The newspapers published his swindling operations and on this account Bell threatened to sue both the publishers and the police officials.
Detective Wooldridge located him through an article which appeared in the St. Louis paper, which gave a description of his Show-Card College, which was being carried on there.
John M. Collins, General Superintendent of Police, sent Bell's picture and his Bertillon system of measurements to the Chief of Police in St. Louis, and requested him to make the arrest. On the following day John M. Collins. Superintendent of Police, Chicago. Illinois, received the following letter from E. P. Creecy, Chief of Police, St. Louis, Mo.:
St. Louis, Mo.,
Dec. 22, 1906.
John M. Collins, Esq.
Superintendent of Police,
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Sir:
Replying to your letter of Dec. 21, relative to J. H. Bell, wanted in your city for obtaining money by means of a confidence game, will say that W. H. Clark, office 354 Century Building, this city, was in the Court of Criminal Correction this morning charged with larceny by trick, and a nolle prosequi was entered by the prosecuting attorney. He answers the description of Bell and is undoubtedly the same person, but I would suggest that you send someone to identify him before the arrest is made, as he is making a fight here on his case. Clark is carrying on the same kind of business here as he did in your city.
Very respectfully,
E. P. Creecy,
Chief of Police.
Detective Harry Harris of Chicago was sent to St. Louis to identify Bell, and swore that in his belief Clark was Bell. The detective department wanted the case continued until Friday, but Clark insisted upon immediate trial. Judge Sale held that the detective had not been positive enough in his identification.
Detective Wooldridge arrived on the scene as Bell was leaving the court room after being discharged the second time by the court. Detective Wooldridge seized Bell and turned him over to a St. Louis police officer and filed a new affidavit of positive identification that Clark was Bell.