When you're a true legend you live in memories well after you're gone. My post on Harry has prompted reports from other cops who remember him.
Dave Dampier reminds me that when Harry went to court for the Road Gang Beer Check Caper he had a unique defense. He told the Honorable Richard Stanley that he'd plead not guilty because it was a post dated check. Post dated checks couldn't be prosecuted under the law. The rational was the writer, when warning not to cash the check until a date in the future, was admitting the check was no good at the time it was written. So the receiver should never have taken it.
The Judge asked Harry how it was post dated. Harry said to "Look in the little fish on top."
At the time, Bank of Naples checks had a fish logo. The judge looked and written in small letters in the fish was post dated. Everyone had a good laugh over that one. Except Harry, who went back to jail.
Then there was the time Ray Barnett used Harry as an undercover operative to make street drug buys in Immokalee. Ray had moved on from the NPD and was an investigator for the CCSO. He had a distinguished career there, ending up as a Chief.
Ray said Harry, with his winning ways, was making buys faster than Slick Willie could catch an intern. Trouble was, Ray found out he was also writing bad checks all over Immokalee at the same time. But what were you to expect? That's what Harry did.
Harold Young reminded me of Harry's crowning glory. That was the time Harry went into a store in Immokalee and cashed a FPL electric bill. Yes, that's what I said, cashed a FPL electric bill. And this, again, was when he was on the road gang. A working convict! Prison clothes and all. Don't ask me how he did it. And we can't ask Harry. He's hanging paper on that big bank in the sky.
Dave Dampier reminds me that when Harry went to court for the Road Gang Beer Check Caper he had a unique defense. He told the Honorable Richard Stanley that he'd plead not guilty because it was a post dated check. Post dated checks couldn't be prosecuted under the law. The rational was the writer, when warning not to cash the check until a date in the future, was admitting the check was no good at the time it was written. So the receiver should never have taken it.
The Judge asked Harry how it was post dated. Harry said to "Look in the little fish on top."
At the time, Bank of Naples checks had a fish logo. The judge looked and written in small letters in the fish was post dated. Everyone had a good laugh over that one. Except Harry, who went back to jail.
Then there was the time Ray Barnett used Harry as an undercover operative to make street drug buys in Immokalee. Ray had moved on from the NPD and was an investigator for the CCSO. He had a distinguished career there, ending up as a Chief.
Ray said Harry, with his winning ways, was making buys faster than Slick Willie could catch an intern. Trouble was, Ray found out he was also writing bad checks all over Immokalee at the same time. But what were you to expect? That's what Harry did.
Harold Young reminded me of Harry's crowning glory. That was the time Harry went into a store in Immokalee and cashed a FPL electric bill. Yes, that's what I said, cashed a FPL electric bill. And this, again, was when he was on the road gang. A working convict! Prison clothes and all. Don't ask me how he did it. And we can't ask Harry. He's hanging paper on that big bank in the sky.
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