The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-11
Another jim The PENMAN
"A Supposed Swindler Shoots at a
Banker and then Suicides.
SENSATION IN SAN FRANCISCO
william Holland, Who Has, According to
Police Reports, Lived for Ten Years
From the Proceeds of Forgery
Kills Himself.
By the United Press,


BY the United Press.
San Francisco, Feb 1O.-The attempt
ed shooting yesterday of Banker Isaac
w. Hellman, president of the Nevada
National bank, by Stock Speculator
William Holland, and the suicide of
Holland. form the most sensational
crime this city has had since old Stock
Gambler Rippeys effort to kill Bonan-
"a Millionaire MaclIey. Behind Hol-
lands crime there is no mere morbid
brooding over fancied injustice, but the
desperate act of an habitual and cum
ming criminal, who feared that Banker
Hellman was playing with him prepar-
atory TO springing proof that would
send him to state prison for the re-
mainder of his life for forgery. The
story of Hollands life in this city, If it
can ever be fully learned, will suggest
strongly the play of Jim the Penman,"
Holland, the police say, had for ten
years been living we'll from the pro-
ceeds of bank forgery; yet, although
the detectives We're morally certain he
was the man who every four or five
months passed a spurious check
through some local bank, they could get
no legal proof, and could not afford to
arrest him.
Last December, however a forged
check for SO, 600 was passed on the Bank
OF California, but payment was luckily
stopped in time A few days later a
check for $1,000 was presented at the
Nevada bank. The signature was per-
feet but the paying teller asked the
man who presented It to leave the
check for identification of the drawee's
signature.
This he refused to do, and took the
check with him. From the description
given by the teller and by his assistant,
Captain Lees, chief of detectives, had
no doubt that Holland was the man.
SO he was arrested and searched.
Among memoranda in his pocket were
samples of handwriting that an eX-
pert declared showed features of hand
writing of several of the forged checks.
Yet Holland protested his innocence,
and the bank clerks could not positive
ly swear he was the man who presented
the check. So he was released and the
bank officers made a formal retraction
of their charges. Since then Holland
has claimed he suffered injustice from
Hellman, and talked SO wildly about
his ruined reputation that several of
his friends thought he had become in
sane.
Holland fired two shots at the banker
near his residence on California street
at 915 a. m, and then shot and killed
himself. The shots fired at Mr.. He'll
man went wide of the mark.
Theory of the Police.
Ex-Superior Judge Levy says that
Holland, whose age was about 40 years,
came to him recently and asked him to
bring suit against the Nevada bank for
defamation of character for refusing to
accept a certified check
The police theory is that he feared
Hellman had gathered proof against
him. and would have him prosecuted.
A year ago Holland attempted suicide
in the Golden West hotel with lauda
mum, but he was saved by discovery in
time. The police declare Holland could
give no satisfactory explanation of the
way he had made a living for ten years.
He came here from Chicago, and his
only income was derived from, speculat-
ing in mining stocks, making small
turns that never gave him over 800.
Their theory is that he had lived all
these years on the fruits of his skill as
a penman, and that the local banks
have supported him.
Captain Lees has an interesting col
lection of forged checks, all apparently
made by the same man, and all perfect
so far as signature and other details
are concerned. These checks are for
sums varying from $500 to $500, and they
were presented about six months apart
to various banks, and all were cashed.
When the checks came back the men
drawn upon declared them forgeries,
and the banks bore the loss.
The handwriting on these checks bear
strong resemblance in it's essential fea-
lures to Hollands. but it would prob
ably be difficult to establish this legally.
For several years Captain Lees has
shadowed Holland for weeks at n
stretch, but could get no evidence, so
cunning was the man, who lived quietly
at a private hotel with his wife. Hol-
land was a man Of fine education, but
very reticent, and had no intimates.
Even the stock brokers and specula-
tors of Pine street and Pauper alley,
whom he met every day, never gained
his confidence. Unless his wife tells
what she knows the mystery of his
career will be buried with him.
Mr.. Hellman, who had so narrow an
escape. has been at the head of the
Nevada bank since the disastrous wheat
deal which swallowed up ten millions
OF the fortune of Flood and Mackay.
After millionaire Fair saved his old
partners from bankruptcy by putting
up six millions in ready cash he insisted
on having some good financier in charge
of the bank, and Hellman was brought
up from Los Angeles. He proved an
able manager, and he has made the
bank one Of the strongest on the coast
unNECnAr