The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-24
THECHATHAM SWINDLER
LRRssrFD ~ CHdRLOrTESgILLE.
ms CONFEssEs ms CRiMks.
uss Taken tu Number of Banks by Dis
counting Forged Notcs-How He
Was Captured.

CHARLOTTESVILLE. VA. April GO
speelal.-On last Tuesday. man by the
name OF C.. NJ. Bryant came TO the city
md registered at Hotel Gleason. lie
engaged a horse and buggy from Tur-
u,r's livery and drove TO Doylosvillc. a
little village some twelve miles from the
city. lie called at the store OF j. 4.
Early q Son. and it being late in the
evening. he stayed all night. He rep
resented himself as agent for the knabe
Plano Company. OF Baltimore. and gave
his name as G. NJ. Bryant lie had with
him lot OF spcctacles, which he left
with Early & Son TO sell on commission.
taking a receipt for same.
on his return TO town he had in his
possession "a note. purported 10 have been
drawn by j. a. Early < Son for $3.50. and
payable al the Bank Of Albemarle. lie
tried TO have the note discounted at the
bank bat failed he also tried 20 get
o. of on several merchants. Finally he
called az the Peoples Bank. Said he was
anxious 20 get the note discounted, as
he necoed money 10 pay his fair 10 wash
ineton. where he had previous engage
ment.
SUSPICION EXCITED.
Tho suspicious Of the officers OF the
bank becoming a little excited believing
he nllcd the description Of the man want
ed at Chatham they told him 10 call III
a little later. and they would likely DIS
count his note. When he Departed he
left laying on the presidents desk
pockotbook which contained 80. rms
further excited the suspicion of the bank
officers (as IL did not apoar that he was
hard up and they sent out for him. ana
placed him unoor arrest as a suspicious
character.
Mr. T.. s. Reid cashier Of the bank at
Chatham. said that this man came 10
that town on April "a. gave his name as
j. T. Brooks. and professed 10 represent
the Jaccard Jewelry Company. Of chi
cago. lie procured the names OF several
country merchants OF Pittsylvania. and
went 10 the country 20 see them. After
a fcyV DAYS he returned 10 Chatham, hav-
ing I'm his possession four or nve notes.
purportcd % Dee signed by these mer-
chants said notes ranging from $50 10
500 among the merchants whose names
were forged were J. J. Motley Shookoc
Va. G. H. TAYLOR & Co. Keeting Va:
W r. Clarke. Pickaway. Va; j. L. SIN
rleton Peytonsburg Va, and c. A. Keel
ing. Atlas. Va
DISCOUNTED FORGED NOTES.
Several OF these notes were discounted
by the Chatham Bank. but as soon as
Mr. Reid detected that a fraud had been
perpctrated ON the bank, he at once sent
out circular letters 20 all the banks In
the state notifying them TO look out for
this man. giving a description Of him.
which led 10 his capture here yesterday
afternoon.
When confronted by Mr.. Reid this
morning az the pail. Bryant recognized
him. and also confessed 10 the forgery
When Mr. Reid asked him 10 make re-
stitution for tho $4s3 gotten from him.
Bryant said.
81 have only $50 left. will tell the
Mavor 10 turn that over 10 you.
Mr. Reid says the impression Is that
trc~e ie q hand OF these men travelling
through the country and committing all
manner Of frauds. that other strange men
had been seen while Bryant was in
Chatham talking with him.
When Bryant came 10 Charlottesville
another man was with him. lie hired
q buggy and horse and went into the
country yesterday morning, 10 return on
Saturday M noon. but IT IS very doubt
ful about his return al all as he IS be-
neved to be one Of the band.