The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-15
A BAD CASE FOR BURR.
The General Manager Of The See
konk Ice Company Arrested.
HE is ACCUSED OF FORGERY,
He Was Arrested ON . Charge OF Forging
the Names Of II. A. and w. w. Munroe
to 5000 Note-Othcr Charges.

eral manager of the Seekonk Ice Com
pany yesterday afternoon. charged with
forgery, occasioned the greatest surprise
In business circles throughout the city.
Burr was arrested on warrant charging
him with forging the signatures OF Philip
A. and William w. Munroe to note for
5000 on the Roger Williams Nationa
Bank, and since his arrest other rorgeries,
purporting TO have been committed by
him, have been unearthed. These cover
a period Of about seven years anu amount
In all to over $l2 900.
Burr's first departure from the straight
path of rectitude was in 1885. AT that
that time he was in the ice business, ana
with his son, Lyman IL. Burr OIL raw
tucket, was carrying on an extensive yet
profitable business In East providence,
Pawtucket and this city.
During that year, Burr presented note
for 81 800 to the Roger Williams National
and Raymond Burr. the latter being the
father Of the payee. The interest, was
paid by Burr, who soon increased the
amount of the note by $500 with the
same Endorsements. The death OF Burr's
father necessitated the obtaining OF an-
other signature and the name of Phillip
A. Munroe was added. The latter is cou-
nected by marriage with Burr, aud to-
retber with his brother William w. Mum
roe. are retired merchants Of East Provi-
dence At the death of Lymon Pierce
another new signature was necessary and
after due process the name of William w.
Munroe was affixed to the note. On Jan.
20, of this year the amount OF the note
was raised to $1,000, upon which Burr con-
tinued TO pay the interest.
Recent Developments have established
the fact that the signatures of +. A, and
w. w. Munroe, were forged TO the check,
but on account OF the death OF young
Price and Raymond Burr. it is impossible
to state whether or not their signatures
were forged.
About two weeks ago Philip A. Munroe
had his suspicious aroused and began to
suspect that all was not right. lie was
informed by the authorities of the Com
mercial National Bank that note for
Sl.15O, bearing his Endorsement was at
hand. The note was to fall due in two or
three days, and Mr.. Munroe, after inves.
tigating found that Burr was the maker.
The authorities OF the bank were in
formed that the signature was forgery.
but on account OF the relationship be-
tween himself aud Burr, he refused to
take action against him, simply warning
the man that that method of conducting
business was not to be continued.
On Wednesday OF last week, Burr en-
tered the Office of the Home Investment
company, dJ Jnc COTlcT Vi DOTEduCc anu
Weybosset streets, and asked il the COM
pany would discount note for 800, en-
dorsed by Stephen 5. Rich Of East Provi-
dence. The endorsement was satisfac-
tory and he was told to bring the note
around the next morning, which he did.
Before accepting the note, and to make
sure that all was right, one OF the clerks
telephoned to Mr.. Rich and asked him
about the paper. Mr.. Rich quickly in
formed him that he knew nothing about
the matter and the note was given back
TO Burr. Mr.. Rich said that be had not
intended to take any legal steps in the
affair. as he supposed that Burr was in
financial difficulties and he thought he
would call around the next morning to
make an explanation.
Burr's efforts TO secure the necessary
money on which to take up the 81, $50 note
led to suspicion on the part of the bank Of
6cials, and ii was decided to look into the
matter. The authorities OF the Roger
Williams National Bank also became sus-
picious, and began TO doubt the genuine
ness of the note for So, coo held by them,
bearing the Endorsements of Munroe
brothers. The signatures were compared
and were discovered to be forged, and at
special meeting of the board of directors
held yesterday morning 1t was decided to
prosecute Burr.
A warrant was at once sworn out for his
arrest, which was accomplished later in
the day. Burr was arraigned before
Judge Cooke and in default OF $40. 900 bail
was committed to the Providence County
Jail.
After Burr's arrest it was thought by
the authorities OF the bank that possibly
other notes signed by him were held by
local bankers. Inquiry developed the
fact that paper to the amount of 81, 500
was held by the Atlantic National Bank.
This, il is said, was indorsed by Andrew
Comstock and p. A Munroe.
Comstock, il Is asserted. loaned Burr
the sum of $4,000 two years ago, for the
purpose of building icehouses in Yer
mont. and tt Is further asserted that this
Indebtedness has been reduced fully one
half A week ago Burr succeeded in bor-
rowing $500 from local broker upon his
personal note unendorsed.
Burr Is n member of the executive COM
mittee Of the Rehoboth Horse Thief
Detecting Society, and has for years been
prominent figure at the social gather
ings of this organization. He enjoys COM
pletely the good will of his neighbors,
who are unit in the hope that he will be
able to successfully extricate himself from
his present difficulties.
Burr is well known in Pawtucket, es-
pecially so by residents of twenty odd
years ago. At that time he was the owner
OF the flour mills situated in the rear of
Main street on jerks lane in that city. On
the 18th of December, 1867. the mill and
contents were burned. Burr was COM
pletely burned out, and rs he lost every
thing, rs was supposed, and was well
liked, number OF citizens subscribed $15-
600 or $4,000 to start him in business
again.
His family consists OF his wife, two
daughters and "a son, and ali are prostrat-
ed at the arrest.