Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-01-01
From Mondays Daily. -
Charged With Forgery
Several Checks Passed by
ID" Clark Shea, Sunday, are
Said to be Forged.
G. 9. Buckman'S Name Signed
to Each lnstrument-Of-
fiCer Now After Him.

a warrant was issued this morn
ing for the arrest of Clark Shea, who
has been employed in f. B. Stuart +
livery stable, charging him with
forgery.
the complaint was made this
morning 10y u. e. Hannegan, who
received a check from Clark Shea
with the name of C. B. Buchanan
signed to it.
Shortly after receiving the check
flanagan, who was suspicious that
all was not right about the matter,
presen ted the check to j. Mecusker,
Mr.. Buckman's son-in-law. and
asked him to cash it. Mr.. Mecusker
being familiar with Mr.. Buckman's
handwriting said tnat it was not
signed by Mr.. Buchanan.
Shea was in the hotel and Hanne-
gan told him that the check was a
forgery. but he stoutly denied the
charge. and said that the check was
signed by J. A. Kennedy, Buckman's
brok.keeper.
Upon being informed further that
it was not signed in Kennedy's hand
writing. nor in the manner in which
he signed checks for his employer,
Hannigan put the matter in the
hands of the authorities and a war.
rant was issued for his arrest.
As soon as it became known that
the check was questioned, more
checks were discovered, in most
cases passed to saloon keepers. So
far nine checks on the German
American bank, all bearing the name
of G. B. Buchanan and Endorsed by
Clark Shea have been discovered, and
these checks aggregate $3.50.
For some time Shea has been in
hard circumstances. mostly due to
his being addicted to gambling.
Sunday night he was around town,
1T is said, drinking and gambling
with anyone who would Join him.
He was very flush with money,
spent it freely, and told some Of his
associates that he was around
"squaring up his debts" In several
cases the checks were given in pay
ment of some debt. The checks
were all made out for more money
than the amount of the debt, and he
would receive some mOnev in return.
His having so much money was
quite u surprise to many who saw
him last night, but in most cases
where he presented the checks to be
cashed, the victim was disarmed of
suspicion by the open way in which
he presented them and by his posi-
tive assurance that the instruments
were all right.
TO nearly everyone he met last
night he told the story that he had
received q telegram that his child,
who is with it's mother. visiting
relatives near Long Prairie, was
sick, and he was going over there on
the morning train. He missed the
Little Falls & Dakota train, and
tely after his interview with
in the Buchanan hotel. he
went to Stuart's livery and hired q
team to take him to Swanville, stat
ing that he wanted to catch the
stage before it left Swanville. Stuart
sent Harry Tanner with him to
bring the team back, and it is said
he was also accompanied by Leon
Jr.
The warrant was issued shortly
utter their departure, and Deputy
Sheriff Crest started in pursuit
also by team. kilograms were also
sent out and there seems but little
that he will escape.
There is but little doubt that the
lures on all the checks are forged
and from the bungling and foolish
way in which it was done
t is difficult to believe that he was
II his right mind. How anyone
could expect to commit the crime OF
orgery so many times over and so
openly and escape the consequences
s difficult to understand.
LArER-Sheriff Rider received
telegram from Deputy Sheriff c. field,
1t Swanville. that Shea had been
caught and would arrive in the city
about O'Clock this afternoon.
Late developments increase the
of his alleged forgeries to
1924, and it is said that there are
more checks issued by him not yet
that will add greatly t,
hat figure.
ROyalton Banner: Frank Arm
strong has leased Hotel ROyaItOn
and will take possession the first OF
he year. He will run the bar him
,elf but the hotel part he has sub-lct
o J. W. Hedges. Mr.. Hedges was
L ~.