The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-14
FORGERIN THE TOLLS.
Bookkeeper Repath Captured in
San Francisco.
WRECKED BY WINE AND WOMEN.
While Employed ~ y. Z. 0tinssn He
LED 0iday Lifs and Forged
olEo Cheek - Pay the Cost.


Charles F. Repath, formerly bookkeeper
ior the Mutual Life Insurance Company's
agency in this city, was arrested yesterday
IN san Francisco at the request Of Sheriff
Wooiery on the charge Of forging the
name Of +. L. Stinson, general manager Of
the company's interests in the state of
Washington. to check for $3.50. The evil
dence In possession Of the authorities 10
complete and Deputy Sheriff Jack Wells
wiz leave this morning to bring back the
prisoner. The forgery can probably be
laid to wine and women. the same causes
which led to his discharge.
Charles F. Repath 10 an attorney, well
educated, and came to Seattle last winter
from Colorado. Instead Of practicing law
he obtained position with Mr.. 6sinsoa
as bookkeeper. In this position he had
plenty Of opportunities to see his en-
ployer's signature. About the beginning
Of the new year Mr.. Stinson went to New
York city to consult with the heads of
his company concerning business matters,
and while there received . communication
from Seattle stating that Repath Was car
rying on at q great rate. The inference to
be drawn. though no names were given.
was that wine and . beautiful woman
were leading the gay bookkeeper on to de-
struction. Mr.. Stinson Immediately tele-
graphed back to his man in charge, giving
instructions that Repath- should not be
allowed any part in the management Of
the business while he was absent. The
precautio Was wise one, but even then
crime had been committed. Repath kept
on carousing and, when his employer re-
turned, was discharged. He left the city,
ostensibly for Victoria.
Mr.. Stinson, on returning to business,
found vast accumulation Of work that
required his personal attention and when
he came to check up his bank accounts
and compare returned checks with the
duplicate stubs, found . discrepancy Of
$3.50. Everything was rechecked and the
trouble traced to the National Bank Of
Commerce account. The check book was
gone over carefully and blank stub
found The checks were then compared
and verified, with the exception of one
for $3.50. drawn to all appearances by r. L.
Stinson in favor of Charles r. Repath. A
glance at the back of the check showed
that it had been countersigned by Charles
- AsSUosu oAO AAo& ACV poiO VIII suo UouA
stamp.
The truth was plain to Mr.. Stinson: he
never wrote his name on the piece OF yell
low paper before him. It had been forged,
and that. too. in far from an expert man
ner. The capital "F' was poorly formed
and showed labored tracing. The combi-
nation Of the initial letters was not free
and natural and the en-" which ended the
name was poorly executed. At the bank
the truth was found out. Repath had
taken advantage Of his acquaintance with
the bank officials and passed the check in
carelessly and received the money without
arousing suspicion.
Last Wednesday consultation was held
between Mr.. Stinson, r. r. Spencer,
cashier Of the National Bank of Commerce,
Prosecuting Attorney John +. Miller and
Sheriff J. H. Woolery. The last named
was given full charge of the case and soon
had the wires working north and south.
It was proven conclusively that Repath
was not in Victoria, and about the same
time information was received that he
had been in Stockton, CAL, Q short time
ago. The information indicated that San
Francisco was the proper place to ind
him and, with the object Of locating him,
certain decoy messages were sent Chief
Crowley was informed of the move and
requested to make the arrest II Repath
showed up. How successfully the plan
operated became known yesterday after
noon when Sheriff Woolery received tho
following telegram from Chief Crowley:
Charles r. Repath arrested. Send for him 1t
once to enable me TO have warrant issued charg-
ing him with being . fugitive. Telegraph me
date OF crime, describe instrument forged, name
complaint county and state where committed,
Judge and title Of court issuing warrant aud
date of warrant He threatens wit OF habeas
corpus.
The sheriff grabbed his hat and rushed
to Prosecuting Attorney Miller's office,
where the complaint was made. Gov. Nc
Graw communicated with by wire and the
following message sent to Chief Crowley
at San Francisco:
SEATTLE, April Ii
Charles r. Repath 10 charged by F. L stinson
with the crime of forgery by uttering and pass.
ing rs true q forged bank check on February 4.
1898. for $3.50, on National Bank of Commerce of
Seattle, King county, Wash. The complaint
was filed before William Caldwell, justice of the
peace, Seattle precinct, King county, Wash. I
now have warrant A reQuisition will be issued
this afternoon and an agent start in the morn.
ing.
Even before the message had been put
on the hook the warrant had been sworn
out before Justice Caldwell and the reaui.
sition papers made ready for Gov. Nc
Graw's inspection and signature. After
the work was done the sheriff climbed the
hill to the courthouse. lit a cigar and gave
his instructions to Deputy Sheriff Jack
Wells. who leaves this morning for San
Francisco by the way Of Olympia.
Charles +. Repath, the man whose cap
ture adds one more victory to the list won
by Sheriff Woolery, is about IS years old,
5 feet inches tai! and rather slender. He
is light complexioned and has a smooth
face. He was married, but was divorced
before coming to Seattle.