Evening journal., 1892-12-14
REAL FORGER CAPTURED
The City Authorities Arrest a
Clever Swindler.
SQUEEZED MONEY FROM MERCHANTS

Albert. E. +. Kurtz, Alias Edwin Derha,
Captured This Morning Has Been
Engaged in swindiing the Merchants
of This City-J. G. johnson a Sons
Victims OF the Amount of s15.
Detective Hatton arrested young
man in front Of the store Of Adams &
Bro, 504 Market street, for swindling
several merchants of this city at $50
o'clock this morning. He was taken to
the City Hall and locked up in one Of
the cells in the upper corridor.
The young man gave his name as A.E.
f. kurtz. He is about 80 years old. has
a smooth face. sharp features. brown
hair slightly mixed with gray, and is
about feet, inches in height. He
wore wine colored overcoat, dark suit
and derby hat
In his pockets were found i.50 in
money, numerous letters, two handker-
chiefs, a note book. two pocket. books
and several drafts and checks.
He proves to be worthless-check
swindler. and has been operating in this
city for several days. He has visited
almost all the important Market street
merchants and been successful in secur
ing money from many of them on bogus
drafts which he has presented.
He has been boarding at the Pennsyl-
vania House. and yesterday visited the
stores of j. IT, Mullin & Son, j. G. John
son a Son, William b. Sharp & Co. and
Adams a. Brother.
At j. G. johnson q Co. s store2he sue
ceeded in securing $l5 on sight draft
drawn up payable TO himself, with the
First Western Wall Paper Company,
Chicago, ILL.,, as payee. He attempted TO
cash another check at Adams and Broth
er's, aud was 20 20 back Co the store this
morning and take an order for paper.
Chief of Police Frances was close on
his track yesterday. for he reached VIII
liam B Sharp & Co. s store two minutes
after kurtz had left.
kurtz Is known in this city by the
name of Edwin Derila, and has note heads
and envelopes printed which read ED
win Derila, Paper and Bond Broker, Will
mington, Del A number of these
addresses on letter heads were found on
bis person when arrested and two letters
addressed TO paper manufacturers were
already TO mail They contained in
quiries of the firms addressed asking foi
prices Of different grades Of paper
One sight draft was made out payable
Ito myself" for $25, bearing the name oi
First Western Wall Paper Company
Chicago, ILL., This was evidently one o
the drafts that he intended palming of
on some merchant of this city.
The note book contained orders an,
names Of firms In Philadelphia, Wash
ington, Baltimore, Harrisburg, Pitts
burg, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago st
Louis, Denver and Brooklyn. 'Jas. II
Birch will take $50 in boards and 81
cash" was one Of the orders
The young man Is wanted In othe
! cities on the same charge and warrant
have been issued In Philadelphia for hi
arrest. The city directory Of Philadel
phia gives the name Albert T. f. Kurtz
1919 Continental avenue. He was en-
gagged in the swindling business In Phila
delphia and gave his office address a
43l Walnut street Inquiry at tha
place by Philadelphia authorities prove
that no such person was known there
The authorities were so close upon hiI
that he fled TO this city. A Mr. lands O
Chestnut Hill cashed draft for $35 on th
Norristown, Pa) Bank. James j. No
( Clone also cashed a draft drawn on th
p Western Bank, with the Western Wa
Paper Company as payer When take
TO a bank Mr. McGlone was informe
! that the draft was Of no value as draft
. made out previously by the same perso
had been protested.
The detectives and Chief Of Poli'
Francis are busily engaged in gatherin
evidence throughout the city againi
this man. He will not be given a hea
ing for few days, TO enable them to il
. form the authorities OF other citil
: where he has worked his little game.