Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-11
ARRESTED AT BUTTE.
A Smooth Rascal Passes Bogus Checks
at Helena.


HELENA (Mont.), October 10th.-Last
Saturday nicely-dressed man put in an
appearance in Helena and registered at the
Grand Central Hotel as H. L. Lenick. He
had large Saratoga trunk and flashed
large roll of bills. He spent money freely
and had all the appearance of a million
aire. He claimed to represent New York
syndicate, which had $4,000, 900 to loan on
Western property. He also claimed to
have placed $S,000,000 IN Seattle and ST.
100000 in Butte. He first wanted to visit
the gambling houses, where he won about
81, 600. On Monday he also won quite a
stake. After having it cashed he presented
check for $3.50 on the Second National
Bank of New York and asked to have it
cashed. Mr.. Hardwick, the proprietor,
after examining it carefully, and finding it
good cashed the same. He heard a man
say that Lepick was probably a first-class
fraud, and telegraphed to New York and
received in reply: mo such check certified:
the check is fraudulent"
During this time Lenick had also been
playing pretty heavily at Hamilton &; Nc
Laughlin's club rooms. Monday night,
after playing, Mr.. Hamilton owed him
$3.50. Lenick asked Hamilton to cash
certified check on the Second National
Bank of New York, for 81 800. This Mr.
Hamilton did, and also offered to pay him
$3.50. Lenick refused the latter, saying he
was going to Butte, and would be back last
night. This convinced MIR. Hamilton that
everything was straight and ~on Tuesday
he took the check to the bank and received
the money on his own Endorsement. After
ward, becoming slightly suspicious that he
might be mistaken or taken in, he returned
to the bank, took up the check and placed
1t for collection, returns from which can
q ivpHf for or fa1,
Mr.. Hamilton does not seem to feel posi-
tive that he has lost his money, nor yet
sure he has not. Should the check prove
bogus his loss will be about $3.50
Lenick kept his word and left for Butte
yesterday morning. He settled his bill at
the Grand Central on Tuesday evening, and
told the clerk he would leave his trunk, as
he was going to return soon.
Here the most suspicious circumstance
occurred. After telling the clerk he would
leave his trunk, he paid the porter to take
1t down and send it to the train for Butte.
Lenick, instead of taking hack, as one
having the wealth he processes to have
would be expected to do, boarded street.
car, and thus avoided observation, as he
thought.
Mr.. Hardwick upon learning the trunk
had gone with the man Immediately tele-
graphed and telephoned to Butte descrip-
ton of him with instructions to arrest him.
Late in the afternoon a message was re-
ceived from the Chief of Police of Butte
that man answering exactly the descrip-
ton, even to the most minute details, had
been placed under arrest there, and John
Mann, Of the Hardwick & Woods estab-
lishment, started for Butte to identity the
prisoner, but at this writing nothing had
been heard from him al Butte.
The man arrested gavethe name of Bach,
although he answered exactly the descrip-
ton of the man who gave the name of
Lenick here.
Late in the night telegram was received
from Mann stating that he had the right
man and would arrive in Helena in the
forenoon, and later particulars from Butte
say the man has been identified as the
man who forged the checks.