Cases against J. Steward Davis
Cases in which J. Steward Davis was named as defendant. Cases also listed in the year they occurred. No criminal charges filed against Davis in 1929-1931 as a result of any financial difficulties or in connection to his disappearance.

Safe Deposit & Trust Co., Trustee of Henry F. Zollickoffer, et al v. Mary Z. Rowland, et. al.
Dispute regarding the sale of a house that had been set aside for the deceased's wife to use as a life tenant. The house was 1204 Madison Ave., and was purchased by J. Steward Davis and his wife.

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT (Equity Docket A) Safe Deposit & Trust co., et al v. Mary Z. Rowland, et al, 1926, 66A, p. 165, case no. A14809 [T55-71, 0/64/4/6]

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT (Equity Papers A) Safe Deposit & Trust co., et al v. Mary Z. Rowland, et al, 1926, box no. 3520, case no. A14809 [T53-4131, 3/9/1/61]

Whittier Building & Loan v. Davis
Foreclosure, suit filed November 13, 1926, re: mortgage on houses at 1204 Madison Ave. and 1047 Myrtle Ave. Mortgage of $2400. In February, 1929, the Davises owed $1177.56 on 1204 Madison when sale of property occurred. Sale advertised in Daily Record as to occur on April 11, 1929.  In June, there was a decree in personam issued by the court, $1333.79 still owed by the Davises to Whittier B&L.  A subpoena to answer the decree lists Mrs. Davis living at 263 W. Hoffman, while her husband was Non Est. Initial sale noted in Gibson binder p. 131, April 23, 1927.

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT NO. 2 (Equity Docket B) Whittier Building & Loan v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis, 1926, 35B, p. 873, case no. 27919B [T997-35, 3/18/7/29]

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT NO. 2 (Equity Papers C) Whittier Building & Loan v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis, 1926, case no. 27919B, box no. 832 [T477-2, 3/19/2/82]

Rosch, et. al. v. Davis et. al.
Foreclosure—mortgage on Myrtle Ave. house, probably the same one as the 1926 case. Amount of $2700. Suit filed April 18, 1927

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT NO. 2 (Equity Docket C) Rosch, et al v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis, 1927, 36C, p. 96, case no. 191C [T998-1, 3/18/7/34]

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT NO. 2 (Equity Papers C) Rosch, et al v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis, 1927, case no. 191C, box no. 2 [T477-2, 3/22/11/9]

South Baltimore Progressive Building & Loan Association v. Davis
Foreclosure—mortgage on 1204 Madison Ave, amount of $5000. Suit filed October 17, 1928.

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT NO. 2 (Equity Docket C) South Baltimore Progressive Building & Loan Association v. James Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis,  1928, 37C, p. 412, case no. 1676C [T998-2, 3/18/7/35]

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT NO. 2 (Equity Papers C) South Baltimore Progressive Building & Loan Association v. James Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis,  1928, case no. 1676C, box no. 22 [T477-22, 3/22/11/29]


Carroll Independent Coal Co. v. Davis
Attachment on Davis as administrator for $97.87.  Order for attachment issued by Superior Court on February 12, 1929.  Case proceeded from Justice of the Peace hearing on July 5, 1928. No indication in papers of case’s outcome.

BALTIMORE CITY SUPERIOR COURT (Cases Instituted) Carroll Independent Coal Co. v. J. Steward Davis, Administrator of the Estate of Dorotha Gross, 1929, March R.D., no. 55, "box no. 2659," p. 224 [C1497-121 2/16/13/10]


BALTIMORE CITY SUPERIOR COURT (Court Papers) Carroll Independent Coal Co. v. J Steward Davis, Administrator, 1929, "box 2659," box no. 184 [T51-242, 2/21/7/24]

Home Credit Co. v. James Stewart Davis and Blanche M. Davis
Fi. Fa. suit to recover money owed by the Davis’ on promissory note for $427.20.  Suit filed December 20, 1926, proceedings continued for some time. Debt owed to Republic Electric Co. The note came due in October of 1928, two years after it was signed.  The Davises were to pay $17.80 a month.  In December, 1926, no payments had been received and the matter proceeded to the Superior Court.  Fi. Fa. was filed in Superior Court in March, 1927, and an order was issued to seize the Davises house at 1204 Madison Ave., described as a “3 Story Brick Dwelling.”  A notation in the court papers indicates that the Davises owed $498.89 at this point in time.  It is unclear exactly what happened regarding that order, as the Davises were still living at that address in December, 1928 when Fi. Fa. was issued again.  However, the Fi. Fa. writ dated January 14, 1929 does note that they live in the “1st + 2nd floor.”  The Davises total debt was by now $554.99.  This writ ordered that the Davises furniture be seized, listing it in detail, but it appears to not have been seized. An annotation to the order by the Home Credit Co.’s attorney says “Chattels left as found at risk of Plaintiff.” No further information is listed.

BALTIMORE CITY SUPERIOR COURT (Confessed Judgments) Home Credit Co. v. James Stewart Davis and Blanche M. Davis, 1927, SCL No. 3, 1926-1928, p. 38, “box 2495” [T587-3, 2/17/9/46]

BALTIMORE CITY SUPERIOR COURT (Civil Papers) Home Credit Co. v. James Stewart Davis and Blanche M. Davis, 1927, “box 2495,” box no. 251 [T583-592, 3/25/12/27]

Blanche M. Davis v. J. Steward Davis

Suit for divorce, George W. Evans (Davis’ former partner), filed May 18, 1938. In her deposition,  Mrs. Davis says that in the afternoon of April 15, 1929, she received a telegram from her husband saying that he had been called to New York on business.  She hired an investigator, who discovered that he had stayed that night at the Y.M.C.A., and had checked out the next morning, which corroborates the story reported in the Afro on August 7, 1935 (p. 161).

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT (Equity Docket B) Davis v. Davis, 1938, 78B, p. 192, case no. B44168 [T464-64, 0/64/5/15]

BALTIMORE CITY CIRCUIT COURT (Equity Papers B) Davis v. Davis, 1938, case no. B44168, box no. 1279 [T54-1292, 3/13/8/95]

King Coal and Supply Co., Inc., Assignee of the Mercantile Savings Bank of Baltimore CIty v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche Davis
Suit to recover money owed on a promissory note to the Mercantile Savings Bank of Baltimore City for $155.57. Note due in seven months, on June 9, 1927, to be paid at rate of $22.23 per month.  Debt stemming from money due King’s Coal and Supply Co., Inc. Judgement by confession on June 13, 1928.

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Confessed Judgements) King Coal and Supply Co., Inc., Assignee of the Mercantile Savings Bank of Baltimore City v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche Davis, 1928, 56C, 1927-1932, p. 1041, "box 1384" [T553-3, 3/34/13/34]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Court Papers) King Coal and Supply Co., Inc., Assignee of the Mercantile Savings Bank of Baltimore City v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche Davis, 1928, "box 1384," box no. 263 [T545-354, 3/32/6/13]

Simon Silverberg v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis
Attachment on judgment filed February 29, 1929 in City Court against the Davises: $139.50 plus interest and costs, for a total debt of $173.29, owed to Simon Silverberg. Silverberg was the attorney for Whittier B&L, and this presumably arose from that case.  

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Confessed Judgements) Simon Silverberg v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis, 1929, 56C, 1927-1932, p. 1074, "box 1446" [T553-3, 3/34/13/34]


BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Cases Instituted) Simon Silverberg v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis, 1926, 62A, March R.D. no. 119, p. 257 [T556-68, 3/34/3/26]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Court Papers) Simon Silverberg v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis box no. 286 [T545-377, 3/32/6/36]

George H. Poehlman, William C. Cook, Charles J. Urban, Receivers of J.L. Gilbert & Bro, Lumber Co. v. J.S. Davis
23 Apr., 1927
Harley & Wheltle & Webster for Receivers.

BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Cases Instituted) Poehlman et al. v. J.S. Davis, 1927 JYC p. 172 [T511-74, 3/2/11/29]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Court Papers) Poehlman et al. v. J.S. Davis, 1927, box 60 [T508-275, 3/1/2/35]

Cochrane Sales Co. v. J. Steward Davis
Filed April 9, 1927. Suit to recover $165.97 owed by Davis for car repairs. Payment slip indicates that Davis made a payment of $123.04 on June 26, 1926, which was returned. Judgement in default, August 27, 1927: Davis never filed any responce or plea. Court ordered repayment of $174.96.

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Cases Insitituted) Cochrane Auto Sales v. Davis, 1927, 60A, April RD 253, p. 436, "box 1335" [T556-60, 3/34/3/18]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Court Papers) Cochrane Auto Sales v. Davis, 1927, box no. 246, "box 1335" [T545-336, 3/32/5/36]

Baltimore Acceptance Corp. v. J. Steward Davis
Filed January 26, 1927. Suit to recover debt of $367.60 owed by Davis. Promissary note signed on April 7th, 1926 for $1,326 paid to Cochrane Sale Co.; probably a car loan, see above case. Note to be paid in 15 monthly installments of $88.40. Six payments made, through November, 1926. $795 .60 still owed as of date filing of suit. Judgement in default, March 15, 1927: Davis never filed any responce or plea. Court ordered repayment of $375.43.

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Cases Insitituted) Baltimore Acceptance Corp. v. Davis, 1927, 60A, Feb RD 187, p. 169, "box 1319" [T556-60, 3/34/3/18]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Court Papers) Baltimore Acceptance Corp. v. Davis, 1927, box no. 239, "box 1319" [T545-329, 3/32/5/29]

The Hecht Co. v. J. Steward Davis and Blanche M. Davis
Suit filed October 13, 1926, to collect money owed on the Davises' charge account. $122.76 owed when suit was filed. Statements in court papers indicate that at the end of September, 1925, they owed $153.00. No purchases were made (on account) after December, 1925. Davis made several $25.00 payments in the beginning of 1926, but none after May. Davis took no action in the suit; judement by default, November 30, 1926, Davis to pay $126.93.

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Cases Insitituted) The Hecht Co. v. Davis, 1926, 59C, Nov RD 10, "box 1305," p. 1233 [T556-59, 3/34/3/17]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Court Papers) The Hecht Co. v. Davis, 1926, box no. 234, "box 1305" [T545-323, 3/32/5/24]

Thomas Lowry, use of Max Sokol v. J. Steward Davis
George W. Evans for Davis; Max Sokol for plaintiff.  Filed July 13, 1925. Davis was hired by Lowry to secrue an adoption of a chid in Pennsylvania, and paid him $150. Davis was not legally allowed to do so, and as a result was unable to provide the services he was paid for. However, Davis refused to return the money, and Lowry filed suilt.  17 May 1926: Judgment made absolute in favor of the plaintiff for $150 with interest plus costs of suit; after motion for new trial overruled.  27 May 1926: Fi Fa issued to June RD 1926.

BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Cases Instituted) Lowry v. Davis, 1925, JYC, August RD 2, p. 325 [T511-72, 3/2/11/27]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Court Papers) Lowry v. Davis, 1925, August RD 2, box 59 [T508-272, 3/1/2/34]

National Credit Corp. v. Nelson Memorial Holy Temple, Inc.
Suit filed September 5, 1925, to collect $335 owed on coal bill. J.S. Davis listed as Vice President of the Board of trustees. Case agreed and settled.

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Confessed Judgements) National Credit Corp. v. Nelson Memorial Holy Temple, et. al., 1925, 56A, p. 256, "box 1242" [T553-1, 3/34/13/37]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Court Papers) National Credit Corp. v. Nelson Memorial Holy Temple, et. al., 1925, box no. 316, "box 1242" [T545-299, 3/32/7/26]

Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City v. J. Steward Davis
Suit filed April 19, 1928 against Davis to collect taxes.  Davis didn't pay his taxes to the city in 1927 or 1926. By the time the suit was filed he owed $120.66. Judgement by default for plaintiff for $123.66 (including intrest accrued), September 21, 1928.

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Tax Cases, Mayor and City Council) Mayor and City Council v. J. Steward Davis, 1928, GCL 4, May RD 55, p. 1686, "box 9988" [T557-4, 3/35/3/32]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Court Papers, Mayor and City Council) Mayor and City Council v. J. Steward Davis, 1928, box no. 15, "box 9988" [T547-15, 3/35/6/31]

Mayor and City Council of Baltimore City v. J. Steward Davis
Suit filed December 3, 1929 against Davis to collect taxes. Davis still in arrears for taxes from 1926 and 1927, and owed a total of $135.90.Case was dismissed by the plaintiff, April 23, 1930; Davis had dissappeared by that point.

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Tax Cases, Mayor and City Council) Mayor and City Council v. J. Steward Davis, 1929, GCL 5, Jan RD 26, p. 2027, "box 9982" [T557-5, 3/35/3/33]

BALTIMORE CITY COURT (Court Papers, Mayor and City Council) Mayor and City Council v. J. Steward Davis, 1929, box no. 13, "box 9988" [T547-13, 3/35/6/29]