Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-05
cOELnS.r Enon Hin.
An Attempt TO Palm OF n Forged Chez
on Herman Eogei Proves Fruitless.

COULDN'T E0OL HIM.
An Attempt to Palm OF n Forged Check
on Herman Eogei Proves Fruitless.
Herman Fogel, a Russian Jew, keeps
secondhand clothing store at 10 T..
Front street, where the many frequenters
of the coast" are wont to gather and
dispose of their goods at the highest
market price, for Fogel claims to be able
to offer many BARGAINS in this line. He
also announces his willingness to sell,
provided he can get suitable purchasers
Tor his wares. Were il not for the fact
that Delawares statute prohibits it this
establishment might also be looked upon
as resembling yeritable pawn-shop in
which "My Uncle" rcigns supreme.
Thursday was pretty good business
day for Tradcsman Fogel and the dealer
in clothes, old and new, was doing a
good business when long toward 3
o'clock q stranger called at the store
and asked to be shown suit of clothes.
The new conner was about 35 years old,
wore dark moustaChe and unkempt
beard. lie was clad in IA dark suit of
clothes, striped shirt and striped trous-
crs. He also wore Il dark Ovcrcoat and
chinchilla cap.
Several suits Of "hand-me downs"
We're shown the stranger, and, select
ing one that suited his taste, he learned
that the price was $40. He agreed to
take it, He also desired a pair of sus-
penders, and next asked to see some
neglige shirts. All these were shown
the man, and after some difficulty in
selecting the garments he appeared
satisfied and told the clothier to wrap
them up. The request was complied
with, when the man rendered in pay
ment for them check for $22, pur-
porting to have been drawn by the
Pussy & Jones Company. The bill for
clothing amounted TO $3.50, and as
usual tho stranger wanted the balance
in cash. 1t was the old, old story.
The clothing dealer was delighted to
receive such large order for goods but
on receiving the check his disappoint-
ment was noticeable. He preferred to
have the money in cold cash and so in
formed The newcomer. The latter de-
clared that he had just been paid two
weeks wages by the Pusey II Jones
Company and he had not had an oppor-
tunity TO get the check cashed. The
suspicious of the clothing dealer were
| soon aroused, however. He had once
upon time been swindled out of the
interesting sum Of Is cents, he after.
wards declared, and this had made him
| all The more careful.
He Informed the purchaser of the
| clothes that he would be compelled to
| send to the store Of friend in order to
get the money, there not being sufficient
money in the store 10 cash the check.
a messenger was then dispatched post
| haste TO Union Bank. The clothing
| dealer was taking no chances this time.
| He asked the purchaser of the goods to
! take seat until the messenger returned
with the money, assuring him that he
would be gone but few minutes. The
messenger had hardly left the store with
| the check when the stranger suddenly
realized that he desired to smoke a
cigar, and left she store cstensibly toge
one across the street, As the clothing
| dealer expressed it next morning. "He
never comes back, an. bet he's still
smoking dat cigar
As soon as the check was shown to
Frank 9. Carpenter, paying teller Of
the Union National Bank, he pro-
nounced it forgery and refused to pay
over the money, The Waterman at the
hank was told to accompany the mos
! scnger back to the store and place the
/ stranger under arrest if he could be
/ found. When messenger and officer
reached the store the man was nowhere
to be found The jew took good care
that he did not take the clothes, how
ever
The check was drawn to the order Of
John B, Williams and was numbered
1lO1 The endorsement was very
Irregular Besides, the name Pusey
was spelled without the sc. The check
was endorsed; r. ID. Briggs, per Pussy
y Jones Company. The name "John
Is. Phelps" also appeared on the back
of the check. If properly endorsed the
check would have read THE Pusey &
Jones Company, by W. w. Pusey
treasurer"