Bridgeton pioneer., 1892-11-03
ARRESTED FOR FORGERY.
C8rll w. NewcOmb in the Same
BOx-BOth Spend the Night
In Jail.


BOx--BOth Spend the Night
In Jail.
John @. Hand, Postmaster at Port
Norris, was arrested by Constab BILE
Ayres and brought to the Jail here
about three o'clock Friday morn
ing, charged with forging an endorse
ment to a note of $500. payable at
Cumberland National Bank
The name charged as having been
forged, was that of L. G. Hand, Port
Norris oysterman. The warrant for
his arrest was Issued by Justice of the
Peace s. w. Wells, on complaint of
Cashier Frank M. Riley, of the Cum
berland National Bank, last Thursday.
A PIONEER reporter had an inter
view with Mr.. Hand and heard his
story of the transaction.
The note was for $500 and read as
follows: ...-,
$500. Port Norris. Oct "a. 1872.
Three months after date we promise
to pay to the order of L. G. Hand Five
Hundred Dollars, at the Cumberland
National Bank of Bridgeton. Value
received.
Signed, HAND s. TOWNSEND.
Credit the Drawer, L. @. Hand.
Endorsed, L. G. Hand, Hand g.
Townsend, John @. Hand.
Mr.. Hands statement is that the
note was for renewal of another note
of like amount, due that day. That
he was authorized by L. @. Hand, who
was away on his boat oystering, to
sign his name to the note in bis ab-
sence. He did so and mailed the note
to Cumberland Bank to take up the
note falling due. The note was dated
Oct. Oath which was the first day'
of maturity of the note.
On the next evening he saw L. G.
Hand and secured a note properly
signed, endorsed by L. G. Hand for
$500, dated Oct. GATH. This he en-
closed in a letter which he then wrote
to Mr.. Riley, explaining it was to take
the place of the note previously sent
endorsed by himself with Mr.. Hands
name, the letter stating that Mr..
Hand had SO authorized him to do.
This letter he stamped in his pos
office to send up, but before mailing 1t
off he concluded to come to Bridgeton
himself and carry it to the bank in
person. He waited too long, for that
night the constable came and arrested
him. He gave this letter to Constable
Ayars imme ediately on his arrest, who
placed mark of Identification upon
it. Mr.. Hand disclaims any criminal
intent, as this letter seems to clearly
show.
He admits without hesitation that
he signed L. G. Hands name as en-
dorser to the note; that there was no
intent to forge the name, and that
there was no intention of criminality
about the transaction.
Mr.. Hand wanted to waive a hear
ing, which was set for Saturday at
10 a. m., l.. G. Hand, the man whose
name he had written, being on hand
to go his bail, but Mr.. Iogue, the
States attorney, was desirous of pre-.
senting the States case, and the hear
ing was held before Esquire Wells,
John 8. Mitchell, Esq, appearing for
the Postmaster.
On the same day that Cashier Riley
swore out complaint against Mr..
Hand, he also swore out one against
Carl W. Newcomb, of Cedarville,
charging him with having on the 4th
day of October, forged the endorse
ment of jefferson Newcomb, to a note
of $100 at three months. Newcomb
was arrested Friday and is now In
jail His hearing will take place Mon
day morDing.
In the hearing of the Postmaster's
case, Cashier Riley was called as the
first witness. His statement was to
the effect that the note of $500, was re-
ceived by letter from Hand Oct. 25th
for renewal of one of like amount then
due but not protested.
That on receiving the note he ques.
toned the signature of l.. @. Hand,
and dropped note to L G. Hand,
asking him to call in at the Bank.
l., @. Hand came to the Bank, and
on being shown the note said that he
had not signed 1t nor had not seen it
before.
Mr.. Riley. therefore, by the direc-
tion of the Directors, caused the war
rant to be issued for the arrest of John
G. Hand. charging him with the for
gerry.
Leonard G. Hand was next called,
and being shown the note, said he had
never seen 1t before, and that he had
not authorized John G. to sign his
name to it. He admitted. howe yer,
that john G. said to him in the Sher-