The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-08-30
CHARGED WITH FORGERY.
Howe Presented Check Bear
ing Or. Harris Name.

d. M. Howe, a we'll known painter in
this city. was arrested yesterday morn.
ing by Police officer Eanes upon war
rant issued by Justice Samuel g. VIII
liams upon complaint of w. II. B.
Loving, charging him with forging the
name of Rev. DIR. w. A. Harris to
check drawn on the Roanoke Trust,
Loan and Safe Deposit Company for
1913.
The particulars are that last Saturday
night Howe came into Lovings store
and asked him TO cash the check in
question, and upon Mr. Loving 8 say log he
eou d not do so Howe decide that as he
would have difficulty in getting so large
check cashed so late at night, he would
purchase some groceries, take small
amount OF cash, leave the check and
return Monday morning, take the check
and get 1t C ,shed and repay MIR. Loving,
he purchased groceries TO the amount
OF 81 90 and obtained SO in cash.
Howe did not return Monday to re-
deem his check and Loving presented
1t at the bank yesterday morning at 0
O'Clock and asked if it was good for 1878
or for three, seventy-.hree dollars"
az was written in the che ok. DR.. Har-
ris was in front of the bank at the time
H.
asked DR.. Harris il the'signature on the
check was genuine. He stated that it
was not and Howe, who was in the
street near by at that time, was called
upon to explain Howe looked con
fused and said he would go and see the
man that gave it to him. When he did
not return Loving had the warrant for
his arrest ISIS ed.
An examination of the case was held
yesterday afternoon at o'clock before
Police Justice Turner, c II. Vines APP
pearing for the accused.
Under the law which says that sign
ing another persons name to docu-
ment does not const itute forgery unless
the paper in question be valid instru-
ment, the prisoner was discharged, the
court holding that the writing. Three,
sew nty-shree dollars, did not make it
q valid order. He was then placed on
trial on the charge of obtaining money
and goods under false pretenses, and
sent on to await the action of the grand
jury at the October term of the Hastings
Court.
Mr.. Howe was then released on bail,
giving bond OF 5000, with Maj. z. M
Day and Peter Duggan as sureties.
Howe is married man and lives with
his wife and several children at the cor
hOA VI boliCbu dN6Hut anu ILdnuOlDl
street southeast. He is fine painter
and came here several years sgo from
Pennsylvania. He did a consid cradle
amount of work on the Terry building
and for some time has been engak ed in
painting the Virginia College for Young
Ladies, being employed by the original
contractors, K f. Hill & Co
The accused man, acting upon the ad
vice OF his attorney declines. to make a
statement. but it is alleged that Howe
was entirely out OF money and had no
provisions in the house, and it is stated
that he had guests at his home who had
known him in his more prosperous DAYS
and that pride was partly responsible
for his downfall.
1t is also claimed in extenuation OF
his act that although there had not
been any transaction between Howe and
DR.. Harris, that considerable sum of
money is due him for work done on
the Virginia College buildings. 1t is
evident that the fallen man, driven to
desperation by poverty and pride,
always bad combination, believed he
would be able to raise $40 and redeem
the check before Loving presented it at
the bank for payment.
The amount Of the Indebtedness was
paid to Mr.. Loving yesterday.