Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-11
TWO SMOOTH CHAPS.
Alleged Boston Newspaper
Men Doing" the State.
Tell Good Stories But Their Checks
Are Of Doubtful Value.
Francis Curtis and Mrs. Ross Held in
Roc kland Murder Case.

AC"iStoH, oCt. 1V.-I1oleI hecpeiS,
livery stable men, and bank officials
here would like to know the where
abouts of Bernal Osborne, alias A. F.
Grant, who pretended to be a reporter
of the Boston Post and Almiron Per-
kins, who posed as an attache of the
Boston Globe. They were here several
days and beat the Exchange hotel, be-
side other parties, and forged three
checks, which they stole from the check
book of Fred N. Saunders. lawyer Of
this city, to the amount of $75.
Mr.. Saunders met Osborne in Boston
last May, at which time Osborne was a
reporter on the Post staff. The next
Mr.. Saunders heard of him was on
Sept. s, when Osborne telephoned from
Portland, saying he was in Maine on
account of trouble with a woman in
Boston, and wished finapcicl assist
ance. Saunders did not bite at that
time, but on the following Sunday Os-
borne showed up at Mr.. Saunders Office
in this city, and succeeded in borrowing
a small amount. Osborne remained
here for several days, and continued to
borrow money, and also clothing OF MIR.
Saunders.
the scene. and went to Mr.. Saunders to
ask for his friend Osborne. In the
meantime the proprietors of the Elk
change hotel had become anxious for
money which Osborne owed them, and
telegraphed to the Boston Post, and
were informed that Osborne had no
connection or money there. Perkins
had tried to borrow money from the
Globe correspondent here, representing
that he was here getting up special
story on the Lewiston rum wal"
The local Globe man telegraphed to
Boston and was quickly informed that
Perkins was an imposter.
Mr.. Saunders, much to his surprise,
was informed by the Manufacturers
Bank that his account at that institu-
ton was overdrawn, and investigation
showed that three checks, amounting
to $75, had been drawn by Osborne,
who had made the checks payable to
the order of A. F. Grant. One of the
forgeries of Mr.. Saunders name was
very good. The checks were cashed
through a Boston bank. The writing
in the body of one of them is in Os-
cne's hand, as can be seen from one
of Osborne's letters, which Mr.. Saun-
ders has in his possession. When Os-
borne and Perkins left here they hired
q team of Liveryman G. Y. Clark to go
to Sabatis. The next Mr.. Clark heard
Of them was by way of q telegram
from Brunswick, saying his team was
there. Mr.. Clark went to Brunswick,
and found his team and the two men.
One of them said he had a check given
by Fred Saunders of Lewiston, and he
got a Brunswick man to cash it, and
Mr. Clark was paid for his team. The
men also paid their hotel bill at Bruins
wick, and then disappeared, and have
not since been seen.
The two swindlers owe quite an amount
at the Exchange hotel. They owe SIG to
George H. Curtis, liveryman of this
city. and besides passing the checks
which they stole from Mr.. Saunders
office, they borrowed SIS and some cloth
ing from him.
Osborne is IS years old, about feet s
inches tan, weighing 165 pounds. with yell
low hair and mustache. red cheeks. blue
eyes, and hair somewhat thin on top. He
wore, when last seen. light suit golf
cap and tan shoes. Perkins is "a. about
the same height as Osborne, but lighter.
He is stoop-shouldered. has blue eyes,
light hair. small mustache, very white
skin and his cheeks are colorless. He has
very prominent. yellow teeth, and is an
inveterate cigarette smoker. When last
seen he wore a crash suit.
Still another case of swindling reported
is that of a young man who passed a
check for SIG on the Syke Clothing store.
The fellow had a companion, and repre-
scented that he was a student at Bates
College. He was gentlemanly appearing.
and the. check was readily accepted. 1t
was on a Bangor bank. made in favor of
F. A. Blair. and purported to have been
drawn by c. A. Fowler, a well-known
Bangor druggist. The pair have made
themselves scarce.
About two months ago, man repre-
senting himself as H. P. White, a drum
mer for st. Louis clothing house. came
here and engaged board at Spears hotel.
He smoked fine cigars, and made consid-
cradle talk about doing good business,
but he suddenly disappeared. owing, be-
sides other bills, 500 or more for board.
He is evidently a professional beat.