The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-04-30
lie WAS A BIRD.
Forgery and Theft the Charges
Against John Mcmahon.
HOW He WORKED Ills SwINDLE.
cauhsd Cheek Signed by a Nan who has
Been Dead Tor several lIOnths-Thsn
PnIsred Five Typswritsrs from MS
Empioysr and DID the Rapid DinAPpear
ing Aetrwarrant sworn out for His
Arrest-Said 70 be in the city Yet

That old phrase. There's sucker
born every minute" appeals to Mama
ger McBane, of the West virginia Sup
ply Company, with due earnestness and
applicability this morning. In other
words he Is the victim of swindler.
Several months ago John McAIahon
came to Wheeling from Newark, N. ].
John has been unsettled in his habits
for some time, in fact he Is one OF those
nomadlc individuals without a home,
who are never at home unless on the
move all the time. His "naln holt Is
as a manipulation of the Morse key
board. but as the demand for men In
that calling has been only fair to mid
ding lately, he has turned his hand to
other vocatlons. For instance. he is
accounted very smooth article in the
art Of inducing a man to believe that
he has been heavy loser In not hav-
ing a typewriter In his outfit Of oftice
furniture. on occasion, too, he has
been classed Al as a sewing machine
agent. Ladies' who never thought
much Of a sewing machine, anyhow"
have been known to change their minds
with remarkable suddenness when
placed under the spell Of Mr.. McMa-
hons persuasive eloquence.
SO when, several weeks ago, John
applied to Manager McBane, OF the
West Virginia Supply Company, for
situation, he got II. He took type
writer out and came back with the mo-
ney in two hours. That was quick
sale OF course Mr.. McBane began to
think that he had found a diamond in
the rough In the person OF the jersey
man. For some time he did very well
and invariably got cash for his ma
chimes. But within the past few days
there has been a change. Mcmahon had
several machines out on trial, 30 he
said, that were not vet paid for. This
was not unusual, however, as It Is usual
to place typewriters In offices on trial.
But yesterday morning, when Mama
ger McBane went to his office and OPEN
ed typewriter box to get out ma
chine that he had sold, quite to his
disappointment and establishment there
was nothing but sawdust in the box.
81 thought the box was rather light
when went al. It," said Mr.. McBane
ruefully, last evening, when telling an
Intelllgencer man OF the affair
But to make matters worse, when
Mr.. McBane went to his show window
for machine that had been on exhibit
ton there. he found the machine was
missing. 1t then developed that Nc
Mahon had been In the office the night
before and had taken the two machines,
without so much as by your leave,
sir" An Investigation was then made
and II was found that ut two places,
N nm
w. B. Campbells over In Bridgeport,
where Mcmahon had reported having
placed typewriters, there were none. In
addition, he got away with sample
machine, five altogether, valued at
$l75.
Pretty good haul, Ell!
But that was not all.
In addition to the theft described, the
swift young Mr.. Mcmahon has a more
serious charge to face. He is forger.
Tuesday evening he went to a tailoring
establishment in the city, where he had
ordered a suit of clothes, and rendered
a check on the First National Bank, Of
Bridgeport, for $35. in payment OF the
clothes. He got the suit and $l3 In
change. The check was signed by s.
Woodcock, jr. Yesterday the tailors dis
covered that the check was Valueless,
There was man named Woodcock' In
Bridgeport, but he has been dead sew
eral months.
Mr.. McAIahon was evidently aware
that his speculations in typewriters and
operations in banking circles were not
for his good, for he was not TO be found
yesterday morning, when a search was
Instituted. In the afternoon the tailor
ing firm swore out a warrant for his
arrest, charging forgery. Up to late