The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-12-15
PuCKETT's PEG
Lands Its Possessor In The
Georgetown Jail.
The Ex. Telephone Manager Arrested
For Wholesale Forgery.

George w. Pickett, until short time
ago the manager of the telephone ex-
change here, has got himself into peck
Of tfouble through his facility in using
a pen and initiating the signatures of
others.
Puckett was last summer transferred
from here to Chillicothe by the telephone
company but was discharged after
short stay there for the reason, as it now
develops, that he was peculating in the
cohpany's funds and had on one oc-
casion forged the managers name to
certain recommendation. Since his dis
charge he has been without any steady
employment. Last Thursday morning
he procured horse and buggy from
John Williamson's stable, saying that he
wished to go to the country.
That evening just about closing time
he walked into the National Bank, at
Georgetown, and presented himself TO
Cashier Whiteman as j. w. Lawson.
He had some papers in his hand which
he handed to MIR. Whiteman with the
remark that he had had sale on his
place, near Mt. Grab, and that he wish.
| ed to leave some notes for collection.
The notes were pinned together with
another slip OF paper on which was
written, ]. w. Lawson, Wichita, Kas.
Pickett told Mr.. Whiteman to send the
money to that andress as the notes were
collected. He stood talking with the
cashier for some minutes and turned to
leave the bank. AS if it had just occurred
to him he went back and asked Mr..
Whiteman if he would be willing to sell
any or all OF them if Mr.. Whitemsn
wanted them. The cashier replied that
he would think about it and Puckett
left the bank. Mr.. Whiteman began ex
amining the notes with view to buy
ing them. They were nine in number
and made out in the form ofnotes usual.
ly given at sales with three names on
each, principal and two sureties. They
aggregated in value about 81 900 and the
names used were nearly all OF prominent
men in the vicinity of Mt. Grab, among
them being 7. s, McDaniels, GIL. Craw-
ford, T. M. Shockey and G. E. Brown.
Mr.Shockey does business regularly with
the bank and Whiteman was struck with
the fact that his signature was not ex-
actly right and comparison with his
writing showed slight difference.
Mr.. Whiteman at once tried to tele.
phone to Mt. Grab but the wires were
down and his suspicion that Lawson
was crooked was increased. He instruct
ed the police to keep an eye on Puckett
over night and not to allow him to leave
town.
| Friday morning Puckett returned to
see about the notes. Whiteman said he
would buy them but wanted some assur.
ance that "Lawson" was all right. He
suggested sending a man up to Mt
Oreb with Pickett to see some OF the
parties, but Puckett refused. He offer
ed to go up himself and bring some o.
the men down but Whiteman was con
vjnced that his suspicious were correc,
and would not let him go. He fatty
told Puckett that he suspected him and
was going to send the Marshal along to
make him prove his identity. Pucket'
was in such tight hole that he coulG
do nothing but consent to going witt
the Marshal. just before they wert
ready to start he weakened and, calling
Mr.. Whiteman aside, made clear
breast OF it. He was at once put under
arrest and is now lying in the George
town Jail awaiting trial.
The notes are most excellent speci
mems of the forger's work and Puckett'l
whole plan of oper atoms show him Il
be slick one. The boldness of his &C
, is seen by his forging twenty. sever
names and making successful imitation
OF fifteen or sixteen different styles o
penmanship. The ordinary forger il
content with an attempt at one style
Pickett had registered at the hotel al
j. W. Lawson and it is supposed tina
he cut the telephone wires to preven
communication with Mt. Oreb Puck
EFT has seen life behind the bars before
this time aud for the same cause as now
Twelve years ago he was indicted fol
forgery, i.avins obtained some goods
from the clothing house OF l. A. Feibe
on a forged order. He remained in jai
almost q year, but the Indictment wal
nolied. In the last year or two he has
had a'good deal OF trouble in his family
and those are not wanting to declare
; that he is not exactly right in his mind
and good many Of his actions in the