Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1867-05-02
Heavy Forgeries in Preble Coun-
ty, ohio--The Operator Escapes
the Consequences.

the Consequences.
From the Dayton journal of the Goth.
A chronic case Of dishonesty an
crime was, we are credibly informer
recently brought to light in Preb.
county. William Clifford was
well-to-do farmer, residing on
large and valuable farm in the neigl
borhood of Euphemia, Besides th
regular business Of farming, Gilfor
had been for several years engage
in buying and selling stock, etc
and he had ON several occasion
borrowed money in considerabl
quantities from wealthy farmers il
the vicinity of West AleXondria
in most cases giving his note, with
brother-in- law named Jacob Fudge
for security.
A week or two ago, we are in
formed, Clifford met another broth
er-law named Fudge, in West Alex
andria, and asked him to go on {
small note for him. Fudge refused
and made some remarks disparagin2
to his credit, and Clifford lefttthc
room greatly offended A farmer
who was present remarked, aftel
Clifford withdrew-"Why, you don't
seem to have as much faith in G. as
your brother Jacob, who goes on
his paper to any amount desired" "
Fudge replied that none of the fam
lily had much confidence in Clifford,
and he would warrant that Judge
Fudge wasn't on his paper for S..
This alarmed the farmer, and he
showed Gifford's note to Jacob
Fudge, who pronounced the name
forged to the document. This ex-
pose brought matters to a crisis.
In the meantime Clifford ascer-
tanned what was going on, and he
made over his farm, stock, etc, to
his brother-in-law Jacob Fudge,
md gathering up some ready means,
le fed-it is not generally known
Ehere-leaving his family to be
provided for by their relatives. Be
sides the farm, there was large
of stock on hand-enough,
Jiford assured Fudge, to make him
safe on the notes to which his name
lad been signed, The matter got
l0ised abroad, and then Gifford's
aper began to come in. The stock
vas soon swallowed up in liquida-
ion; yet the notes kept coming in
or redemption, until the brother
l-law, seeing no probable end to
), shut down on the transaction
ntil he can make himself safe ON
be farm, which is by no means a
ure thing; for about $4,000 of the
otes have been redeemed, and it is
stimated that about $4,000 are yet
utstanding
The forgeries of Clifford over
lere have been going on, it is af-
rmed, some five years. The notes
ere not given in his own neighbor-
ood, and as they were regularly
and the interest punctual-
paid, the fraud was not discover
until the accidental conversation
,out surety in West Alexandria,
e other week, brought it to light. J
The conduct of Clifford is most u
AS his farm was I'M +
numbered, and he had not lost in q
s speculations in stock, it is a J.
ystery what he did with the money !,
ised on the forged notes, The =
ystery will probably be developed
the course Of time. The affair :,
s created great deal of excite =
7nt and wonder in that part of .
'eble county, and has greatly sha- =
n the confidence Of the people in
iyate negotiations =
CLINTON COUNTY HORSE FAR Il
idaf, May, 31st, and Saturday, r
ne lst, have been chosen as the Il
US on which the Horse Fair will u
held at this place, by the Gin, h
+, N Ao,,;o,,1+nro1 To;,,4 CAL lC