The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-12-24
A CLEVER FORGERY,
One, Henry c. Briggs, Secures S12oo
Through Bogus Deed TO a
Linn County Farm.

~ Va 'iNiSoiSi WulCil, lOr ltS very
ooldness and the shrewdness of the
confidence men who worked it has
never had an equal in this state, has
just come to light In this city, says the
Albany Herald:
Henry G. Briggs was the name
given by the man who worked the
scheme. He forged deed to a fine
3lo acre farm of Alexander s. Knox,
near Spicer, and secured a loan on il
OF $l2OO from the Alliance Trust
Company, and departed with the
money, covering his work so we'll that
his crime was not discovered for sever
al months afterwards.
Briggs came to Albany in June last,
and stopped at the Russ House. He
said that his home was in Iowa, that
he owned land in California and he
was about to trade lis property in
santa Clara county for the Knox
farm. He also said that two of his
brothers intended to purchase farms
In Linn county in the near future,
He was accordingly treated kindly by
real estate men, and was driven about
the country, past many desirable
farms, in an easy carriage. He visited
the Knox farm several times, talked
with the renter, s. F. Doughton, and
inquired of Recorder Hardman as to
the value, its soil and surroundings.
He employed the Albany Abstract
Company to make an abstract of title
to the land and paid for it. He ap-
peared like careful buyer and want
ed everything straight. He went to
o.. e. Burknart, agent for the Alliance
Trnst Co., limit d, and said he had
traded for the land and wanted to hor.
row $1,000, giving mortgage as securl-
ty. As the farm is worth $4,000 or
$4,000, the company was glad enough
to make the loan. On July 13, be
made an application for the loan, and
produced deed duly signed by Mary
A. 5. Knox and Alexander S, Knox,
who reside in San Jose, Cal. The in
strument was witnessed by George
w. Taylor and f. 2. Black, and was
acknowledged by E. A. Clark, notary
public, in Santa Clara county. 1t ap-
peared perfectly regular, except the
scroll that should accompany the sig
natures was omitted. The deed was
returned, presumably to Mr. Knox in
California, for correction, but in re-
ality it was no doubt cont to a con-
federate at Mr., Knox's home, who was
watching things there. The deed was
duly returned and recorded
The mortgage was then executed to
the loan company on July 20, the
$1,000 paid to Briggs throuqh the First
National.bank
Briggs had arranged for lumber, and
said he wanted to use The money in
erecting buildings and improving the
farm. He represented himself to be
single man about to be married. He
was aged about 81 years, a small man
with dark nustache and was plainly
dressed.
After securing the $1,000 he did hot
prolong his stay many hours and has
not been heard of since.
The fo gerry did not become known
until Mr.. Doughton, who lives on the
farm, came to town to find out to
whom he should deliver the one, third
of the crop as rental. This occasioned
correspondence with Mr.. Knox, who
wrote to Weatherford Il Wyatt, his
attorneys, in this city, that he had not
sold the farm, and that he did not
knew any Henry Briggs. An investi,
CATION disclosed the fact that the ex
ecutlon of the deed was a forgery, that
the names of the men whose sigma.
lures appeared on the deed as witnesses
were forged, and that no such notary
as L. A. Clark resides in Santa Clara
county. The alleged signatures of Mr..
and Mrs. Knox on the deed do not in
the least resemble their own. The
seal Of the notary was one made to
order for the occasion.
Mr.. and Mrs, Knox happened to be
away at the sea coast while Briggs was
manipulating the bogus sale. The
forger undoubtedly knew this, ana
took things coolly, remaing here near
ly u month.
A suit was commenced Thursday,