Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1895-01-18
BOGUS CHECKS
AND TIE YOUNG MAN WHO PASSED
THEM.


A well-dressed and prepossessing young
man registering as sc. ii. Farwell, New
York." and claiming to represent Rock
wood & Co., a collection agency at SyTa-
cuse, n. Y, appeared in town early this
month and stopped at the Addison House.
He asked MIR. Rider to cash Il few small
checks, which he did, and they were hon
ored bv the bank upon which they were
drawn. Farwell was here two or three
times more between his first appearance
and last Friday. when he came in the
morning and drove out to BrdpOrt. Be
fore leaving for Bridport two checks of
$50 each were cashed for him at the ho-
tel About noon Mr.. Rider and his clerk
took another look at them and their sus-
picions were aroused by the fact that both
bore the same date and signature and
were for the same amount. Mr.. Rider
accordingly telegraphed the Syracuse
bank. and after the coach had gone to the
mail train. on which Farwell was to
leave. a reply was received that The checks
were valueless. Clerk Shepard fastened
to the station and saw Farwell. who gave
up the 500. In the early afternoon Far
we'll had had cashed at the office of firm
here two checks amounting to $50. He
pretended to have collected an account
bv the firm. and allowed the amount of
that less his commission for collecting, to
be deducted. As soon as Mr. Rider learned
of the nature OF the checks he Informed
the firm, but in the meantime the train
had gone. FarWell was run down that
evening in Bristol by Deputy Sheriifs
W. A. Lawrence of that town and Thad.
NJ. Chapman of this and was brought to
Mddebury. He paid back the $50. and
as there seemed to be no charge upon
which he could be held, he was allowed
to go. 1t has since been learned that he
had not collected the account for the
firm.
Farwell pretended Friday night that
he was going to Syracuse forthwith to
straighten things out, but on Tuesday
morning the Burlington Free Press
printed dispatch from st. Albans say
ing that on Monday a nice-appearing
young man. giving the name of j. a.
Johnson of Syracuse, n. Y, was placed
under arrest there for passing a worth
less check for $50 on f. V. Pierce of
Swanton When he found that he was
caught ne Immediately settled aud de-
parted. 1t is understood that several of
the business men of Swanton were dup
ed. He claimed to represent a Syracuse
the mans name was not Johnson, but
+. Z. Bruce. Farwell, johnson and
Bruce are clearly one and the same pei
son.
Farwel operated to some extent in
Bristol, but it has not been stated how
much, if anything, he swnded people up
there out Of Cashier Lamb of the Com.
mercal bank. Syracuse, ON which The
checRs were drawn, writes Mr.. Rider a-
follows:
Your favor of 18th inst isat hand. y young
man giving his name Is FarWell called ut the
bank short time ago, and wished to open AZ
accou tunder the name of lockwood Co
We told him he would have to be introduced
by some responsible person that we knew IN
order to do So He said he would deposit the
small amount OF currency that he had, ant
would satisfy rs atterward. He di so. leav
ing his signature. lie did not appear at tho
bank again, but drew out the amount de
l,osted I'm small amounts under tne drn
/ name. He said the firm had an Otllce in the
/ Bastable block, which find to be true. Ii l.
occupied by II young lady. Further than thi'
/ | know nothing about the concern.