The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-07-16
Forgers.

whose cognomens-John Buckley and
John Clliford-are apt to be rcmem-
bcred by several business men in this
community. arrived in Maiden. coming
over the Maiden and Ubet stage line.
Meeting at Cbet rs strangers they
travelled together for some distance
without exchanging word but ere
Cottonwood was reached friendship
sprung up that ripened into u mutual
agreement TO secure their bread by
other means than "by the sweat OF
the brow" Buckley had on his per-
son blank check on the Meagher
County Bank, To fill out which and
sign the name of Ira Ingram thereto
he offered 10 pay Clifford $40. OF
course Clifford, being youngster of
about - short summers, didn't know t?)
that there was any wrong in comply
ing with the request and making ten
big dollars, consequently seized the
first opportunity, where pen and ink
were procurable. and drew the check
for the moderate sum of 5000. forgin.
the name mentioned. Clifford then
handed it 10 Buckley with the remark
that it was "as good as wheat" and so
it proved as the sequel shows. At
tempts to pass the check were made
for every little debt contracted, the
inability to make change giving them
free meals through to Maiden. Arriv-
Ing here the one object OF these pre-
sump,uous chumps-for such they
proved to bc--was to cash the check.
but found no one willing to take II ON
their guarantee. At Maginnis their
mission proved equally futile, as they
were unable to procure an acceptable
endorser. Returning to Maiden they
offered to accept $15 on the check and
wait for the balance until it was hon
ored by the bank, but no one seemed
DESTROYS Of securing possession Of it.
In this dilemma brilliant idea flashed
across their massive intellects. They
would buy clothing and thus dispose
of the ''hoodoo." After selecting
about $40 worth of goods at the One
Price {. o. ID. store they flashed the
forged paper. Mr.. Dinsmorc made
diligent inquiry as to the maker. and
on the assurance of several parties that
the check was all right. gave them
the goods and $ss in money.
The next mail carried the paper to
the Meagher County Bank nhere it
WIS protested and returned. In the
meantime Buckley thought the climate
would be more congenial elsewhere
and, like the Arab, silently stole
away" while Clifford secures employ
ment as table waiter at the Maginnis
boarding house. A warrant was i'm
issued for the arrest of Buck
ley and Constable Mills secured the
country for miles but failed to fetch"
Upon returningto town he ascertained |
that the object of his search had been
at Ubet the day before and immedi- |
ately set out for that point, where
he learnt that his game had started !
Billings. Mills lost no time in
getting to Lavina where his efforts to
support and sustain the majesty Of the
law were rewarded by securing the !
prisoner with whom ne returned to
Maiden Monday night.
Arraigned before S. G. Sharpless'
court Tuesday morning, the prisoner
admitted passing the check but
''squealed" on Clifford who he branded
as the forger. Clifford was then ar
rested and he in turn ''peached" on
Buckley as employing him to execute
the check. The evidence showed a
clear case of forgery, duplicating both
prisoners and the court bound them
over in the sum of $500 each to APP
pear at the fall term of court. Con
stable Mills left yesterday morning
with these cute ''sure-thing workers
sure thing they will reach the peni-
entiary-for the county seat where
hey will lay in durance vile and have
plenty Of time to reflect on the ways
Of the transgressor previous to
urther trip to Deer Lodge.
John Buckley and John Clifford
hail from the state of New York. the
alters home being near Rochester
where his parents reside in moderate
circumstances. Clifford has been in
hese parts for the past three years
Employed in various occupations.
Buckley is n STRANGER tn al