The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-12
MYSTERIOUS 100000 Note
First National Bank Receives 1t for
Collection.
JUDGE HANDLEY'S SIGNATURE
Note Sent from New York by Man
Named Dawson-Is Made Payable to
II. S. Pierce, at Ono Time n Scran.
ton Banker, Now Dead.

Wednesdays mail from New York
city brought to Cashier J. A. Linen. Of
the FIRST National bank on Lackawan-
ma avenue. letter from a man named
Dawson, enclosing note of 100000
purported to have been signed by the
late ex-Judge John Handley. in Sep
tember, 1885. and made payable In ten
years Cashier Linen was instructed
to collect the note and yesterday after
| noon he handed the paper to Attorney
Lemuel Amerman, John II, Richards
| and eX-Attorney General Palmer of
Wilkes Barre. executors of the estate,
They pronounced It forgery.
The note was drawn on an ordinary
sheet OF writing paper and Is a common
promissory agreement to pay the face
value of Ii at the end of ten years
1t Is made payable to II. $. Pierce and
endorsed with what Mr.. Amerman as
serts Is the forged signature of Mr.,
Pierce. who is dead. The document is
written in a clever imitation of the late
Judge Handley's handwriting.
An Executor Interviewed.
A Tribune reporter interviewed At
torney Amerman last night. Mr.
Amerman did not assume mysterious
air in discussing the affair, but related
all the facts with perfect freedom. He
said 1t is such palpable forgery that
the executors have not the least notion
of paying it or even treating 1t with
serious consideration. The body of the
note is cleverly designed and APP
proaches to a falrlygood imitation of
Judge Handley'S style of writing.
which was a very peculiar one as all
who have seen samples of it know
The signature is far from the mark
and is nothing more than clumsy at
tempt at forgery. On the back of the
note. where 1t Is presumed II. $. Pierce
endorsed 1t. the signature is not more
apt to deceive than that of the maker
OF the note.
II. s. Pierce was Il prominent capt.
talist of Scranton years ago and was
the sum and substance of a banking in
stitution that did business on Wyoming
avenue, in the building where the Of
fees of the Scranton Gas and Water
company now are.
Mr. Pierce lived on Washington ave-
nue. and was well known as a man Of
business. Several years ago the bank
became insolvent and went into the
hands of a receiver. After that Mr..
Pierce retired from active business pur-
suits and led quiet life until his death
a few years ago. He left an estate that
was reputed to be worth few million
dollars. The name of the institution
was the Scranton Trust Company and
Savings bank.
BY those who know, the statement is
made that between Judge Handley and
Mr.. Pierce there had never been any
business dealings, and such knowledge
would naturally suggest to the exc
cutors that the note had something sus-
picious about it.
Mr.. Amerman said there Is not
single record of the note among the
papers and documents of the estate.
Judge Handley had an exact and sys-
tematic method of arranging his papers.
so that every document that he re-
ceived had been filed away for refer
ence, and instead of being a promis-
sary note drawn up on common paper,
it would, If genuine, have been made
out on regular bank paper and would
not be non-interest bearing. Judge
Handley, in Mr.. Amerman's opinion,
was too shrewd business man to loan
such a sum as 100000 for ten years
without interest.
Cashier Linen, of the First National
bank, pronounced the note a forgery
as soon as he received it. The exc
cutors are waiting for the person who
sent on the note ito appear to substan-
tiate the alleged genuineness of it.