The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-31

A weE-dressed gentleman came into
the hardware store of Evans & Evans
last Friday, represented that he was
w. Ii. Barclay, the superintendent
OF the Radford Pipe and Foun-
dry Company, and wanted the
sum OF S25. w. G. Evans INQUIRED of a
party we'll acquainted in Radford If w.
Ii. Barclay was the superintendent of
the company, and being informed that
he was and was a perfectly responsible
party, the money was paid and check
given on the Radford company, signed
by w. H. Barclay.
The check was sent on and Saturday
was protested at Radford bank upon
the grounds that the signature to it was
forgery. In the meantime A. j.
Evans, the other member Of the firm,
became suspicious and upon investiga-
ton found that the party had given
two drafts on the Radford Pine and
Foundry Company, one to the Roanoke
Gas and Water Company for SOS and the
other to the Hull Coke and Coal Com
pany for the same sum, both of which
had gone to protest for the reason
that the drawer was no longer in the
employ OF the company. Tho two drafts,
however, were signed by w. L. Apple.
gate, which was the party's true name
Upon this and the return Of the dis
honored check, A. j. Evans swore out a
warrant for the arrest OF ApLlegate on
charge of forgery. The warrant was
placed in the hands OF Sergeant Gold,
who found Applegate I'M half intoxi-
Gated condition playing cards with
notorious fellow by tho name of Laven-
der and at once took MIN into custody.
Upon being arrested no vehemently
denied being w. l.. Applegate but
cl aimed that his name was Reynolds.
When confronted by A. Evans who
gave him to understand that he was
thoroughly known, he broke completely
down and wept like q child, saying that
his father had sent him the money to
make it all right and begging to be
spared for the sake OF his mother. The
S25 was paid back to Mr.. Evans and he
was permitted to go free.
1t was generally supposed that he had
left town, but yesterdaymorning he was
found at disrepu table house, where he
was again taken into custody at the in
stance Of the Hull Coal and Coke Com
pany. No warrant was sworn out for
him, but he was held at the police sta
tion to await answer to q telegram that
he at once sent to his father in Cincin.
natl, asking for $50 by telegraph. In
the afternoon TIMES reporter had a
conversation with him, in which he said:
1.-The Radford Pipe and Foundry Com
pany owes mo more than enough to sat-
isfy the amount of these two drafts and
in giving them 1 acted innocently and
without intent to defraud any one Yes,
l signed the name OF II. FL. Barclay to
the check gave to Evans & Evans, but
at the time was drunk and crazy and
knew not what l did. This is the first
time that l was ever under arrest and
God knows that this will learn me les
lon that shall never forget. only
hope that my mother may not know Of
it for it would almost kill her.
At 5 o'clock his money came, and after
paying off the Hull Coal and Coke Com.
pany and the Gas and Water Company
he left the station house with the avowe d
intention of quitting the State forever
Applegate comes Of good family and
plainly shows his polite breeding. He
is handsome young man Of about
twenty five and by no means possesses
bad face. For some time he has lived
in Radford and travelled for the Pipe and
Foundry Company OF that place. A
short time ago he started on his down
ward career with whiskey and fallen
women as landmarks, which led him to
the act Of last Friday.