Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-31
WOODFIELD'S WRONG.
A 50, eco Check Negotiated by
the Bank of Wheeling and
Found to be a Forgery.

Sheriff Jingle will arrive from Cam
bridge, Ohio, this morning and have in
custody John L. Woodfield, OF this city,
who is charged with forging check on
the First National Bank of Bridgeport,
payable on the First National Bank OF
New York, and negotiating il at the
Bank OF Wheeling. Woodfield was at one
time employed in the Bridgeport bank,
and this circumstance lent a color Of
truth to the transaction and assisted
him in ringing in the check. On OctO-
Der 22d he went TO the Bank OF Wheel
ing and presented a check as above, pay
able TO his order, for 81 $50. Mr.. Lamb,
the cashier, thought it little strange,
but as WoOdfield had been in the habit
OF bringing over drafts, checks, &c,
cashed the check for him, giving him
81 800 in cash, a certificate OF deposit
for 81 ,000 and placing the remain
ing $500 to his credit in the
bank. Woodfeld demurred slightly TO
the rate of per cent on his deposit,
but finally agreed to it, saying she
guessed he couldn't do any better"
On last Tuesday he was at Washing
ton, Pa, and during his stay there,
negotiated the certificate OF deposit
The next day, Wednesday, he came TO
the city and drew the $1,000 from the
Bank OF Wheeling. This last act
aroused Mr.. Lambs suspicious and
yesterday morning he announced his
intention OF going over to Bridgeport,
saying he could not sleep, the night be-
fore, from thinking of that check. But,
as he was about TO start, Mr.. W. L.
Graham, cashier of the Bridgeport bank,
came in, casually, and was invited to
the bank parlor by Mr.. Lamb. He
knew nothing of any check for that
amount Of money and hurriedly return
ed to Bridgeport TO find out. He re-
such check had been drawn, and conse-
quently the one Cashed by Mr. Lamb
was forgery.
With Mr. Lamb he went TO the resi-
dence OF Mr.. William Woodfeld, on the
Island, and enquired for John l.. Mr..
Woodtield said he had gone to Cam
bridge to buy tobacco stamps for his
shop in Bridgeport. The telegraph was
then resOrted to. and soon in the infor-
nation was received that John Il.
WoOdfield was in Cambridge. A mes
sage was sent back authorizing his ar
rest, and he was captured in the reve-
me Office and held for safe-keeping.
A warrant was sworn out before
Squire Philips, charging him with forg-
cry. Prosecuting Attorney Jordan was
fished out of the session of the Odd Fell
lows, and in ashort time, Sheriff Jingle,
armed with the warrant and requlsi-
ton on Governor Bishop, left for Cam
bridge. He will return with his prison
er this morning, and the preliminary
hearing will be held to-day.
1t seems that Cashier Graham was in
the habtof signing blank checks, to be
used i'm his absence, and one OF these
fell into Woodfield's hands. Just when
this happened is not known, some being
OF the opinion it was taken when he
was at the bank and others that he got
it recently. There is suspicion that
more than one may have been used,
and will not be heard from until the
monthly settlement of the various banks
with New York.
John l.. WOodfeld is a young man Of
some twcnty-three years of age, unmar-
ried, and lives on the Island. 1t is said
that he has always displayed a weakness
for money and weakness for exhibiting
it when he had il. His grandfather left
him legacy, some time ago, but it is
thought he has spent most of it. 1t
was reported. last night, that he had
some 5000 worth OF bonds, hypOthe-
Gated at Bridgeport, and that he used
the first 81 800 he drew on the
forged check 10 lift these bonds. He
has been seen, during the past few
days, to exhibit large sum OF money
and several young men OF the Island
tell Of request by him to accompany
him West, he to pay all expenses and
send them home again il they didn't
like the country. He was last seen at
the bridge toll house, yesterday morn
ing, where he said he was going to take
the next train from the city and go as
far as it would take him. 1t took him
only 10 Cambridge.