The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-18
A NOTORIOUS FORGER.


RxpIeits Of John N. KilIs-HIs Final Arrest.
The Indianapolis Journal says
On last Friday night Officers Russell and
Boardman brought to this city from Louisville
the person of John M. Kills on a requistion
from Governor Baker, he having been Indicted
by the Grand Jury for obtaining money under
false pretenses. The history of the man Is q
very singular and rather "rapid" one, and will
be interesting reading. The following is taken
from slips of papers he had with him at the
time of bis capture:-
John M. Kills, the first known of him, was
resident of Springfield, Ohio, where he Joined
an Ohio regiment and was made captain of the
company. The regiment was sent to Nashville,
where he was detailed as quarsermaster. While
at this point he committed forgeries of Govern
ment vouchers to the amount of nearly $40, 900,
during the winter of 1862 and 1868. The papers
were all signed John NJ. Kills, First Lieutenant
31st 0. V. L. and A. A. Q. NJ" with the forged
approval of General A. Scboeff.
There is good reason to believe that frauds to
the amount of $3.50, 600 In Chicago aud $50, 900
in New York were committed by parties with
whom Kills was in connection, aud his Chicago
partner is now enjoying brief respite in the
penitentiary as reward for his enterprise in
that line.
After the frauds were discovered, Kills was
brought before Judge Trigg, of Nashville, who,
after hearing only the prisoners statement to
the effect that he vas the tool OF another
sharper sentenced him to one years imprison-
ment in the Penitentiary This light sentence
puzzled every one, but even that was not served
out. The last act of Andrew Johnson, on the Sd
of March, 1869, was to pardon him.
After Kills was pardoDed he laid around
Nashville while, and then went to Louisville,
where on the night of his arrival, he distin-
guished himself. In company with boon COM
panon and two frail sisters of the Falls City he
visited the Academy of Music The party raised
such disturbance that the police had to be
called. Kills drew his pistol on one of them,
but the officer fired first, hitting Kills In the
hand, the ball passing through the hand, strik-
ing rib, which it followed around to the spine
In o few days he was able to leave that place,
which he did with alacrity.
The next account we have of him is in this
city, iii his old business of swindling. The
particular job that brought him to grief was
swindling w. w. Leathers out OF $l00 by swear
ing that he was possessed of unlimited land In
Iowa. He skipped out to Louisville again, that
place seeming to have fascination for him,
where he was captured by Officers Russell and
Boardman as above mentioned.
In his possession were found from $50, 900 to
$50, 900 of the forged vouchers spoken of, or
probably others; vast number of deeds and
mortgages to property, all filed save the name,
and abstract of titles. These, 1t is supposed,
are his ready aids in the art of swindlng. Anenve-
lope was found marked Private John NJ. Kills,
November 4, TO-" This contained cuttings from
papers noticing his different acts and portions
of his history. He stated that he would die
before giving it up, but made slight mistake
in tho assertion