The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-08
HIS RECORD.

His criminal record in the East appears
10 have commenced IN Washington, -.
C.. where under the alias OF Robert l..
Han, on November 18th of that year he
was arrested FOR forging the names OF
several business men 10 checks for smail
on his arrest il developed that ne was
wanted ia Montana and Colorado Tor
fOrgeries there, and an effort was MADE
10 extrddite him, but he was iOund Sullty
and sentenced % three years I'm the Al
bany penltcnUary, from which institution
he was discharged in August, lSy2
in October OF the aforementioned year,
while confined In the ArnOt ogden Hos
pital at Elmira, y. y, he wrote this let
ter to the Twin Valley Bank of West
GentIemen.-On September 10th. while
sitting in the Rathburn House, this city,
a young man approached me and. after
a few moments conversation. was at
tracted by my finger ring, and wanted
10 buy il. ! consented L. sell it for $40.
He only had $40 cash. but offered me
s3o8H draft drawn by your bank on a
New York bank The draft was No. 6Sl,
paVahle to George G. Richardson, signed
VI. ". George. cashier. ! refused the
draft until / could telegraph You, as /
suspected it was frautuient. The next
day ! was taken sick with typhoid fever
and have been in the hospital ever since.
During my illness ! have often thought
Of the draft, and have considerable curl
osity TO know II my suspicious were cor
rect. II you VIII ldht tHt Al0uDlt 10 III
form me ] viii be under obligations. !
am a california fruit grower living at
San Jose. Hoping | may have the pleas
ure Of 4 reply am yours. etc?
HENRY VI. THOMAS.
G. A. and O. Hospital, Elmira. y. T.
The Twin Valley Bank answered the
| letter, stating that the draft referred to
! vas fraudulent The object of Thomas "
! of the cashier of the Twin Valley Bank.
| that he might the easier accomplish the
sWudle. Nhf.A ne az i-r"a arc peg nrif it'i
on November 10. 1892, IT Elmira. he Sc
cured from q bank there $l2l3J on 4
forged draft dated October % 1892. pur-
| morning 20 be issued by the Twin Valley
BANK Of West Alexandria, o., on the
National Bank OF the Republic Of New
II ~ viii thus be seen that while sick
in the Elmlra hospital he planned a for
gerry. which he successfully executed i'm
| medately on his release.
PROM ''Elmira ne went To Cleveland,
| Ohio. where he swindled WarlWell x TO.
| bv means of q forged draft for SHE'D
purporting 20 be issued by the Mer-
chants Bank Of BinghamtOu. y. &. on
| n New York city bank. He also succeeded
| in swindling banks a. Chicago. Ill. on
March 81 1888; AT Mt Vernon. y. l., on
| June q. 1893; at Bel Air. Nd. on May ~,
| 1891: and at Worcester, Mass, on Juhe
| o. 1894. The foregoing constitutes but d
| small percentage Of his fOrgeries duri"s
| the period referred to. - n,s
Baker. or Harvey. has n method 81 M, NJ
| own in the pursuit Of his neiaIioE, his
| fession. lie usually prephrea ifonca
| forgeries by entering into corf|sP'e s1ne
with some minister or Official 90 90 ,ybicn
| religious organization in the c lsS he pey-
he proposes to operate. Ihem ,, ne he mas
sonally visits the one TO "hon' ~
been corresponding. Good Temnlars'
He is wen versed in the Coco IN ei n bIcal
ritual. extremely well reaTG ,rtsttau En-
subjects Is fa% GnlaHer %1a WIFI Ttn wide
deavor WORK. eo and authors, and has
range OF BOOKS ooatS APPARENT sincerity joined
many aHa '6fS @s mat ne
The ruse mas INC with the church folk Il
After mingl'nhS ooses some one to intro
few days, ne ne local bank. lie then de-
du us,,. hin small aa amount. and for short