The herald., 1895-02-19
JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME
Clever Scheme to Swindle
Kansas Banks Detected
NEWSPAPERMAN ARRESTED
He Was One of De Young's Midwinter
Fair Lieutenants
Frank II. Truesdale Charged With Planning
Steals That Would Have Melted Him
Thousands of Dollars

Kansas City, Mo-, Feb. ia Times
special from Emporia, Kas., says; A
clever scheme to swindle Kansas banks
by bogus drafts was discovered here to-
day and the would-be forger arrested.
He gives the name of Hartwell p. Heath,
and clames to hail from Pasadena, Cal,
while papers found on him indicate he is
Frank ii. Trusdale, and that he was
formerly connected with New York and
San Francisco papers. He refuses to talk.
Some days ago the Citizens bank here
received a letter from Pasadena, purport-
ing to be from the cashier of the National
bank of that place, introducing Hartwell
2. Heath. Today man giving the name
presented draft from the Pasadena bank
for $3.50 on the Nassau bank of New York.
The cashier became suspicious and made
investigation. 1t resulted in showing the
signature of the California cashier was q
forgery and that each OF the other EN-
poria banks has received similar letters.
The man was arrested and held until
word was received from California pro-
nouncing all the letters forgeries. On
being searched fraudulent drafts amount
ing to several thousands OF dollars
were found on his person. Letters,
cards, newspaper clippings and railroad
passes were also found in his possession
and indicate the prisoners real name is
Frank H. Truesdale, and that he was for
merly managing editor OF the Elmira, n.
Y, Telegram and lately had been con-
nected with the San Francisco Chronicle.
He had receipt for dues in the San
Francisco Press Club, and personal let
ter from M. II. de Young of the San
Francisco Chronicle. The prisoner is
gentlemanly in all his actions. He has a
black moustache, brown eyes and is of
the average height He refuses to say a
word, especially to reporters, referring all
questioners to his lawyers, whom he i'm
mediately retained after being taken into
custody.
kilograms received here from Wichita,
kas., state letters of introduction similar
to those presented at the Citizens Bank
today had been received by several of the
banks there.
Wichita, kas,, Feb. 1S.-The bankers OF,
Wichita were on the lookout for Hartwell
P. Heath when he was arrested at EN-
poria. Three of the banks had received
letters introducing Heath as philan-
thropist whose mission was represented to
be to aid the western drouth stricken suf-
ferers and asking them to cash any draft
for $3.50 issued bya bank in Pasadena
California. After finding out from the
California bank that the letters were for
geries, each of the banks placed police
man in plain clothes in the Office ready to
arrest Heath should he appear. Heath is
about so years old.
San Francisco, Feb. 1S.-Frank H. Trus-
dell, who is accused attempting to swindle
Emporia, Kas., banks by means of forged
drafts, is well known here. He came to
San Francisco about three years ago and
worked as reporter on the Chronicle He
was of good address and made favorable
impression. During the Mdwinter Fair he
acted as chief of the bureau of publicity
and promotion, and since the fair closed
he has been engaged in writing a history
of the enterprise. He was member of
the San Francisco Press Club, and was
noted as clever and entertaining talker
He left there for the East about week
ago and said that he would soon return.
His record while here, as far as known,
was good,