The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-06-10
AN INGENIOUS THIEF.
Merchants Swindled by Means
of Forged Orders.
CAPTURE BY TWO DETECTIVES.
Systematic Plan to obtain Goods by
False Pretenses - Champagne
Ordered for Mr.. Coiman.

The career of Henry C. Miller, who has
been victimizing merchants of this city for
about two weeks by means of forged or
ders, was brought to halt at O'Clock
yesterday morning whep Detectives Phil
lips and Cudihae LODGED him in the city
jail. The Identification of the cuiprlt IS
complete, and thus one Of the most dan
gerous men who has annoyed the
guardians of the peace for long time Is
we'll on the high road 10 the state penl-
Tertiary.
His method of operations was to present
an order drawn by some well-known citl-
zen upon business house for goods, stat
ing exactly what goods to deliver and on
what date TO present the bill. Ii he got
the goods. as he did in many cases, he
had several days grace before the decep-
ton was discovered. If, on the other
hand, any merchant questioned the genu-
ineness OF the order, Mr.. Miller took adj
vantage of the first opportunity to make
his escape out of the front door. The
police have been following him for
several days. and Chief Rogers and his de-
tectiyes have not slept until the bars
closed behind the 'muchiy wanted man. y
The first case on record in which Mr.. Mil
Ter showed his hand was reported by Mr..
Samuel l.. Crawford. On May % Miller
went into the store OF the Pacific Coast
Liquor Company, 1905 front street, and
presented the following order:
"CITY. MAY %. 1894
Seattle Grocery Company: Please send by
bearer one bottie best brandy (for medical
use) and charge the same to my husbands
account. MRS. >. IL. CRAWFORD.
The company knew any order from Mr..
Craw ford's household was good and with
out hesitation delivered bottle of brandy.
The next day Miller went into NJ. Lsvy's
cigar store and presented an order for one
box of Gen. Arthur cigars, purporting to
be signed by Mr.. Crawford. On the back
of the order he Endorsed the name &c. A.
Porty," received the box of cigars and
went on his way rejoicing
May 80 Miller went to the Famous
Clothing House on Front street and pre-
scented the following order:
ITO the Famous Clothing House: Please
deliver TO bearer one overcoat mot to ex-
coed S25) and present bill to our office
June l. LILLY. BoGARDUs * CO"
The man to whom the order was given
slipped out to make sure that the order
was genuine and in the meantime Miller
disappeared.
June 2 Miller went into Gus Browns
furnishing store on Second street and
handed out the following:
please deliver to bearer furnishing
goods to the value OF SIS and present bill
TO our office June s.
"PAcIFIc NAVIGATION COMPANY.
"a. J. MCLEOD. Manager.
The moment an investigation of the
order was begun Mr.. Miller took to his
heels.
June he obtained from A. p. Hotaling
Il Co., q bottle of brandy for medicinal use
on the strength of a forgery of Mrs. Sam
uel L. Crawford's name. On the same day
he went into the Boston clothing house
with an order for clothing purporting to
be signed by Mcleod. The order was hon.
ored and Mr.. Miller walked out with two
suits of underwear, SIX pairs of hose. six
handkerchiefs and one shirt IN his posses
SION
His final act came about 10 o'clock Fri
day night, when he telephoned to Nc
Connell Il Nixon, the Front street liquor
dealers, to send six bottles of champagne
by messenger boy TO the residence of ]. NJ.
Colman, Columbia and Fourth streets.
The men at the liquor store thought that
il was queer Mr.. Colman wanted six
bottles OF champagne, and cautioned the
messenger boy to get the check signed
and bring il back TO the store at once.
When the boy reached the top of the long
flight of steps leading up to Mr.. Colman's
residence he was met by man who came
from the rear of the house. This man said
he would take the champagne and did so.
Then he signed the boys ticket. When
the boy got back to Mcconnell q Nixon's
twas seen that the name on the check
was II. l. Coleman. This was not right,
SO they called Mr.. Colman out of bed by
telephone. and asked him about the six
bottles of champagne. 4r. Colman put
the audiphone back on the hook with such
reply that to the man at the other end of
the phone there was no question about his
not having ordered champagne.
The case was Immediately reported to
the police, and Chief Rogers was positive
thai ii was the same man VINO had been
operating elsewhere. In fact, after Mr..
Crawford commenced to receive bills
for brandy and cigars and the
other cases commenced TO come in the
police had been chasing the swindler from
place 10 place. yet always few minutes
behind him. They had descriptions, how
ever, and for once Mr.. Miller. after having
obtained six bottle OF champagne, showed
up on the street AZ just the wrong moment
and fell into the clutches of Detectives
Phillips and Cudihee. Yesterday Miller
was identified In seven cases and will have
TO stand trial for forgery. Chief Rogers
thinks there are other cases of Millers
work OF which he has no report as yet.