Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-03
DISLIKE TO TALK.
Victims Of Manuel Mendoza. the Cuban Forger
Are Very Reticent.

New OH APP IL IiS PAL ltiCi = IL
the firm of August Belmont & Co de-
cined to discuss the swindle perpet-
rated upon them on March y, wheT
they were induced to cash forged
check for $4,000. G.. De Zaldo. part
ner of the banking house Of Jose Hi
llalgo e. Co. of Havana, by whom tn,
check purported to be drawn wa,
similarly reticent. He would only 50.
that the forger. known under the name
of Manuel Gonzales Mendoza did no.
, ~eQuest to be identified at any othei
5;,..- than that of Belmont & Co.
Mendoza, a man apparently about 81
years old. and seemingly SpainarG
arrived in this city from Havana b.
the Ward Line steamer Saratoga OF
March Il, and went to the Hote
America at Irving Place and 15tl
street.
On the following day obtained an in
terpreter at the hotel. and went to TIL.
banking house of Belmont & Co.. wher,
he presented the check together will
a letter of introduction purporting I
be written by a member of the firm
Hidalgo 4 Co. Belmont & Co. promise,
to honor the draft if he should be iden
tilted by the resident partner Of tn
Cuban banking house. G. de Zaldo
Mendoza went to see Mr.. De Zaldo an,
unsuccessfuly endeavored to persuad,
him to vouch for him.
He then returned to Belmont & Co.
who during his brief absence had re
ceived a letter from Havana, purport
ing to come from Hidalgo & Co. ant
bearing marks which convinced tn
,f 90
genuineness of the check, and of tn,
proper identify of he holder. 1t en-
closed an autograph of Mendoza as tn.
test by which to establish his identifi.
and forbade payment upon a persona
identification. Mendoza's signature
| having been found to correspond will
this autograph the money was paid.
Mendoza remained at the Hote
America until the morning of the 14th
| when he left. saying that he was goint
to Chicago. He had represented him
self, and had been so attested in tn
letter to Belmont & Co., as having COM
to this country for the purpose of buy
ing food stuffs for expectation to Cuba
Communication with Hidalgo & Co
brought the reply that Belmont & Co
had been imposed upon, as the Havana
| firm knew nothing whatever abou
Mendoza, his check, and his letters
The case was at once placed in tn,
hands of detectives.
| In similar way the Paris branch
the Spanish Bank of the Island of Cub;
and the Bank of Commerce of Havana
are said to have been robbed of larg,
amounts, and all the circumstances o
these and other swindles or attempted
swindles point to the existence of
gang of bold and ingenious forger.
operating from Havana.
The night Pullman service will be re
etored to Rockland, over the Main,
Central, June %. from Brunswick. Bag
gage business on the Maine Contra
Railroad is reported to be increasing a.
the spring comes on. The freight bust
ness Oh the Maine Central is excellent
An employee in the freight moving de-
partmcnt says that at the present tins
the regular freight train service as full
as it has ever been in the history of tbs
road and all the trains are heavily
loaded both east and west. Beside:
the regular trains here are severa.
specials each way every day.
The Maine officers Of the Christian
Endeavor for Maine are preparing fol
the Maine quarters at the Interna-
tional convention in Washington. D. c..
July 9-13. 1t is customary for each
State to provide a State headquarters
where representatives from q State can
meet for social or business intercourse
| This year these booths will be ar
ranged in the Armory hall of the
Washington Light Infantry. which is
Immediately opposite the White Lot"
where the three large convention tents
will be pitched. The Maine congress
| men are contributing generously to the
Maine committee in charge of decora-
tons and other workers in the State
are also adding their contributions.