The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-07-17
HE is IN JAIL.
A FORT WORTH PREACHER
TURNS OUT A FORGER.
VICTIMIzES SEVERAL BANKS.
He Attempts Escape but is Arrested and
Landed Behind the Bars-A Sensa-
tion Equal to the PendletOn
Affair.

FoRT WORTH, Tex, July 15.-Deputy
Sheriff Joe Witcher this morning arrested
DR.. w. Mitchell pastor of the Broadway
Presbyterian church, on a charge forgery
and locked him up. The arrest created
sensation equaled only by the Pendleton
affair. DR.. Mi;ctell's forgeries are alleged
to amount to over $2500. Nearly all the
banks in the city have been victimized, To
all the notes he forged the name of Martin
Caseyof the firm of Casey d Swasey, the
wholesale liquor dealers on Houston street,
one of his best and most intimate friends.
The Broadway Presbyterian church Is one
of the most fashionable in the city and DR..
Mitchell has been its pas tor
for nearly four years. He had
the confidence of his parishioners
to degree seldom seen, and his disgrace is
felt as almost personal by every member of
the large congregation that has worshiped
weekly at his church. His fall has been so
fearful, his crime SO great, that not few
men were unable to believe the news when
it was first known that DR.. Mitchell was
under arrest.
The forgeries first came to light yesterday
presented to Mr.. Casey for payment That
gentleman was unable at first to compre-
bend the meaning of the bank messenger S
words when told that the note had been
drawn by DR.. Mitchell. Mr.. Casey at once
pronounced the signature To the note a
? forgery and and investigation was made,
which resulted in the following notes being
found: Farmers and Merchants bank
$1,000 Traders National $500, First National
bank $3.50, City National bank $500, Mer-
chants National bank $3.50.
Some of the notes were made three or
four month ago and during this time not
one of the banks suspected they were any
thing but genuine paper. Mr., Caseys name
had been cleverly counterfeited and not
one of the banks refused to negotiate loan
with DIR, Mitchell when he presented the
notes signed as they were. This can be
easily understood when it is stated that the
forgery was exceedingly good and also
when it is remembered that DR.. Mitchell
had the confidence of the financially well
to do people of the city.
Immediately upon the discovering OF the
forgeries the City National and the
Merchants National banks went to DIR.
Mitchell with evidence of his crime and he
turned over to the officers moneys and chat
tells valued at $780, The claims of these
banks amount to $3.50 1t is not believed
the other banks will be able to recover any
thing.
As the news of the forgery was spreading
about the city last night, steps were taken
to place Mr.. Mitchell under arrest. 1t was
found that he had purchased a ticket for
Denver over the Fort Worth d Denver road,
and bad procured berth in the sleeper.
An officer was detailed to watch all the out
going trains, but DR.. Mitchell didn't at
tempt to leave the city last night
nor this morning when deputy
sheriff Witcher went to the Union de-
not this morning, he learned that
DR.. Mitchell had countermanded the order
he had given for hack to call at his house
and also for an express wagon. The deputy
sheriff at once procured horse and went
out to Dr. MitchelPs house on the south
side and placed him under arrest. When
the deputy made known the object of his
visit, DR.. Mitchell remarked that it was all
right and he would be ready to go with the
officer in few minutes. Dr. Mitchell was
taken to the presidents office in the Mer-
chants bank. A meeting of the officers of
the victimized banks had just been held
when the reporter entered, at which 1t was
decided that no steps should be taken by
the banks to protect the lae reverend gem
tleman, and the law will take its due course.
Dr. Mitchell did not have much to say, and
when he was told the newspapers would
probably publish the fact that be had been
arrested for forgery, expressed regret that
he could not suppress them all.
Il do not care for myself" he said Its
only for the sake of my wife and family"
"What statement of this trouble have you
to make?"
DR.. Mitchelps eyes rolled in their sockets.
Hemoved his head nervously as the words
fell upon his ears
81 have no statement to make" he re
piled.
,;ol,. N "a nj h.
Iic?"
II have told my friends everything. |
have no other statement to make"
Dr. Mitchell is fine appearing man and
as he sat in the Office of the bank this morn
ing surrounded by his victims he appeared
at ease and no statement no matter how
damaging to his character seemed to tlus-
trate him in the least. -,
On the 9th of March last, DR.. Mitchell
presented not to the State National Bank
signed by himself with an endorsement
supposed to be the genuine signature OF
Martin Casey The note was for $3.50 and
the bank at once made the loan. On the
10Th of this month Mitchell went to the
bank and asked to have the note extended
but the cashier refused to do this until the
old note was taken up. Mitchell went out
and very soon returned with $3.50 in cash
and took up the note. The State National
did not have any of the forged paper when
Mitchell was arrested. J. G. McCartey OF
the CITY National is the gentleman who
more than any one else detected the eXten'
siye forgeries of Mitchell.
Yesterday Mitchell went to the City
National and asked to have extended
note he then had IN the bank for $3.50. Mr.
Mccarthy told him that he could not ex
tend the note and Mitchell asked him it ne
would make him loan of $500 with Mr.
Casey as as security. Mr. Mccarthy told
him he would negotiate the loan, and wrote e
the street ostensibly to get the signature o
Mr.. Casey. In about five minutes he re-
turned with the name Of Mr.. Casey signed
TO the note in a peculiar colored ink which