Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-10-22
SPROGELL'S SPECULATIONS.
"A Brakeman's Banking Business at
$4,000 Week-Draxvn on Forged
Checks,
From the Harrisburg (Pa.) Patriot.

"A Rrakkeman's Banking Business at
$4,000 Week-Draxvn on Forged
Checks.
From the Harrisburg {Pa.) Patriot.
The State bank and two other bank
ing institutions paid out s11, 593. Is the
other day on checks signed by Edward
Sprogell, brakeman on the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, and purporting to be
endorsed by several residents of Har-
risburg. Three of the checks had the
name of John K1llinger on the back,
several that of Charles Meunch, ESQ.,,
and one that of Augustus Shellenber-
ger. The amount received by Sprogell
on the first named was S., 993. 70
So, 593.75 from the State bank, and
50, 400 from the banking house of
Dougherty Bros. & Go. The checks
endorsed by Mr.. Meunch's name called
for 81, 100, and the one endorsed with
Mr.. Shellenberger's name 1000. ALI
the checks were returned as protested
by Philadelphia banking institutions
on which they had been made payable.
The State Bank officials maintain
that the endorsements are genuine, and
express a determination to decide the
matter by a resort to litigation. Messrs.
Killinger, Meunch and Shellenberger
pronounce them forgerles, and Mr..
Killinger refused to comply with de.
mand of the State Bank for the pay
ment of some of the checks, on the
ground that his name had been forged
to the checks, and he is anxious to have
the matter settled by the courts.
In addition to the above, Sprogell
owes Mr.. KilIinger $40, the latter hav-
ing given him draft for $3.50, and
sold him $3.50 worth of groceries. This
money Sprogell obtained through bust
ness relations with Mr.. killinger. hav-
ing frequently bought goods from him.
Sprogell has not yet made his ap-
pearance. The State bank, from which
the bulk of the $11, 500 was obtained,
has instituted proceedings against
Messrs. John Killinger, Charles Muench
and Augustus Shellenberger for the re.
covery of the money drawn by Sprogell
on checks endorsed with the names of
the above persons.
The inanciering brakeman had been
in the check business for number of
years, in which time he had drawn
over million dollars in Philadelphia
and Harrisburg, and recently his
transactions with the State Bank and
Dougherty Brothers & Co., aggregated
between $50, 900 and $4,000 a week.
All the checks cashe0 in Philadelphia
were endorsed by VIM. Zeller, who is
now supposed to have been a myth.
Sprogen was always very reticent with
reference to Zeller, and when asked in
this city as to the man and his bust
ness, he invariably gave an evasive an
sWer.
Sprogell has been in the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad company's employ for four
or five years, and had been generally
regarded as an honest man. About two
years ago he called on the Mechanics
Bank of this city, and gave his note
for $75, which being endorsed was
honored. Subsequently he presented
a check for over 5000, which was also
cashed. The demand became larger
and larger, and the sum required
reaching $40O, the cashier refused to
have any further dealings with Sprogell,
suspecting that there was screw loose
somewhere. While negotiating for
payment OF the different sums at the
banks, Sprogell represented that he
wanted the money to speculate in eggs,
butter, etc. He then went to the other
banks named above, and continued
business with them until the recent
developments.
It is said that neither the State Bank
nor Dougherty's banking house will
lose anything, should the endorsements
on which the money was drawn even
prove forgeries, Sprogell having prop
erty more than enough to cover the
amount.