The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-11
THE GREAT FORGERY
ON THE CAMDEN OIL COMPANY,
DR.. CroOk| Part In thS AHair-Ths San
Francisco End Shove mp In Great
shape, II the Letters are True,
An InttFSsting Correspondence.
pi,pnleA % ll InllIllneno,r.

Special Dispdteh TO he LNlslliGsReer,
PAREERsDURG, W, Va, Feb. l0.-A pro
found sensation has been created here by
revelations in regard to the now famous
Camden forgsries, from private letters
written home by ], VIII, Taggsrt, a for.
lner resident here, who is now lawyer
OF prominence in Santa Barbara, Cal.
The history Of the ease as given by this
gentleman reflects on Senator Camden, OF
the Camden Consolidated Oil Company,
w, n. Chancellor, Mayor Of PArkersbulg,
and Hon. W, A, Cooper, formerly a we'll.
known merchant here, and elected to the
Legislature from this county, Not one OF
these gentlemen can be seen, as they are
all together on y trip to Florida,
Ths history Of the case, which calls
forth this explanation, is without parallel
in torgingaunals, and ismysteFiously in.
teresting, On the 10Th day OF last De.
Csmber, the Camden Consolidated OIL
Compay OF this city was advised by the
Bank Of California Of San Francisco, that
1t held for collection draft on them for
SCI ,i37 so, which had bsen discounted.
The company denounced the draft as aior-
gerry, II was discovered that the draft was
purported to be drawn by W. A, Cooper,
Tor some laud company, and had been ac-
Cepted by the Camden Consolidated Oil
C0mpony. II bore the endorsement OF
DR.. L. W. Crooks and IL, l., Williams, OF
Santa Barbara, Cal. Later information
was received Of two more dtaits Of u
similar character In the hands OF the First
National Bank, OF Santa Barbara, one for
$2l ,737 90, the other for $4,000,
DETAILS OF TAE TRANSACTION.
The details Of the transaction, as learned
from Santa Barbara, were to tho effect
that DR., Crooks, acting as agent for the
Camden Consolidated Oil Company, pur.
chased OF II. l.. Williams 0O0 acres OF the
ortega ranch for $4,000. Hegave In pay.
ment SIC, 900 cash and three notes secured
0y mortgage, payable In three, six and
nine months. Later the notes were ex.
changed for three acceptanCes on the Gam.
den Company for the same amount, pay.
able In three months,
IL was promptly announced here that
the signature OF Hon. W. A. Cooper, as
maker, as well as that Of the Camden Con.
4oltdated Company, as aCCsptor, were for
geries, A heavy chain oil forgeries was
said to have been committed, and numer-
GUS lelters were written iu banking circles
upon the forged drafts. Dr.. Crooks was the
only party to the transaction iu Santa
Barbara who was known here, and suspi.
cion at once fell upon him. He was well
and iavorably known here, Us 9 former
resident and practicing physician. lie
had many friends who denounced him
after the supposed facts in the case were
published.
Early in January, as announced In the
INTRLLlGRNCRR at tho time, DR.. Crooks
wired q Parkersburg friend that he had
mailed him q statement OF the case In full.
and asked him aud his other friends to
withhold jud Iment. This explanation, 1t
Is claimed, has never been received here.
TIE DEEPENING MYSTERY.
Meantime the mystery deepened. It
was announced from Santa Barbara, that
the First National Bank had reimbursed
the Bank Of California, Of San Francisco.
The president Of the First National Bank
had posted notice that the institution
would lose nothing by the transaction.
DR.. Crooks, who was supposed to have
psrpetrated one Of the biggest and most
daring iorgerles ever known, was mean.
while quietly residing and praoticlng his
profession at the scene Of his alleged
crime. Nothing like this was ever heard
ofin criminal annals, and mystery deepen
ed with time.
Light was broken on the subject by the
following letters written by Mr.. Taggart,
who authorizes their publication over bis
own signature. The public can draw its
nUn nonnluainna.