Arizona republican., 1894-10-02
A Woman Convicted of
 Extensive Forgeries.
Used Her Husbands Name
 and duplicates a Clerk.
The Latter Claims That It Is Scheme to Discredit Him In
 Pending Divorce Suit.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
 WASHINGTON, Oct. IA case of a wife's deception, in which three per- sons in the service of the government are concerned. has been revealed through the arrest yesterday of Major Alexander A. Russell, of Missouri, special examiner in the pension office, on warrant charging him with forgery, sworn out by John o. Oldberg, clerk in the Indian office. Some years ago Old berg invested in property near this city, which has increased to $12,000 in value. About three months ago he learned that the land had been sold without his sanction, and an investiga- tion showed him that his wife was party to the transaction. Deeds con- veying the land to other parties were found by him signed John o. Oldberg, in hand writing that did not cores |
 pond to his own signature, and Ella c. Oldberg. his wife's name, in what was unquestionably her hand. Mrs. Old berg was out of town when the discov- cry was made, only few days ago. She ca me to Washington in response to her husbands summons and tearfullv con- fessed that she had been party to the scheme. Il had to do it, was her ex- cuse.
 Mrs. Oldberg told story that impfi- cated Mai. Russell. She is a clerk in the pension office and sat next to the desk occupied by the major. Accord ing to her statement Russell heard her one day turn away creditor who came for money. Russell told her that 1 she should raise money on her prop ertv, but Mrs Oldberg said she did not wish her husband to know that she was in debt. 'Well, you can arrange that" Russell is alleged to have said. "Prepare deed of trust for what you want, leave the rest to me and ask no questions" So Mrs. Oldberg asked no questions, but went before notary public and saw Russell, so she says, sign the name of her hu. band to the deed of trust. A money lender ad vanced $500 on the deed and Mrs. Old berg kept all the money.
 Shortly after this transaction Russell came to Mrs. Old berg. according to her story, and said he needed some money. Another deed of trust, this time for $1,0O0, was executed. Later. $1 800 was secured in the same way, and a third transaction for 5,000 Mrs. Old berg says Russell signed her hus bands name. She claims that she did not get any of the money, and Russell says he dld not.
 This rather shady business was re- ported to the commissioner of pensions. He called for an explanation from Mrs. Oldberg and she told the story as given in this account. Later she wrote the commissioner that Russell had nothing to do with the matter and she did not know the guilty person. Soon after the last loan had been negotiated, Rus sell was sent on public business to Meadville, Pa., and remained there until summoned to Washington to ex- plain the Oldberg affair.
 He denies the whole story and says that Old berg is in collusion with Mrs. Russell, who is being sued for divorce, to blacken the majors character. If Mrs. Oldberg's first story proves true, she and Russell will be dismissed from the government service.