The times., 1897-07-07
FORCED A SENATOR'S NAME
Bowling Wanted Passes and Used
Mir. Mason's Signature.
TRAPPED By CAPITOL POLICE
R epreseuted Himself to Be the
Illinoisian's Secretary-An Old
Game Wrote Letters Indorsing
uimself for Government Place.

Clarence J. Bowling, alias Samuel P.
Williams, slylshly dressed young man
Of intellectual appearance, is a prisoner
at No. 8 police station, charged withha-jng
forged the name OF Senator w. Il. Mason
to a letter addressed to the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company for the purpose Of
Washington to New York. Downing was
arrested yesterday by Detectives sinnott
and Joyce Of the Capitol police force, mo
hare beer working OH the case for several
days, and succeeded in setting a trap tur
the Young man.
Several DAYS ago a representative OF
the railroad company called upon the
Illinois senator 10 make inquiry con
cerning q request which had been reeeived
by letter, purporting TO have come from
MI Mason, asking that he be acc9 .Esno-
dated with two passes. The Senator HAD
sent no such request, and was naturally
Inucli surprised, and without hesitation
pronounced the communication Il forgery.
Tie letter went Oh TO state that Senator
Mason desired TO send two gentlemen TO
that they would probably not return Until
November, aud il was desired that the
pAAses lac extended 10 cover tiat time.
The letter closed by saying: Please
forward the passes addressed TO my pfi-
yate secretary, Mr. w. Logan Sonmers,
VITO has Charge OF the matter, and obiige.
The letter was written on a Senate letter
and the signature was fairly good imi-
tation OF Senator Mason's haI,i% .iting.
The name OF w. Logan Sonmers is a
fictitious one. and no such person is In
the employ OF the Senator. Mr.. Mason
al once placed the matter in the hands
of tie Capitol police and an investigation
was begun Senator Mason's committee
room is located in the Maltby building
and all hls mail is sent there. On the
day after sending the letter to the raul
road company, Downing called at the
Maitby building and asked for letters
addressed 10 W. Logan som1ners, tut
received none. He Continued to Go this
until tie third day, when II decoy letter,
bearing the card OF the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company, was placed il the mails
and addressed to w. Logan sommers
Yesterday about noon DOwing again
called at the building, and the letter was
handed him. Detectives Sinnott and
Joyce had, in the meantime, secrcted
themselves nearby, and just as Dowling
was about to open the letter. placed him
under arrest. The young man strongly
protested his innocence, and sail he was
about 10 return the letter, as il did not
belong u him. He was taken TO No
police station, however where he gave
his name as Samuel p Williams. and was
locked up on the charge of forgery. He
claimed To be an officeseeker who had
position under the Harrison adrninIstra-
tion, and was endeayoring to procure a
rc-appointment He gave his address, as
Ne. 1926 Eleventh street northwest, which
happens to be a vacant lot
Several days ago Downing applied 10
Public Printer Palmer for position in the
government Printing Office and presented
a very nattering endat'on. pur-
porting 20 be signed-also by Senator Mason.
His application was placed on file, and has
sibce been found 10 be a forgery.
Dowllngs true character was revealed
last night when Policeman Sam Riown, Of
the Ninth precinct, called at No. station
! and identified him as Clarence j. Dowling,
/ young ma n who lives in this city on Tenth
street northeast, and enCeavors TO ma lie a
| living by his wits. Bowling admitted his
identity, but claimed that he could prove
! himself innocent ef the charge Of forgery.
| His record, however, is against him.
Several years ago be was arrested for
| larceny and confessed the crime. He then
consented to take the Officers to The pla re
where he had hidden his booty In vacant
| house, and while there managed TO escape
and left town. No indictment was issuei
against hini and he did not IetuIn for three
| years, when thecase hadexpired through the
statute of limitations. Bowling has also
done time in the Elmira. n. Y, refoTmatoTy
| for robbing church in New York city.
Senator Mason stated last night that to
the best of his knowledge he had never
seen the man and had never heard of him
| Bowling will tie given a hearing in police
court this morning.