The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-08-21
POLICE NEWS.
More About Willis, the Bold Eorger
and Burglar.
Is He Also Implicated In q West
ern Forgery?

As stated yesterday, the forger, ii. T.
willis, or the man who has passed himself
by that name, is also burglar, and a cum
ming one at that. The police made big
haul when they got the fellows valise and
bundles in Postmaster Palmer's stable. Yes
terday at the station Mr.. Millett Identified
the groceries found in the bundles as those
bought by the forger at his store. Mr.. Nc
Kenney identified his watch, Dean Bros. and
Palmer each recognized shoes obtained of
them by bogus checks, and A. +. Hill identi-
hed a lot OF his clothing So the man who
stopped over night in Mr.. Palmer's stable
was the forger. But other things besides
those mentioned were found in the valise.
There was dye stuff for coloring the hair
and moustache, bottle of dyspepsia medi-
cine. paper containing full. accurate ac-
count Of the stolen goods. the item written in
what might be called good handwriting.
Then another paper contained list of
transactions in Boston, Mass The forger
has evidently dome" the Hub quite
thoroughly. There were number of news
paper clippings. among others. being the fol-
lowing, which is carefully preserved:
"Forgeries to the amount of nearly 100000
have been committed in the name of John s.
residents Of Minneapolis. The forgers name is
J. Frank Colum, of lockwood \ Collum, at
torneys, at 22O Temple court"
Upon the margin of this clipping is the
date, written in lead pencil. "Aug. s, 1882"
Why is Willis interested in the above item?
For some reason or other the item was of
more than passing interest to him, because
he took 1t out of some paper and took the
pains to carefully preserve it. Perhaps he
is in some way connected with the forgeries
and has led a bad career in the West as well
as in the East. There was new shawl
strap, neckties, collars. etc., in the 'valise
besides the many other articles already men,
toned.
Officers Sylvester and Greeley arrested a
man believed to have been Willis's confed-
crate He gave the name of Michael Rich
ardson, says his business Is in Providence,
X. l., and that when arrested he was on his
way from Lewiston, where he has been STOP
ping some time, to Massachusetts. The
officers seem to think that he does not
answer the description of the person wanted
for the crimes, and does not at all resemble
the description of either of the men who had
temporary quarters in Postmaster Palmer's.
sable. The other officers at the station are
also of the opinion that Richardson is not
the man who committed the forgeries Still
to it has been thought best to hold him
awhile await further developments.
A suspicious man was seen In Saccarappa
last night at the depot. person who saw
him thought he correspondent to the descrip-
tion given of Willis, but when an officer ar
rived the suspicious man had disappeared.
Thieves seem to be very active in Portland
just at present. For some reason they ap-
pear to like the field, notwithstanding the
Portland police are noted for their vigilance
and generally make it warm for the bold
burglars. Monday night man went aboard
the schooner George Davenport at Widgery's
wharf, and attempted to rob the captain,
who was asleep. The thief was frightened
away and pursued for some distance, but
succeeded in making his escape.
The same night burglars broke into the
store of F. c. Lunt & Co., ON Union wharf,
and got what change there was in the money
drawer. They took nothing else of value.