught & Sid Green Returns
Denison Bulletin – January 26, 1916
H. SID GREEN IS TAKEN AGAIN
As Sid Henry He Became Involved in Alleged Fraud in Arizona.
The Phoenix, Arizona Republican of Jan. 16, 1916, gives about two columns to a news story of the final capture of “Sid Henry,” erstwhile real estate speculator of that place, whose penchant for remortgaging many times the same property caused his victims to get after him for the alleged frauds:
Former Banker at Dow City
This “Sid Henry” used to be known as H. Sid Green when he was a banker at Dow City. The bank failed in 1904 and Green disappeared. He was chased by the authorities for years on charges of fraud of the same nature that he is now charged with at Phoenix. He finally gave himself up here and there being nobody to push the prosecution he went free about five years ago, since which time nothing much had been heard of him until this Arizona deal came up, with his picture and the reward offers.
Curious Crowds Wait For Him.
The Arizona Republican of the 16th says:
“Sid Henry, who less than six months ago, was one of the leading real estate men, and one of the trusted and respected men of the community arrived in Phoenix yesterday afternoon. He came not this time alone and unheralded, but in the custody of Sheriff Adams, who marched him into a large and curious crowd gathered at the court house to have a look at the man, who last August, walked out of his office leaving behind him numerous pieces of property alleged to have more mortgages on them than the law allows.
As announced exclusively in the Republican yesterday morning Henry had made up his mind that it was better to give himself up than wander over the country a fugitive from justice. He wired ahead that he would be in the city yesterday morning at eleven o'clock. The train was hours late and the crowd of curious ones were forced to wait until two o'clock in the afternoon before the train finally pulled in.
Even they were disappointed, as Sheriff Adams had sent Deputy Jim Murphy to Maricopa to meet Henry, and place him under arrest. Murphy arrived there early in the morning, and awaited the incoming train. The train was quite late, and it was finally announced that it would come in three sections. One section finally pulled in, and Murphy boarded it and made a thorough search. He failed to find his man. He sat down and chatted with several men whom he knew, utterly failing to notice a quiet inoffensive elderly looking man sitting nearby. As each section of the train pulled in, Murphy went through it, and each time failed to find his man.
Finally , just before the first section was to pull out for Phoenix, Murphy's attention was attracted to the man mentioned above. He scrutinized him carefully, but failed to recognize him. At last in spite of his beard, he made up his mind that this was the party he was looking for. Murphy approached him, and asked him if he was not Henry. He replied that he was.
Henry chatted with the deputy, and told him about his trips around the country. For some months past he has been in Tallahassee, Fla.
The trip back was made in record time. The officers took the prisoner to the office of Justice of Peace Frak De Souza, where he was formally arraigned on two charges. His bond was fixed at $5,000 in one case and $1,000 in the other.
From the justice office, the four men came directly to the sheriff's office. A large crowd of spectators was gathered there, including former friends and employees of Henry's. Sheriff Adams took him into his inner office where he was searched. As soon as this preliminary was concluded, he appeared in the outer office, where he greeted a number of friends and bowed politely to several women present.
He had the appearance of one from whose shoulders an immense load had been lifted. He was not crestfallen, although he appeared years older than when he left. His beard was a complete disguise, and only after a careful scrutiny would he be recognized by even close friends.
His Release efforts were immediately started as soon as Henry's bail had been arranged to secure bondsmen. In the meantime he languished in the county jail. After some deliberation Joseph Cope Peter Corpstein, Roe Graham and A. J. McLean appeared before Justice De Souza and signed his bond. He was then released from the jail, and went at once to the home of his daughter, Mrs. H.H. Shirley.
Henry had little to say after his arrival here, but he let it be known that he was in deadly earnest in regard to the settling up of his affairs. He said that if such a thing were possible, he would have everything balanced up if it took years to do it.
What steps will be taken in the future in regard to the disposition of Henry, is still a matter of conjecture. He will probably have to stand trial in the Superior court.
The return of Henry marks an epoch in one of the most startling cases that the local sheriff's office has ever had to deal with. Henry's plan of operation in so far as it is known was to mortgage property that was previously loaded with obligations. It is alleged that he removed portions of abstracts relating to mortgages on real estate, and thus deceived the people from whom he received the money. There were no less than 87 pieces of real estate standing in his name on the county assessor's books at the time of his departure.
------------------------------
Denison Bulletin – March 1, 1916
SID GREEN CONVICTED
Former Dow City Banker Given Two Years by Arizona Judge.
Convicted as “Sid Henry” and Pleads for Chance to Help Settle Affairs.
The Phoenix, Arizona, Gazette of Saturday, Feb. 19, tells of the final conviction of H.S. Green for fraud in that state. Green was known in Arizona as Sid Henry, under which name he had done immense business. He plead for a chance to help settle up his tangled affairs, just as he did at Dow City.
(Photo Illustrative Only)
“I cannot give you a suspended sentence in this case, Henry,” was the introductory remark by Judge Stanford this morning preparatory to pronouncing sentence of Sidney Green, or Sid Henry as he has been known to the people of Phoenix.
He concluded his remarks by sentencing him to not less than two years nor more than five years in the state penitentiary. When asked if he had anything to say why sentence should not be passed on him Green made a strong plea for a suspended sentence, saying that he could be of great benefit in assisting in straightening up the business which he formerly controlled and which was the cause of his trouble.
Green stated that he was informed that the assets of the company amounted to $240,000 and the liabilities, including the duplicate mortgages placed on the property by him amounted to only $220,000. This he stated left a margin of $20,000 in favor of his creditors whom he had wronged and he would be willing to remain under the jurisdiction of the court and obey all of its mandates if given a suspended sentence, and assist in reducing the expense of winding up the business. His attorney, former Judge Phillips, also made a plea for a suspended sentence stating that those who were most likely to be losers from his transaction had signed a petition asking leniency on the part of the court.
County Attorney Gandy said he was willing to leave it entirely to the court who is given the discretion by the law to determine what sort of sentence should be pronounced.
There are two charges against the defendant, but sentence was pronounced on only one. After sentence was passed he was given into the custody of the sheriff who will take him to the penitentiary tomorrow.
The End
