The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-03-19
BRETT FOUND GUILTY
helenas Forgsr Claims That City's War
rants Were yalueIess.

helenas Forgsr Claims That City's War
rants Were yaIueIess.
Special Dispatch to the STANDARD
HELENA, March 1S.-Harry Brett was
brought up for trial to-day In Judge
bIake's court and was found guilty of for
gerry IN willfully altering a city warrant,
raising 1t from $50 to $50. The trial was
very brief. Brett admitted that he was
guilty OF altering the warrant, but claimed
mat as the city of Helena had exceeded
Its constitutional Indebtedness when the
fraudulent warrant was drawn, the paper
had no value, and being valueless, for
gerry could not have been committed
The jurors found Brett guilty without
leaving their seats, and the court will pass
sentence Saturday.
When the story of Brett's crookedness
came to light little more than three
months ago, the people of tho city were
astonished. No one could understand
now such work had been possible. The
council, 10 whom the news was even more
OF a surprise than to others. at once insti-
tuted an investigation which lasted sew
eral weeks. This investigation showed a
state OF affairs that was truly remarkable.
The business of tho city had been run on
an extremely loose plan, otherwise such
stealings as Brett had INDUCED in would
have been discovered long before.
Some of Brett's work was clever, and
some OF II very, very coarse. Most of il
was of the latter sort. He was employed
by City Clerk Carpenter as assistant. tie
did most of the office work, and was thor
oughly familiar with its system. having
worked there before he entered Clerk
Carpenters employ last May. lie
was good business man, and
he soon discovered there was
money in dealing in city warrants. lie
had far better system than buying the
paper Mt a discount and then patiently
waiting for the interest. That way wasn't
swift enough for him. He secured war
rant that had been made out for $3.50 and
raised it to 5000. This he sold without
detection and then did the same thing |
over and over again. Another plan he |
had was TO make out warrants TO people |
who never existed and sign the city clerks |
name as he had been in the habit of do |
ing, present them to the treasurer who.
entirely unsuspicious of the fraud, regis
tered them. The mayor often signed |
blank warrants for convenience sake. 1t
was an easy matter for Brett to dispose
OF this bogus paper as on its face it APP
peared perfectly regular.
Another plan Brett worked successfully
was 10 after tlme checks. lie got hold of
20 May time checks, erased the word
MAY" and in its place wrote august"
he knew that his crookedness would
finally be discovered, but did not antici-
pate being found out as sood as lie was.
The investigating committee of the
council employed experts who, after sev-
eral weeks work, reported that Brett had
secured S6.S11. When Brett
was first accused of wrongdoing he adj
nitted his guilt, but since the experts re-
port was filed, says that his stealngs did
not amount to the sum named by at least
3, 900.
Three charges OF forging were brought
against Brett, and if necessary the county
attorney could get several dozen good
'ases against him. Notwithstanding this
8retts attorney has made every effort to
ret Brett free on alleged errors in techni-
'alities. Brett himself has told a friend
hat he wanted to plead guilty.
Brett's true name is Herbert Bonsor.
lie came here several years ago from Eng
and where he left suddenly with a woman
lot his wife. He has had several good
ositions here and was an excellent ac-
ountant and bookkcpDer