The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-16
SLICK WORK BY A SWINDLER.
HE SAID HE WAS A. }. WEST AND
THEN FLOATED FORGED
f s CHECKS.

The Quartermaster General in Allan
ta During the sssindIer's Career
and Ignorant of what Was Going
ON Until bogus Paper Began Com
ing In-The SwtndIer said TO Have
Cut Quite a Dash in Boston.
Atlanta. Ga. March 15-several checks.
pnrporting to be drawn by Col. A. J.
West OF Atlanta, were received here yes
terday and to-day from Philadelphia and
Boston. 1t develops that some one has
been impersonating Col. West In the
north. John Wanamaker & CO. OF Phila-
delphia were victims to the amount OF
$500. Col. West is in the city and the inn
postor has been arrested In Boston. where
be claims to be A. J.West. but is supposed
to be j. M. Mayson, who Is not known
here. Further reports may develop other
drafts. Col West is quartermaster gen
eral Of Georgia and Is a wealthy real es-
tate man here.
Boston. March ia tall. smooth-faoed
man giving his name as Col. Andrew j..
West OF Atlanta, Ca. and claiming to be
quartermaster general OF that state. was
arrested this afternoon charged with fOrg-
ing checks. The prisoner is sixty years
old and his name Is supposed TO be j..
NJ Mason. The police have learned from
Atlanta that Col. West Is now In that city
1t is said that the pretended Col West
had obtained entry into swell clubs
through letters Of Introduction from bust
ness men OF this city. He passed two
worthless checks for SsS each on Jordan
Marsh q Co. 1t is known that he unsuc-
cessfully tried to victimize other mer-
chants OF Boston. On Wednesday he Wis
tied a number OF boot and shoe houses
introduced himself as Col. West and stat
ed he was going to give his two sons $20,-
coo with which to start In the shoe bust
ness. He claimed that he owned real es-
tate in Atlanta, and his story was so
well told that Il was believed. As far as
known, he made no attempt 70 swindle
these shoe merchants, and Il is believed
that his object was TO establish credit
He referred the firms to Bradstreets,
where A. j. West & Co of Atlanta have a
fine rating In one shoe store he said
one Of his sons was In charge OF the
shoe department in the store OF Halliday
s. Co., at Cincinnati, but inquiry proved
this to be untrue, and led to the suspicion
that the man was a swlndler.
He also visited real estate firms and
steamboat offices. At the latter he said
his name was Mason, that he was from
st. Louis, and that he owned eight steam
boats on the Missouri river. In one office
he claimed to be the captain OF a vessel
running 0etween ST. Louis ard New Or
leans.
He called on ex-Gov. Ames, but that
gentleman was out, and West" was re-
ceived by Mr.. Ames private secretary.
To that gentleman Col. West said that
he entertained Gov. Ames several days
at mis- house, when the governor was in
Atlanta, several years ago. The secre-
tary thereupon gave the pretended West
letters Of introduction to business men
and club men Of the city.
TO the real estate man the swindler
represented that he was a heavy real es-
tate dealer, and was in Boston for the
purpose OF negotiating mortgages. The
checks that he presented to Jordan, Marsh
& Co. We're In payment of goods, We're
drawn on the Merchants National Bank
of Atlanta, Ca, and were signed A. J.
West & Co. II is believed that Wes,, or
Mason, Is wanted in New York and Phil
adelphia, and he had long lists Of firms
in those cities.