Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-29

no information, and neither contradicted nor
confirmed any OF the rumors current. But
on Saturday it seems the interested parties
decided what steps to take, and the guilty
man was arrested and lodged in Station .
where he has been confined since.
Mr.. j. A. Hanson, who has been wei
known on State street for several years as a
member of the firm of Hanson & Bonner, in
surance brokers, has been borrowing upon
the forged name of his father-in-law MIR.
John j. Clark, for some time, but has man
aged TO make the paper good before it became
due. The matter began and was turheftd =?
the authorized use OF MIR. Clarkc's name, Mr..
Hanson borrowing in small sums and giving
these notes as security. ms practlce en-
abled him to much more readily realize on
the forged paper. His personal integrity
having never been questioned, he has oper-
ated with the utmost facility. lie failed
| in business a few years. ago, but there were
no whisperings of fraud or suspicion connect
ed with it. The difficulties which led him
to commit the present transgressions were
neces stated 10y unfortunate speculationS,
Pennsy ivania oil land and an unrcmuncratiyc
fax mill at the West being among The ceuses
OF his embarrassment His method was to
make a pronissory note payable to himself
after three. four or six months, for $1,000 or
$4,000, indorse it himself, forge the name of
John J. Clarke, his father-in law, and then,
presenting it at a bank, get it discounted
This he was enabled to do without any qaes-
ton, owing to his personal acquaintance with
the bank officers and the we!l-known reiia-
biity of Mr.. Clarke as indOrscr. 1t is be-
lieved that Hanson has INDUCED in this prac
tice for years, but as he has taken UP great
many notes he has for long time avoided
10 DF lota bnuavfr 10 hos failpI m
meet his obligations, they having become too
Numerous, and exposure became inevitable.
The first Developments unfayorabie to Mr..
Hanson were made several days ago, when
the holder of one Of his notes found that the
endorsement upon it forged. At that
time an officer was called in, but the matter
was either passed as mistake settled so
that the officer was dismissed. On Friday it
was supposed that the matter had been ar
ranged by Mr.. Clarke, for the officer who had
surveillance over MIR. Iianson's movements
was told by Mr.. Samuel a. Way, who held
$4,000 of the forged notes, that his services
were no further needed. On Saturday how
ever, the president Of the Third National
Bark, having heard of this suspected irreg-
ularity of Hanson, examined certain of his
notes which the bank held, and one for $4,000
discounted in July last the name OF Clarke
was ascer,ained to be a forgery. rs soon as
this discovery made the president con-
suited the chief of-police and desired Han
sons arrest. The ease was turned over TO
Detectives Dearborn and Skelton. Those
officers got warrant from the municipal
court, visited his place of business in State
street and finding that he had not been there,
and hearing rumors that he contemplated
flight, proceeded to his residence on Forest
Hills street, Jamaica Plain, where he was
found and arrested. He was brought into
the city and taken to Station 2, where he was
allowed couple of hours in which to get
bail The sum of $50 600 was required, but
various gentlemen who were consulted did
not consider il expedent to become his bonds
men in view OF the uncertainty to the
amount OF forged paper out. So Hanson was
kept in custody and will appear in court this
morning.
Hanson, acting under the advice OF counsel,
says little or nothing about the matter, and
tries to be as calm as possible under the cir
eumstances, although it is apparent that he
is much agita.ed. He does pot know, or at
least does not tell. how much of this forged
paper is on the market, but it is reported that
ten notes for the $4,000 each which have
forged endorsements. and five or six tor $1,000
each which bear the genuine endorsement of
MIR. Clarke are out. ct so skiitul is the
forgery that holders of the notes are unable
to tell whether they are genuine or not with
out consultation with Mr.. Clarke. 1t is said
the Eliot Bank held $4,000 Of the forged pa
per, the Webster Bank SGl00, the Third Ma
tional Bank $4,000, and the fremont National
Bank $4,000. The Bank of the Metropolis
was also reported as holding $4,000, which
was made good.
Hanson is sixty years of age, and has a
wife and three children. - Boston AdrertiSer.