The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-24
A FORGER In HANDCUFFS.
An Expert Criminal Who Swindled an
Indiana Firm Captured in Kentucky.
The Adroit Populations of Virginia Desper-
ado Who Made Indiana and Illinois
His Field of Operations.

Co., livestock dealers at the Union Stockyards
have done business with Grandson Clark Of
Wheeler. Jasper county, Illinois. At one time,
he had partner by the name of Green and last
fall, when man giving that name and showing
vouchers of business connection with Clark
came to the firm with live stock, Green's relia-
bility was accepted. He first came to Indianap-
oils last October, and from that time until
the 18th of the present month nothing occurred
to disturb the confidence of Middleworth, Gray
bill g. Co. in Green, who gave his first name as
Charles as the partner of Clark. He had tran
sacted great deal of business for the latter,
and affairs always turned out right. On Mon
day, the 18th Of May, Clark wrote the following
letter to the firm.
WHEELER, Ill.,, May IL.
Messrs Middlesworth. Graybiir x Co.
send a load of hogs Tuesday night. Send ex-
change to Peoples Bank Newton, H., as usual.
The following Wednesday Charles Green came
to Indianapolis with the load mentioned, and
presented the following.
WHEELER, H., May H.
Messrs Middlesworth, GraybiII& CO.:
wrote to you On tue 11th of May in regard to
sending the returns for the carload of hogs to the
Newton bank. but / have bought two carloads
since, which will ship Thursday and for which
will have to pay cash in money, on delivery, you
will send me the money for the hogs by Mr. Charles
Green. can't use checks. Send large bills. You
will also oblige to send by him some three hun
dred dollars additional, short Of funds. /
will come over with the stock and make all right Do
the best you with the hogs. Yours.
G. CLARK.
Without questioning the letter, and knowing
that buyers in the country regions of Illinois
often make purchases where there are no banks,
and that Clark's hogs were mostly shipped from
Montrose, ILL.,, a place without a bank, the
money for the load at hand $7I3, and $500
advanceon the coming loads was paid to Green
Thursday and Friday no tidings were had Of the
second shipment. On Saturday evening, the
10Th inst, Clark telegraphed Middleworth
Graybill s. Co. that he had received
no tidings of the exchange ordered to
be sent to the Peoples Bank Of
Newton, Ill. This gave rise to the suspicion that
the letter with order of May 18th, to pay the
money over tn Green, was a forgery. H. g.
Graybil took the Vandalia train at II o'clock that
night for bingham. Ills.,. having telegraphed
Clark that he would meet him there From Eff
fngham Clark and Graybiil went to- Wheeler
where the latter began his inquiries. He found
that last year Green came to Wheeler and repre-
sentedf to Clark that for shooting a ne
gro he was compelled to leave his
home in Virginia, but he thought that
by the LIST of June this year
could return home, but it was probable that he
would buv land near Wheeler ILL.,. and make
his home there Clark took Green into his own
home. and, finding him of great assistance, they
formed partnership in buying and selling stock
No actions of Green aroused his partners sus-
pcions, and as far as their tranctions were con-
cerned the forged letter Of the 18th inst was the
first crooked effort of Green. At the postoffice
in Wheeler nothing could be learned of Green's
antecedents, but adopting this line of search Mr.
~ too Iva
miles distant, and there learned that
Green got during the winter ten or twelve let
tiers from that Office postmarked VAUDEVILLE,
Virginia, and that he had mailed letters adj
dressedto Miss Georgia Rowland. at that place
Mr.. Graybill at once left for VAUDEVILLE, Mon
day afternoon. There he made the important dis
covery that Charles Green was George Row
land a desperate, forger horse and cattle thief
Boston and Washington detectives lay at Wade
Vile all last summer on the lookout for
Rowland, and during Mr. Graybill's investi
CATION three officers from neighboring town
came over expecting to arrest Rowland. 1t was
rumored that he had returned home With the
assistance Of a young business man Graybill
traced the correspondence of the Rowland family
and found that letters went from them to one j.
j. Harris, No. 1919 East Main street, Lexington,
KY. Believing that the man wanted was Har-
ris the journey of Mr.. Graybill took him to
Lexington. Before leaving Harper's Ferry he
telegraphed Captain Colbert, of the indian
apolis police, to meet him at Cincinnati Fri
day, but the Captains strain be-
ing delayed he missed his appointment and
did not reach Lexington until Friday evening.
Graybil got there several hours earlier, and,
taking close carriage, drove at once to the
station house, where he perfected a plan with
Chief of Police McMurtry to effect Harris's ar
rest. Oldham. keeper of the boarding -house where
Harris stopped, was sent for, and on being told
the house. On going back Oldham found Harris
asleep Between and 6 o'clock Captain Con-
nor, Chief McMurtry, and Mr.. Graybiil
were going up street when they saw
Harris on the opposite side Oldham, who was
with the party, crossed the street, and, inviting
Harris to go after drink, walked with hind Some
Captains Connor and 'McMurtry slip.
ped behind the two and with rush captured
Harris. They put the nippers on him before he
could fully realize what had occurred. Graybill
kept out of the prisoners sight, continuing the
policy pursued by him throughout his story mp
to the arrest, not to give Harris suspicion that
anyone was after him. AT the station-house
Harris was asked if he knew Oldham.
''Oh, yes" said he, II know him WELL"
''Do you know that gentleman too9" asked the
chief pointing to Graybil who stepped for the
first time in front of Harris. The prisoner
quailed, and falteringly replied, Eyes, know
him"
Harris agreed to come back to Indiana with
out requisition. and last night Captain Colbert
and Mr. Graybill brought their prisoner to the
station-ho in this city and locked
him up. 1t was very good display of
amateur detective skill on the part of Mr. Gray
bill. Except at Lexington, he avoided the police
and relied solely on outside information and
help When Rowland. alias Green, alias Harris,
was searched, all the money but about SO was
found in pockets in his drawers. He got on the
forged letters about 81 ,013
Since Rowland's arrest Mr.. Graybir has re-
ceived several kilograms from Virginia officers,
asking his consent to turn the prisoner over to
them. One, from the sheriff OF Frederick county,
dated at Winchester. says
I will give you 5000 for George Rowland, delivered
in jail here 800 if he is in State where can
get requisition. HANCOCK Sheriff
Rowland is good specimen of the rough
class, and he was a guerilla and
bushwhacker during the war, and the greater
part of his fifty years Of life has been spent
in desperate deeds His Virginia home is
supplied with exits and entrances for the pur-
49,