The Portland daily press., 1882-02-15
AN UNSUCCESSFUL FoRaER.
a Brief Career Ending Behind Iron Bars

The telegraph Monday morning announced
the arrest in Hartford, Conn, of young man
under the several aliases, one OF which was
that of Alvin G. Merritt of Portland, Me-, for
forgery There is only one family of the name
in the Directory and this man does not belong
to them Yesterdays Hartford Couront tells
the story of his crime and says he insists his
name is Alvin G. Merritt and that his parents
are in good standing in Portland but will give
no further particulars The following is what
the Courant says:
The man who registered himself at the AL
Ign House Friday night as Samuel H. Jones
of New York was young fellow of from " to
"a years, medium build, boyisb face, just
trace of moustache, close trimmed hair OF a
light color, and with an easy plausible speech.
He had another name, Alvin G. Merritt OF
Portland, Me. His language was well chosen
and he readily passed for what he assumed to
be, college student. His object in coming to
Hartford was to secure funds, for he was dead
broke" Saturday he dropped in at Hart,
Merriam & Co.'s and, representing that he
was Trinity student, purchased two fine
rugs for S75 and ordered them sent to W.
Bayne Mason, Jarvis hall, Trinity College.
He offered in payment $500 check on the
Yale National bank of New Haven signed W.
Bayne Mason. The transaction appeared to
be regular, but Hart, Merriam & Co, followed
their rule not to cash checks for strangers and
told the purchaser he might call for the change
or they would sent it with the goods. The
check was deposited in the afternoon, and
nothing further was thought of the affair just
then.
Merritt" or Jones" or "Mason," all un-
questionab'y assumed names, had failed to
realize anything thus far. Next he went to
G. F. Hurd & Co. IS crockery store and bought
student lamp and other goods to the amount
of $3.50, and rendered in payment another
check for $50, on the same bank and with the
purchaser being told that the change would
be sent with the goods, or they would be sent
G. o. D. to Jarvis Hall. He next stepped in
to Eckhardt's art store, next door, and pur-
chased an engraving and other art goods to the
amount of $62. He offered $75 check, but
the firm objected that they had deposited and
could not conveniently give him change Mer-
rift left after arranging for the delivery of the
goods. Mr.. Eckhardt took the check to a
bank and was told that the name was good
family name in New Haven, and possibly the
paper was genuine, but it would be wise to
take no risk.
In these several operations, Merritt had not
secured dollar in cash. His next place was
at j f. Graham & Co.'s where he bought a
student lamp and cuspidore for 50 and offered
of Hartford. with signature purporting to be |
that of Judge Hiram Wiley. This appeared |
to be genuine, and there being nothing suspi- |
cious about Merrtt's appearance, Mr.. Graham |
handed him $11 in change and received his |
directions for sending the goods to the college.
To Mr.. Graham he stated that he was related |
to Alex. I. Mason, d we'll known member of |
the Trinity class of 81, and was residing in |
Lenox, Mass After Merritt had left, Mr.. |
Graham began thinking over the case and was |
not quite satisfied with his own course. At |
his request Mrs. Graham donned her cloak |
and bonnet and followed Merritt and clerk
employed in the store was dispatched to the |
Mercantile bank with instructions to ascertain |
whether the check was good, and If not, to |
follow Mrs. Graham and Merritt, and secure
was informed that Judge Wiley did not de-
posit there. The young man hurried after |
Mrs. Graham, who was following Merritt
down Asylum street, he having started to the
check was bogus, and she kept close to Merritt
right into the depot, where she met Officer
Cushman and requested him to arrest Merritt.
The latter took to his heels up the track to-
ward the tunnel with Cusbman in hot pursuit.
Officer Dunlap heard Of the affair on Asylum
street and started north through High street to
head Merritt off If he left the track and turned |
into any of the side streets. Reaching the
tunnel, Merritt was completely winded and
lodging to one side secreted himself behind an
iron fence. The Officers there secured him.
The clerk from Graham's store had kept well
up in the race, and arriving on the scene, told
Merritt that the check was worthless. He
promptly pulled out the $11 and handed it to
the clerk.
Merritt was brought to the police station,
and Acting Chief Bill and Officer Dunlap
went to the Allyn House to search his room.
On the carpet they found fragments Of paper,
which, when put together, proved to be the
bill of the goods purchased from Hart. Mer--
Ram & Co. The officers called on the firm,
and gave them the first intmation of the
'windle which had been attempted, and which
hey had defeated by rioo -Su7irru5u vaustvs1.
the police station Merritt was ques-
TONED and admitted the other attempted
;windles.