The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-01
AN IMPORTANT ARREST.
A 1ember Of dang THAT Is Using countses
m AAited States Honey Orders
Neatly Trappsd In this city

Detoc i've Witsil and Money last night
made ono Of the most important arrests
made for years In the United States. Dur.
ing the evening a we'll dressed young man
purchased hat, collar and tic at the CENT
furnishing store Of William r. Mearns
and gavellnlpaymenta money order for rs
on the post offic, at Bolmore, Ohio.
James Il. Wright came into the store
soon afterward and asked how was bust.
moss. Mr.. Mearns replied 1t was fair and
mentioned tho taking OF the order. Mr..
stopped into Fulds shoe store. .
Mr. Fluid had sold u pair OF shoes SID
been given an order for S2j He asked Mr..
Wright II the order WAS all right and ho
was told to be careful. AS Mearns had cashs
cd similar order Fuld told the purchas-
or he had not enough money to cash tho
order and went out, presumably for change
and went to Mearns' store.
The latter accompanied Fuld to his store
and tile stranger was gone. detectives
Witsil and MoVUy were notiaol and ar
rested him as he was boarding q train for
Philadelphia.
When searched at tho city hall twelve
blank money orders wore found In his pos
session. Also rubber stamp for making
the usual round stamp OIL u money order,
set of gum letters, pads, rcd Ink, and
other articles. Ho was turned over to the
United States authorities AMI this
morning was arraigned before United
States Commissioner Smith. He
pleaded not guilty to the charges preterred
and asked for u continuance until Satur-
day morning In order to secure an 0ttor-
ney.
Ford Is n member OF desperate gang at
present working the United States under
the money order scheme. How assigned
to tho district comprising Pennsylvania.
Delaware. Maryland and Virginia The
Unitad States authorities In other cities to
90 after his companions. 1t Is expected
that the entire gang will be arrested The
charges preferred against Ford are as fol-
lows:
That John T.. Ford, at Wilmington, In
tho District OF Delaware, on or about the
thirty-Hrs day Of August, 1897, did re-
ceive u certain money order, No. 25i5, for
SIS, issued by the post master ut Belmore,
the post office department Of tho United
States OF America tho same being pecu.
MARY obligation or security Of the Govofn'
ment, knowing the same to have b8en
stolen or enbeZ2led ION the mail or oub
of said post office, or from tho person
having same in custody thereof, III viola.
ton Of section 54O7 U. S Revised Sta utss,
and contrary tU tho form OF tne act OF
Congress In such case made and pro-
vlded. -
And that John f. Ford, Mt Wilmington,
In the District aforesaid, OH or about the
alst day OF August, 1897, with intent to
defrnlld, falsely made, forged and counter
feited, or caused to be falsely made forged
and counterfeited, an order in imitation Of
un order, purporting to DO q money order
issued by tho post office department. tho
same being No. 25I5 and dated August 90.
1897. and purporting to bs Issued by the
at Belmore, In tho state Of
Ohio in violation Of section Of 5l63. U. s.
Revised Statutes, and contrary to tho
form Of Att Of Congress In such case made
aud provided.
And that with interest to defraud, did
pass, utter and publish II false, forged and
countorfeltcu money order purporting to
be money order issued by the post Office
department through the postmaster at
Belmcre as true, upon ono William L.
Mearns, of Wilmington knowing tho
same to be false. forged and couIterfeited,
IN violation of section 5463, and contrary
to the Act of Congress in such case made
and provided.
Ford " as held In 1850 bail for his ap-
oearance on Saturday morning and In DO.
'ault WAS committed to- Jail.