The Portland daily press., 1888-04-12
the coNAnr CASE.
The Prisoner Held In the Sum OF a
Thousand Dollars.

Harry II. Conant. charged with forging
the name of w. A Allen of Sanford, his for
mer employer, on four notes, amounting to
the sum of S2,055, was brought before Re-
corder Dyer, In the Municipal Court, yester-
day forenoon, for trial. Hon. Wilbur f. Lunt
appeared for Mr.. Conant, and Assistant
County Attorney Chase for the government
Assistant County Attorney Chase called
Mr. George Tolman as the first witness for
the prosecution. Mr.. Tolman said that the
first business he had with Conant was last
July. AT that time Conant said he would
like to have Mr.. Tolman take up note. He
said he was going to New York, and would
pay when he came back. Mr.. Tolman took
up the note, which was for 500. The first
note was signed by II. ii. Conant, payable
to Mr.. E. b. Robinson. and endorsed by w.
"A. Allen. Witness afterwards took up other
notes. The next note was for $500 on 80
days The third was for $1,000 on six months.
both dated Sept IS. 1887. Conant said he had
ami interest in business with Mr.. Allen, and
that these notes were given in settlement of
accounts between them. Mr.. Tolman took
the $500 note for Mr.. Conant, and receipted
at rolman & Sons his bill, and gave him the
difference in money. Conant still traded at
Tolman & Sons store, and about the time
the $500 note became due offered the $1,000
note to Mr.. Tolman.
Mr.. Tolman kept the note in his pocket
two weeks Finally, about Dec. 9Th or 9th,
Mr. Hilton asked If witness would endorse
1t, which he did. Mr.. Hilton ,gave him his
a. t..,l
the Canal Bank. and after taking out what
was due Mr. Tolman, the balance was paid
to Conant. This was five or ten days before
the $500 note became due. Mr.. Tolman was
never called upon to take up the $500 note.
Afterwards Mr.. CoDant handed him note
for 1856, which he said he had taken in final
settlement with Allen No trade was made
with Mr.. Conant on this note, but Mr.. Toll
man let him have $50, and after that $780,
aud paid into rolnan x Son 500, and after
wards gave him 800 to go to New York, max
ing, with certain small charges, 1897 The
$50 came out OF the $500, and was included in
it. The $1,000 note was held by Mr.. w. r.
Hilton, and at about the time 1t was due Wit
York, and told him that Mr.. Allen denied
signing the notes. He said, "He does. Ell;
we will see about it." He said they were
bona fde notes. He said it would all come
out in time. He stated that he wrote the
body of the notes. When Mr.. Conant passed
witness the 1856 note, 1t was in his house.
The signature was similar to other notes.
The witness was cross-examined at length
by Mr.. Lunt in regard to the negotiation Of
the notes.
Mr.. w. A. Allen of Sanford, was next
called ard said: 81 knew Conant, as he
had worked for me as travelling agent, and
also worked on the books in the office, alto
gether nearly two years. He never had an
interest in the firm. | never gave him note
nor endorsed one for him." Mr.. Allen then
examined the writing on the note, and rec
Ognized ID as Commits handwriting. He
looked at the signature and pronounced it a
forgery.
The court then adjourned until 100 o'clock.
The hearing recommended at Las O'Clock.
Mr.. Allen again took the stand, and upon
being or0ss-examned said he had never
given any one any authority to sign his
name to any promssory note. He had met
Mr.. Conant in Portland, and was not sure
but he and Mr.. C0pant had visited several
business houses together.
Mrs. Carrie Chase, daughter of Mr.. Allen,
was next called, and identified Mr.. Conant's
on the. note was not her fathers, but Mr..
Conant's.
Mr.. Albus r. Cobb, of the firm of c. M. Rice
& Co., was next called, and identified Mr..
Aliens handwriting, and said that to the
best Of his knowledge the signature to the
note was not Mr.. Aliens.
Recorder Dyer found the evidence sufii-
cient, and bound Conaut over to the April
term OF the Superior Court, In the sum of
$1,000. Mr.. Conant not making any defence
or introducing any witnesses.