The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-13
CHARsED WITH FORGERY.
III. J. B Austin, Of New London, n. c,
Arrested In Richmond.


Mr.. J.B. Austin. Of the firm OF Palmer d
Austin, merchants of New London N. W.
arrived in tho city yesterday morning at
O'Clock. short time afterwards he visited
the wholesale grocery house Of K. A. saun-
fers A. Sons None Of the firm had arrived.
but one Of the clerks. Mr.. Austin said that
b had a check for $1,000 on q bank at
Salisbury. N. c., and that he wantedito sell it.
The clerk told him that they did not want 70
buv the check. but if he desired TO purchase
any goods that they could probably accept the
check 10 payment and give him tho balance In
currency. This proposition was accepted py
Mr.. Austin. and he proceeded TO buy goods IA
quite lively manner. After buying about
5000 worth OF goods he stopped and requested
the goods To be shipped. and that he receive
$500 in currency. and the balance OF the
money. he stated, no wanted TO leave with the
firm, subject TO his drafts.
THE CHICK.
One of the firm had then come in and TOOK
the check. Upon examination he found II TO
be a cashiers check issued by tho DAVIS d
Wiley Bank of Salisbury, n. @. IL was drawn
in favor of If. Cone h Sons. OF Baltimore;
bore the serial number Of the bank, 1903 and
was dated September 18th and signed Y. ~.
Davis, cashier.
Mr.. Saunders discovered that the check, not
having been indOrsed by III. Cone ~ Sons;
was valueess TO him. and again no detected
that both the word Three IN tho BODY OF
the check, and the last two oiphers IA .ne
$4,000, in figures, seemed irregular, ana the
glazed face of the paper about these words
was defaced. - u ~
He at once carried the check TO Mr.. II. G.
Burnett. cashier OF the First National BANK,
who immediately determined that II haa oeeh
tempered with. and 30 sent telegram 70 the
bank at Salisbury In half An hour reply
was received from Cashier Davis as follows:
II. G. Burnett, cashier: Our number 1908
was drawn September 18th for ESQ IN favor
of II. Gone X Cons. Of Baltimore"
Mr.. Burnett then advised Mr.. Saunders to
Law the matter before Chief-of-Poice John
Poe. and within three hours after Mr.. Austin
arrived in town he was in custody OIL OtncerB
John T. Hall and A. III. Iomlinson.
MK. AUSTIN.
Mr.. Austin was seen by TINES reporter
soon after he was arrested. He 10 apparently
about forty-fve years of age, and was plainly
although very respectfully alfred. tie has
light whiskers and moustache and light blue
eyes. His face was exceedingly pale and bis
eyes seemed 10 indicate that he had been on
d spree. He was asked if no was intoxicated
early in the morning and admitted having
taken drink of liquor, but said he was not
6runk The following conversation then fol-
lowed: "Is there bank in New London"
1sked the reporter. No" he replied:
did you go to Salisbury and go into the
bank and ask for a $50 check in favor of
III Cone A Sonsyn Yes. he answered
How did the check become $4,000 them"
at is inst as received it; / never took it out
OF my pocket.
Howard street in Baltimore" ''les." he re-
piled. -, .
do you owe them any money!" NO, sir;
not one cent"
Then why did you have a $4,000 check
made to their orderf" Simply as matter of
convenience.
why did you have o check drawn 70 the
order OF Baltimore house when You wanted
20 buy goods in Richmond" Il was going
TO Baltimore, but it was raining so l stopped
here"
How many goods did you buy Of Saunders
81 Co." Il don't know"
How can you run store and not know
how many goods you are buying" Il think
1t was about 900 worth that bought"
WORKED Up
Mr.. Austin seemed perfectly calm, and
he said he WAS greatly worked up
over the occurrence no did not betray any
emotion or excitement.
The check looked as if the word thirty had
been erased except the first two letters and
then changed to three. and as no line was
drawn from the word TO the end of the line
the word thousand could readily have been
put in. In the figures there had been SEEM
ingly an erasure of the ciphers indicating no
cents and two added 10 make the check de-
5000.
No particular caution seemed to have been
taken by the bank 70 prevent any chaogne vf
the check, although the changes were bung-
lingly and plainly apparent.
The case was continued until the 10th, when
Mr.. Davis cashier Of the Salisbury bank will
DO present. Mr.. Austin will remain in tho city
Jail until the case is settled.