The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-07
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
Excitement at the Canal Bank.
A Forger in Limbo.

! A FOrger in Limbo.
1t appears that the forgery fever has again
broken out, and promises to be quite lively.
Wednesday, at 11:35 o'clock, the paying
teller of the Canal Bank recognized man he
has been on the lookout for some days past.
1t appears this individual has been in the
habit of presenting himself to commission
merchants here and exhibiting warrants Of
De Soto parish and drafts Of large dealers in
Shreveport, make purchases and obtain q
check in change, which check he would ct
some other store spend for what he wanted.
His last exploit was to get a check of
SOL from Jno. Phelps, which he paid over
to Leon Godchaux, indorsing it as III. Will.
Jams, steamer Exporter"
The trick was discovered and Officers Boy
Ian and Manning nabbed him so soon as the
dropped from fright, and at present writing
is in the presidents room.
The man was taken to the Central Station
where he refused to give his name. He was
registered as J. D. Nelson alias John Williams
alias VIM. Clarke.
| There was found upon him some two hun
dred dollars in currency. besides letter pur-
porting to be signed by Schmidt & Ziegler
per w. P. Duncan, to Moss, Weiss & Co., of
Waterproof, L., ordering the delivery Of 2
barrels of pork to J. D. Nelson, which had
been shipped G. 0. D.
One check on Canal Bank, for $500, on
January & Co., of st. Joseph, La.
Another on the same firm for $780, dated
| April 21st, one for $1O3 rs signed John'Phelps
& Co., per G. A. Smith.
Also, sight draft on Phelps & Co., signed
D. Andrews, and Endorsed by ]. Danner,
clerk of the steamboat Exporter, were all
taken by Specials Manning, Farrell and Boy
Ian.
The manner in which this wholesale forger
was detected and stopped from his nefarious
game, was as follows:
On Wednesday Nelson went to the Canal
Bank and presented check for $500, signed
January & Co.. and dated st. Joseph, La,
April 21st. This check was paid, but the
officers of the bank received a telegram from
St. Joseph later in the day, cautioning them
against cashing any of their checks.
Upon receipt of the telegram the paying
teller told the detectives to be around the
bank the next day, in case Nelson returned.
Sure enough, he went TO the bank and pre-
sented check for $500, asking for five dol
|
while and recognizing him as the same man
who had been there on the previous day,
turned to one of the gentlemen in the bank
and said, "Why did you take those five dol
lar bundles away back there?" and going
back into the bank, under the pretext Of get
ting the money, went to the window and
beckoned to Special Manning, who was out
side Of the bank, to come in.
Mr.. Manning Immediately entered and
placed his hand upon Nelson's shoulder, when
the forger either tainted or pretended to do
so. AS stated before, the prisoner when taken
to the station refused to give his name, stat
ing that he had friends in the city who would
be injured by it; and the only way in which
his right name could be arrived at was by
examining his private papers and bills, which
we're all directed and made out to J. D.
Nelson.
The man seems to be about thirty-two years
of age, is rather prepossessing in his appear
ance, a man about six feet in height, with |
light hair, blue eyes and fair complexion, and, |
from all that can be cleaned is we'll con-
nected and well to do in the world, owning |
plantation at Waterproof, upon which he Dor |
rowed $500 from MI. John Clapp a short time |
ago.
Upon application to Mr.. Clapp for the |
money, that gentleman wrote to the parish in |
which Nelson lived, and inquired of the clerk |
if the property was owned by Nelson, and |
upon receiving reply that it did. and that it |
was also unembarrassed, Mr. Ciapp loaned |
the money to the man Nelson, and took as |
security lien on the plantation.
From various statements, it appears that |
this man has for some time been buying goods |
of various kinds and giving his bogus checks
in payment of the same. The check that was
signed by John Phelps 4 Co. came through |
the Bank of America, and was negotiated by
Nelson's buying bill of goods from Mr.. Leon
Godchaux, of Canal street.
The ections of this young forger are unac-
countable, as from all reports he needs no re-
course to dishonorable transactions, and his
means should be amply sufficient to supply
his every want.
A visit to Nelson in the Central Station re-
suited in the following brief statement: own
q plantation near Waterproof, and am native
Of Louisiana. Was down in New Orleans on
business. A friend of mine, whose name
refuse to give, gave me the checks that
presented and l am perfectly innocent of
any completely.
If there was any fraud. am confident that
can prove my innocence, and will do so
when the time comes. The prisoner &C.
that he had opened a letterswhich
had been given to him for mail by them.
This was the letter that was found on his
person at the station, addressed to Messrs
Moss Il Weiss, Waterproof. He also said: II
had no right to open it."
Celebrated RObberieS.