The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-01
WENT TO EXTREMES
Young Mezsl Forgss His FsthE's
Name to a Large Check.
AND THEN THE FUN BEGINS
A Friend Indorses the Paper--His
Arrest In Chicago--Had q
Penchant For Plug Hats
and Large Cities.


Butte. April s0.-The dispatch sent
out from Chicago to-day by the As
sociated Press in regard to the arrest
In that city of Thomas A. Metzel on a
charge of forgery releases an impor-
tant piece of news which has been
kept very quiet here on account of the
fear that its publication would inter-
fere with the capture of Metzel and
also In the belief that a clue on which
the officers were working would result
I'm the arrest of one or two Butte peo-
pie who were thought to be implicated
In the affair. 1t is now believed. how
ever. that Metzel had no accomplices.
Young Metzel Is a son of Alexander
Metzei OF Virginia City. who is state
senator from Madison county. and the
prominence of his father and relatives
gives an added sensationalism to the
case. While he has always been rather
inclined to be fast. this was his first
serious offense. but he laid his plans
very sl<ilifully.
He arrived In Butte a week ago last
Saturday morning with a forged check
for $4,000 snugly tucked away In his
vest pocket. The check bore what ap-
peared to be his fathers signature
and was made out on one OF his faith
er's private banks and drawn on Hen
ry Filing. the Virginia City banker. He
was directed to the store of John E.
Davis. who is an old friend OF his
fathers and the family. and bought a
large bill of groceries on the represen-
tation that he was about to commence
work with a large force on some placer
mines In the Gravel range. This step
had been under contemplation for
some time. and. as Mr.. Davis had had
several conversations with young Met
zers father relative to furnishing sup
plies for the men. he naturally sup
posed that the young man was telling
the truth. After buying enough sup
plies to keep large force OF men run
ming for some time Metzel produced
the 5000 check and asked Mr.. Davis
IL he would go up to the First Ma
Davis knew Metzels father to be
worth two or three dozen times the
amount of the check he readily con-
sented, and after he had endorsed the
forged check the young man was hand
ed his $1,000. He then paid Mr.. Davis
for the groceries that he had ordered
and went on his way rejoicing.
Strange as IL may seem. almost the
first thing he did after getting the
check cashed was TO sit down and
write his father a letter telling him
what he had done. He closed the let-
ter with the statement: IT needed the
money and took this way OF getting
It," He then went on a spree ami II
was not long until he encountered
Boston Charley" Marion, who de-
cided 10 stay with him through thick
and thin after he caught sight of his
big roll OF bills. which he displayed
reclxlessiy. Marion proved a very
agreeable companion. and he and Met
eel were soon fast friends. They made
a tour of East Mercury street and
then took the night train for Chicago
over the Northern Pacific.
The check was duly forwarded to
Henry Filing for collection. and in a
couple of days a telegram was re-
ceived stating that IL was a forgery.
Prompt steps were at once taken to
apprehend the forger and Pinkerton's
detective agency in Chicago was com
municated with so literally that the
wires between the two cities were kept
hot. Cashier A. j. Davis discovered
that Miss May Moberly. a handsome
milliner OF Sandusky. Ohio. with whom
young Metzel was intimately ac-
HtdinhNds was NtSAttub III oouhn Sul-
cago. and he came to the conclusion
that he had gone there to visit her.
This Information was telegraphed to
the Pinkertons. and IL led to Metzers
arrest early last Sunday morning.
About $4,000 in gold and currency
was found on him. and this money has
been forwarded to the bank here. The
requisition papers calling for his re-
turn to Montana have already been
to Chicago. and the young
man will be brought back to Butte at
once. An Information charging him
with forgery was filed I'm the district
court a couple of days ago.
Young Metzel has always manifested
n dislike for country life. and IL was
his desire to live In style in a big city
that got him into trouble He always
wore a Prince Albert coat around on
the ranch and frequently a plug hat
rs well. and these eccentricities gained
him the reputation around Virginia
City OF being a confirmed dude. In
explanation OF Senator Metzers ac-
ton In allowing his son TO be arrested
on the serious charge OF forgery, IL is
stated that he has helped him out OF
number OF difficulties OF lesser magni-
tstAo and that ha Rna1lxr ho.ar~a fl-..4