News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1896-05-14
The Forged Checks

1t was while | was vicar at st.
Chad's, Manchester, that the most
trying and painful episode of my life
occurred, and there are times even
now when I shudder to think of the
anguish my dear, dead wife and my
self were called upon to undergo.
One morning shabby young fell
low who looked a typical neer-do-
we'll called on me to beg. | had
great difficulty in recognizing him as
Robert Emmerton, the only son of a
wealthy corn factor who had been
one of my church wardens at Wey-
mouth. On questioning him | found
that he had squanderd his wealth by
the most riotous living, and for the
last two years had been earning
precarious living as hanger-on at
race courses and professional tipster,
and, fear at other employments
more shady still did all | could
for him, for his fathers sake; found
him respectable lodgings and got a
business friend of mine to take him
into his office. But, as | feared, my
friend had to dismiss him in less than
a month, and lost sight of him.
What his gratitude was like was to
learn few weeks later.
was sitting in my study one Tues
day morning, the first week in De-
cember, preparing a lecture | was to
deliver to our literary society, when
was handed the card of visitor
who wished to see me. The name
was "Mr. L. Pridson," and for the
moment l could not recall any such
person to my mind. But when he
was shown in | instantly recognized
him as the cashier of the Manchester
City Bank. He was a portly and
rather a pompous man, and now he
looked decidedly nervous.
"Good morning, Mr.. Pridson," I
said. "a wretched morning, is it
not? Take seat, Please
He sat down, but made no response
to my greeting, and / watched for
him to speak.
"Mr. Adamson," he said, 81 have
called upon very unpleasant business.
1t will be great relief to US if you
can clear yourself, SIR"
"Clear myself! Why, Mr.. Pridson,
what do you mean?"
"On the afternoon of the 3D. of No
vember, Mr.. Adamson, you came to
the bank and requested us to cash a
check for $3.50, drawn in your favor,
and signed by Sir James Garel. This
morning the check was returned by
Sir James, with the intimation that
it was a forgery. On infinitely ex-
aiming the signature this morning
we found that, though a clever imi-
tation, Sir James was right. You will
admit that this is a serious business,
SIR"
every Serious" [ said, "but it does
not concern me. [ simply know
nothing about the check
"Mr. Adamsonp he exclaimed,
with severity.
"Mr. Pridsonp 1 said, a little
heated.
He shook his head impatiently.
"Mr. Adamson, about 3:45 on the
afternoon of November 3, you came
to the bank muffled up, on account
of the fog, you said, and young Sid
dell attended to you. You produced
this check, which you had endorsed,
and asked him to cash it. Siddell
brought the check to me, and | came
and spoke to you. "A large amount,
Mr.. Adamson,' l said. YES you re-
piled, lit represents Sir James's gen.
erosity to our restoration and poor
funds. will take seven hundred in
fifty or hundred pound notes and the
odd fifty in gold OF course under
the circumstances | never questioned
the genuineness of the check or your
representations. In the ordinary
course of business the check came be-
fore Sir James yesterday, and this
morning was returned to us, as j
have said. There is no doubt it is a
forgery"
/ saw that there had been forgery
somewhere and that | was in an I'M
pleasant position, but my conscience
was quite clear. "Mr. Pridson," /
said, "you are under delusion.
never had q check of Sir James
Carols, and / never brought it to the
bank to cash it. have never seen
such check from first to last.
lie took the document from his
pocket-book and held it between his
fingers. 1T panied me to see that he
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