Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-24
MRS. JOSEPH 7. BELLAH AGAIN.
Vlctimlzlng Residents of st. Louis
With Worthless Checks.


DIR. willard b. Shelp, His Father, DIR. u.
SheIp, and tho Latter's Daughter, Mrs.
Dr. MorreiI Imposed Upon = Mrs.
Beliah's Ingenious swindling Methods.
Last SUNDAYS st. Louis Post Dispatch
tells the following story OF Mrs. Joseph H.
Bellah's most recent swindiing pranks:
Mrs. Joseph T. Belah, who was arrested
in Kansas City last Thursday and taken to
Liberty, Mo-, on warrant charging her
with obtaining money on worthless
check, mid living visit to st. Louis the
first of last week. Although her stay was
short. she was industrious, and as result
ono or two residents of this city are added
to her long list of victims. ~,
Last Monday morning. while DR.. Will
lard B. Shelp was busy in his office at 6l2
Olive street, IL addressed woman, nppar-
emily about 40 years old, entered, leading a
little boy about II years of age by the
hand. Both were prepossessing in appear
| ance. The woman inquired for Dr. Shelp
and upon being Informed that the person
she was addressing was the one she sought,
| a smile lit np her features aud advancing
she took the doctors hand In most cor
dial manner.
"Gracious. how you have grown she
| exclaimed, "When saw You last you were
| a little boy OF 8 years
you probably don't remember me, she
continued, III am Mrs. Bellah and knew
| you and your family quite well several
wears ago. when you lived in Wilmington,
Dell
After being informed who she was DR.,
Shelp saysthat be remembered the woman.
| She had been school teacher In Whining
| ton NJ the time his family resided there.
She then entered into an animated con
versation with him, during which she in
quired about the other members Of his
family and finally wound up by asking
| him ii he would kindly go with her to the
bank and identify her.
DR. Shelp was very busy at the time, aud
referred her to his father. DR.. u. Shelp,
whose office is directly across the street.
The woman at once acted on this stlg-
geStion and called on DR.. Il. Shelp, who
recognized her at once as an old acquaint-
ance of his former home. He had at one
time attended her professionally. After u
short conversation with him, during
| which they reviewed old times and talked
Of mutual acquaintance, she made the
| same request of him that she had Of his
son. DR.. Shelp readily agreed and to-
| gether they went to the National Bank Of
Commerce. where Mrs. Bellah produced a
| check for $50, signed by Joseph r. Belib
| The check was not filled out in the same
handwriting us the signature, but Mrs.
Bellah explained this by saying that her
husband was in the habit Of giving her
several blank checks at time, which she
| fllleu out for the sum she needed. As DR..
Shelp was not known personally ut the
bank the cashier refused to cash the check,
but upon being informed that the doctor
was the father OF Mrs. DIR. Morrell, who
had an account there. he said he would
cash il if endorsed by Mrs. Morrell.
The doctor and Mrs. Bellah then
departed and the latter lost no time in
procuring q carriage and driving To Mrs.
Norrell's residence She introduced her
self to that lady, who in turn also remem-
bered her. After short conversation she
stated her difficulty in getting her check
cashed, and stated that Mrs. Morrells
father had sent her oltt there to ask her to
help her out. Mrs. Morrell ut once agreed
toilo all she could and together the two
drove back to the bank Mrs. Morrell was
perfectly willing to identify Mrs. Bellah,
but when il came to endorsing a check,
that was a different matter and she stead.
lastly refused to do 50. As the cashier re-
fused to cash the check without this
security Mrs Bellah was Obliged to leave
the bank without the money.
On the way up the street she was accom-
panied by Mrs. Morrell, to whom she told
such pitiful tale Of the urgent need she
had for money that the latter agreed to en-.
dorse the check for her for smaller
amount Mrs, Bcllah then filed in another
SnSeA ~ ~ MilGh Was eldoi spu ny Ehrs'
Morrell, and which was Cashed by u grocer
near the lattQ's residence.
After receiving the money Mrs. Bellah
was profuse i'll her thanks and accom-.
panied by the little boy. whom she said
was her son, she took her departure and
has not been seen by any Of the Shelr
family since The check cashed by the
grocer turned ont to be worthless and Mrs
Morrell was forced to make it good
thereby paving SO for the privilege Of re-
neYing an old acquaintance.