The evening times., 1896-12-01
BUSINESS MEN sW|NDLED
W. H. Wese Fleeced Them With
Bogus Advertising Scheme.
ALSO RESORTED TO FORGERY
Obtained Persons signatures to AL
legged Contracts and Then Utilized
Them in the Manufacture of Fake
Orders and Checks Caught Today
by an Intended Victim.

Detectives Horne and Weedon about noon
| today tookinto custody well-dressed young
man, who gave his name as William II
Wese, and locked him up on the serious
| charge of forgery
The name given is believed to be iicti
dous. and the detectives are this afternoon
looking for the prisoners pal, who sue
ceetied In getting away.
Wese was working bogus advertising
scheme, the Officers say, which dates back
TO last January, with the culplination toda y.
lie claimed to represent the so-called
TRADERS Publishing Company, of No. 133
Broadway. New York, and the scheme was
10 rope Washington business men into
placing their advertisements In ''The Mer-
chants and Tradesmen's Bpsncss Directory
for s96-7,' believed To be a mythical pub
'icatoin.
ONE OF WEsE'S VICTIMS.
Among Wese's victims in this city is the
real estate and insur ance firm OF X. W.
Walker Son, No. 1905 F street north
west. Last January young man called
upon Mr.. Walker and claimed To be a rep
resenLative of the New York publishing
house Mr.. Walker gave him Il So con-
tract. and upon the agents solicit lion
signed his name to "a receipt stating that
the firm had given him n contract for
SO. This signature was used by the men
as copy for the forgery for which the ar
rest was made today.
Just before noon toGay Wese called upon
Mr.. Walker and presented contract con-
tanning the signature, "R. W. Walker &
Son. TO Il contract for SO worth of
advertising i'll the 1897 issue OF the d.
rectory. The young man tried To collect
the $lo, when MIR. Walker pronounced the
signature on the contract a forgery.
TEen Wcsc became frightened, and said he
cniy called to verify the signature.
Wait here a few nonIcnts,'' said Mr..
Walker, until l go in the next room To
get magnlfying glass and then can de-
ierinine ir the signature is genuine or d
forgery
LEFT IN A HURRY.
Never mind,' said Wcse, hastily rising
from his seat. II VIII find out
Mr.. Walker entered IA nearby I, ON and
telephoned 10 the detective office Tor an
officer. He then returned to his Office,
but Wese had dccamDed Summoning one
If his clerks, the real estate dealer gave
chase and captured the man about one
square away.
He was taken back to the office and held
until the arrival Of Detectives Hurue and
Weldon, who escorted him TO Inspector
HUllinhcrgcr's office. After he had been
questioned the Sixth precinct wagon was
sent for and Wesc locked up until to-
morrow when he will have a bearing in
the police court.
Mr.. watson. at No. 331 F street north
west, and ether business men. it Is said,
have been victiniZed by Wesr and his miss
ing companion. THE detectives are look
ing for other victims
The forged documents in the hands OF the
police. aud Will be used evidence. II
is remarkably good imitation of the firm
signature. and was executed by an expert
This afternoont the detectives have learned
that the signature OF Walker X Son. placed
on the contract. was a forgery also. nd that
the firm was swindled out OF So. as they
then believed it to he genuine. 1t was also
learned that Woseand his partner have been
operating extensively in other cities