Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-12
TOMMY, THE TERROR.
Sharpsburg Merchants Are Cleverly
Worked by Forger.
LOOKING FOR AN ORGANIZED GANG
Two Prominent Banks on the List of
Markeham's Victims.
HAD A SICK BABY AND A PITIFUL TALE

Sharpsburg and Lawrenceville have a
fully-matured affliction. The good people
out that way often have Affections, such as
unpleasant weather and family scenes and
drinking water and preponderance of
smoke, but now they have genuine af-
Fiction in the form of an organized band
of villains, with complete cast, including
captain, lieutenants, spies, and an litter
ate, though very accomplished one of the
latter exists, very much in the flesh, in the
person of Thomas Markeham, but it is a
mooted question whether or not the former
do.
Alderman McInerney, of Fifty-fourth
and Butler streets, represents the contingent
who wish to see the twin villages rid of this
dire affliction, and he is making strenuous
efforts to find the foxy Tommy and thereby
get on the right track of the robber captains
band.
Tommy has record that the average
youthful dime novel reader aspires to with
vivid longing. Tommy is familiarly known
by this euphonious appellation, although he
has nearly as many aliases as has Poo Bah
of the Mkado's realm. He has made him
self Interestingly conspicuous in Lawrence
vile by indulging in humorous little ca
prices, such as forging peoples names to
hundred-dollar checks and working other
clever little con games.
Only Works as a Pastime.
The first of these robbed Tommy of his
good name, but he didn't care, as he re-
versed the proper order of things and con-
sdered great riches greater than good
name. He is an erra.ic fellow, and there
are certain people who say he only
works as pastime. When he in
dulges thusly he digs sewers and
other things. Tommy has a winning
way, according to his enemies, the police,
and he uses that winning way to advan-
tage by borrowing little sums from his
acquaintances upon the plea that his
wife and one of his numerous prog
eny are indisposed and cannot support
him. He committed a real crime few days
ago, says Alderman McInery, by forging
the name of Charles Mackey, an officer in
Sharpsburg building and loan association.
This coup was done so cleverly that it gave
rise to the suspicion that Tommy was only
clever through others and the theory that
fear-inspiring band of robbers existed in
the community. Tommy received a note
for 500 OH the Farmers and Mechanics
Bank of Sharpsburg. He returned with it.
and, saying he could not be identified,
asked for a note on another bank. Mr..
Mackey was unsuspicious and did as he was
asked, and gave note on the Metropolitan
Bank of Pittsburg
Captured $500 and Took Rest.
Tommy had this cashed and short time
later had note exactly similar to the one
exchanged, cashed at the Farmers and Me-
chanics' Bank. Then Tommy rested until
Saturday. He reappeared Saturday in the
clothing store of Max Blumenthal, on
South Main street. with passionate long
ing for a suit of that gentleman stock Of
He selected suit and had it laid
by until pay hour, saying he worked for
Contractor Braun ON the sewer. He came
back a short time later with check and
was out of funds and had paid with checks.
Mr.. Blumenthal cashed the check and gave
Tommy S14 in cash and the suit which was
valued at SIG. Mr.. Blumenthal was dis
appointed man when he went to the bank
for they told him there the signature on the
check did not correspond with that of Mr..
Braun, as the name on the check spelled
Brown.
Number of Grocers Also Bitten.
And yet the tale Is not told of the aff1ic-
tion out there, as a number of grocers have
yielded to the persuasive eloquence of
orders ostensibly coming from Markeham's
employers, but which were reported as
spurious by the aforesaid employers.
Everything seems to point to the fact that
Tommy is not alone in his work, as his edu-
cation has been sadly neglected, and he is
wanting to some little extent in that desir-
able attribute known as mental power.
Tommy may be much worse man than the
police think, as his alleged crimes have but
Just been dscoverec, and there may be
s'other counties to hear FROM
Officer Hugh Wallace had an interesting
little run Tuesday night after crowd Of
four men who were acting in a suspicious
manner in the rear of Main street jeweky
store. The officer failed to catch any of the
men but is of the impression that they were
burglars bold
Taken all in all the people of Sharpsburg
are having a very enthusing time with their
affection and are greatly desirous of appre-
hend1ng someone.