Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-21

dead birds OF various sorts The dirt thus caused
stay there. The dome Is a great way up In the
air, and is little world OF ITSELF
CAPTURING A FORGER.
The Clever Work Of n Washingson De.
tcctive in West Virginia.
rHK MARROW KscArE or WASHINGTON LAWYER
SENDING HOME FOR AssIsrANcE-rHE FIRST CLUE
TO THE REAL cULPRrr-uGHrESING THE wEB-AR-
REST AND CONFESSION.
former detective in talking TO A sr.R reporter
the other day, told interesting story OF forgery
committed In West Virginia some years ago and
how he managed 10 capture the forger. The
forgery was q clever piece OF work. although not
done by a professional, and had not the guilty
man been captured early In the game the state OF
West Virginia and private individuals would, no
doubt, have lost thousands OF dollars. In fixing
the crime on a county Official considerable
trouble, and perhaps his reputation, were
saved, for a prominent member OF the
Washington bar. This lawyer, who at present
lives In this city, was In 1864 or 1865 appointed
counsel c.. Tor the Baltimore aud ONO Railroad,
tlon 10 looking after the railroads interests he al
tended 10 his private practice. Al Martinsburg
he stopped at the leading hotel. He was looked
upon as one OF Martinsburg's promising citizens
ana soon Won the respect OF every one who became
acquainted with him.
TIE FIRST CLIENT.
He had not been there very long before he re-
ceiyed call from one OF the residents, who be-
came his first client His visitor employed him TO
dispose of large number OF county bonds. These
bonds were for $500 each and were issued by the
county or Berkeley TO persons who had en-
listed and credited themselves to that county.
The lawyer took the bonds and disposed OF
them IN the New York market; Retain
Ing his fee, he sent the balance OF
the money TO his client, who was then IN another
town No one suspected that the bonds were
crooked and the FIRST intimatlon the attorney
received OF that fact was some days after he had
made the sale. lie was prosecuting a case for the
railroad when he received a telegram notifying
him that the bonds were forgeries. He was, so TO
speak, a stranger In a strange land. No one knew
much OF him. and what 10 do he did not know
When the court adjourned he consulted the dis
trict attorney and some members OF the board OF
supervisors. and IL was decided to send word TO
Washington. Accordingly the attorney prepared
a telegram, which he sent TO q member OF Congress
here, asking that
GOOD DETECTIVE BE SENT
there Immediately. The Congressman visited
Police headquarters and consulted Major Richards,
VINO was then chief OF police, and one or the de-
tectlyes was at once sent TO Martinsburg. The
detective took the first train and arrived In
Martinsourg about 2 O'Clock the next morning
When he entered the hotel he noticed several men
standing In the Office, but he paid attention
Md
the detective was told what room 10 take. As he
assembled the steps the porter followed closely bs
nina MIN, and upon their ARRIVAL on the upper
landing the porter asked:
SIS you Detective - from Washington"
who wants TO know"
1.-The district attorney"
well, you tell him TO come and ask for him.
SELF"
A couple OF minutes later the prosecuting officer
or the county entered the detectives room and u-
troduced himself Being confident that ne was
talking TO the proper man, although the detective
was stranger TO him. the prosecuting officer pro-
duced the forged bonds, which the detective COM
pared Will genuine one. He noticed a similarity
In the handwriting and Inquired who wrote The
body OF the genuine bonds. lie was informed
that that was part OF the county clerks duty,
and furthermore he Identified the handwriting as
that OF the county clerk, whose name was slime
metz The detective then said that the one who
had made the forged bonds WAS no other person
imam the county clerk, and he at once started out
10 Investigate him. stlnemeu, besides being
county clerk, was the town magistrate, whose
duty IL was TO issue all licenses for the town. The
detective, while being satisfied that the county
clerk was the guilty party did not have enough OF
his handwriting TO make the thing sure, ana his
nrst object was TO obtl as much OF his hand
writing as possible by In some way putting him.
sell In communication With the suspected forger
PRETENDING TO BE A BUSINESS MAN.
To complete the investigation the detective
found II necessary TO talk TO him and witness his
handwriting without being suspected He then
called at the county clerks Office, told him that
he was merchant from Baltimore, and that he
wanted license TO do business. He said that he
had rented store near the depot and ne proposed
TO sell line OF dry goods and clothing at ngures
which would aStouish every one In the town. lie
paid $50 for license and then began 70 discuss
his business with the clerk. To Inform the cuun-
try people OF his business, he told the clerk that
he had decided TO have 500 handbills printed and
Distributed. He was stranger In the town and
would like letter OF Introduction TO some printer
The clerk had particular friend In the town who
was printer, and he gladly gave the detective a
letter VI Introduction. In speaking or how the
detective liked the town he told the clerk that he
was very well satisfied, with the exception OF the
noise made by the cars, which prevented his sleep
Ing, as he was stopping IN the hotel at the rail-
road station Then again he wanted u get near
the store he had rented, IL would be
more convenient for him. The hotel
where the CLERK stopped had no vacant
low, thought he could make some Arrangement
for him Together they went to the hotel and
with the clerks consent the proprietor put
ira bed In his room for the detective, thus giving
the latter plenty OF opportunities 10 converse with
the clerk. The hotel was situated near the court
house In prominent part OF the town.
CLOSING IN.
That night ameeting OF the board OF supervisors
| was called at which the detective ana the prose-
cutting attorney were present The forged and
genuine bonds were produced, as were the license
and letter The writings were compared and there
was no doubt that the genuine and forged bonds,
the license and letter were written by the same
person and il was decided TO place him under ar
rest. II was then near midnight and the detec-
tive was sent out after him ne went TO the hotel
| and entering the room found the clerk soundly
"stlnemeu! stineDetz." he called; "get up,
want you"
SlinemetZ got up anu dressed WITHOUT asking
single question, and they left the hotel together.
As they walked - the building where the meeting
was held the detective broke The silence by telling
his prisoner who he was and what he had been In
MartinsOurg for. After a full Investigation the
detective told him II had been decided he was
the guilty party and asked him tell all about IL
He answered.:
sill DO IT.
Then instead OF returning to the meeting the
detective and his prisoner walked through the
streets until some time after midnight lie said
TO The detective that he big Thing In the
Job he could get some one TO bring In the bonds
and claim ownership. He had difficulty IN
finding such a man and operations were soon
begun. After obtaining a full confession the de-
tective appeared at the meeting OF the board OF
supervisors. 1ney were all tired out and were
unable Ia account for the long absence OF the de-
tecIiye but when the detective entered ana said:
"ieTe's your man who forged the bonds" the
members or the board were greatly relieved. The
prisoner was then searched In the presence OF the
board and, 10 the surprise OF everybody some
damaging evidence was found on his person. lie
was Then locked up, but during The night he
escaped. A searching party was sent out, and the
escaped prisoner was found hiding In the woods.
He was subsequently tried and was sentenced 10
hive years imprisonment Upon further investi-
CATION the detective learned that the criminal was
the brother-n-law OF a notorious crook who had
been arrested In ST. Louis for robbery.
On Top Of the ALICE henies.