The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-23
WANTED FOR FORGERY.
Joseph III. Walraff Accused of Using
His Brothers Name

Joseph H. Walraff is wanted by the
LEGAL police for three clever forgeries
aggregating $125, alleged to have been
perpetrated by him Wednesday after
neon. The authorities have been look
ing for Walraff since the forgerieS, and
warrant for his arrest was issued
yesterday, but no trace of the man can
be found and it is thought that he has
made good his escape from the city.
Shortly after o'clock Wednesday
afternoon, Walraff purchased clothing
to the amount of $25 at the store of
L. @. Hoffman,, Seventh and Robert
streets, and rendered in payment a
check for $50 upon the Second National
bank, purporting to have been drawn
by his brother, Hubert A. Walraff,
of Walraf & Thlessen. Some question
ing established beyond doubt that he
was the brother of the person supposed
to have signed the check, and Walraff
was given his purchase and $25 in
change.
Walraff next visited the jewelry store
of John Pfster, No. "a East Seventh
street. where he asked for the proprie-
tor. To Mr.. Pfster he showed a letter
of introduction signed by his brother
in which it was stated that the bearer
wished to purchase some jeWelry and
that a check which he would present
in payment was all right Mr. Pfister
is we'll acquainted with Hubert A. Wal
raft, and suppOSing the letter was gem
uine, in addition to the resemblance Of
the brothers, sold Walraff a watch for
$50 and caShed another $50 check, re-
turning the man $40. Walraff appeared
perfectly at his ease while imposing
upon the merchant, and talked Of his
family and the acquaintanceShip be-
tween Mr.. Pfister and mis- brother final
ly leaving the store with a polite good
afternoon.
So successful were his operations that
WalraH evidently concluded there was
no such thing as too much of a good
thing and Immediately proceeded to
the fur store of Albrecht & Son, No.
q East Seventh street, where the let
ter Of introduction game was again
sprung. The man picked out a seal
cap valued at $15, and after persuad-
ing the proprietor to let him have it
for 81, presented a check similar to
the other two which he had passed.
except that 1t was for but $25. The man
received $14 change, and after a short
conversation upon affairs in general,
took his departure
Walraff also victimized the Boston
on a $50 check, and after a Sc SO pur-
chase, received $33. so change This was
the probable scene of his first attempt
to pass the forged checks, as he enter
ed the store shortly after 5 o'clock. He
called for Louis Nash, with whom he
was acquainted, and who also knew
his brother intimately, thus quieting
any suspicion. which might otherwise
have been aroused.
But one of the checks was discovered
to be a forgery Wednesday evening,
when Mr.. Hoffman became suspicious
and reported his case to the police. The
report, however, did not go through
the proper channels and by blunder,
a police officer was dispatched with
one of Mr.. Hoffman's clerks, to Wal
raff's house to try and induce him to
make a settlement without arrest The
alleged fOrger thus became aware that
his game was discovered and took to
flight ~ .0se,5 -
Joseph H. Walraff is well known in
this city, where he has resided with his
! mother for some years, but it was not
| generally known that he has criminal
| record of two terms in prison for
forgeries perpetrated in the West He
is an expert bOOk-keeper and remarka-
bly, proficient with the pen. Walraft
has operated extensively on the Pacific
| coast, the police say, where he and
| pal were known as the Croker broth
ers. Walraff, himself has served one
year in the Walla Walla penitentiary
| in Washington, for forgery and from
| Jan. IS to Nov. IS, 1885, was imprisoned
! in the San Quentin, Cal, penitentiary
| on the same charge. He was arrested
| in Los Angeles, Cal, Jan. 49, 1892, for
| three cases of forgery and pied guilty
/ to each charge, being sentenced to the
San Quentin prison for five years. He
| was discharged Oct. "a 1885, when he
came to st. Paul.