Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-31
WELDED A VERSATILE Pen.
Professor Friedberg Is Credited With
Nearly 100 Forgeries.
Expert at His Work Reproduced
All Signatures With Wonderful
Fidelity-One Toledo Firm Loses
$14 900 and Forged Salary Or
ders and Notes Are Numerous.

Toledo, o., October 30-It is discov-
cred this evening that a business firm.
not heretofore included in the list of
Prof. Martin Friedberg's alleged for
geries, is out $4,000, while great
| many new instances have come to light.
There are now nearly hundred forged
signatures that have turned up and
more are coming to light almost hourly
The postmaster to-day turned up a
number of forged salary orders on his
employees, about twenty in all. A large
number Of city orders, forged salary ad-
vances, and forged notes on city and
county officers, also came to light. A
prominent manufacturer is out about
$1,000. 1t is believed his populations
will reach $4,000 to $4,000.
The versatility of the forger as a
penman is readily seen by an inspec-
ton of the many forgeries. In the ma
jority of cases the forgeries were evi
IDENTIFY the work of an expert. The
trembling hand of the aged, the vacil-
lating, uncertain lines of the young
! man. and the bold, heavy strokes of
the successful business man are here
reproduced with remarkable fidelity.
DIRECT CAUSE OF SUICIDE.
The direct cause of the suicide is at
tributed to several things, but it is be-
lieved that the following is the cor
rect reason:
Mr.. A. S. Cohen had been doing con-
siderable business with Mr.. Friedberg,
and had notified the professor that he
intended to go into the business of MAX
lie 10 hp ire
considerable capital He informed the
professor that he would need the money
right away, and that the paper which
was about to become due must be paid.
Friedberg went to C. A. Flickenger
and made the following proposition:
THAT he would pay the Colonel $500
of $500 he owed him on a personal
note, providing the latter would loan
him $4,000 more on first-class paper, to
be Endorsed by Less and Mast. The
Colonel agreed to the transaction, and
the 81, 800 was paid.
1t is intimated that Colonel Flick
niger, to whom Friedberg was still in
debted in the sum of $4,000, told the
Professor that before accepting the
paper he would have to consult the
principals. This, of course, would ex-
pose the crime, and Friedberg, know
ing that his game was up, chose death
to facing the disgrace.
BUSINESS LOOKED STRAIGHT.
c. A. Flinckinger said to-day: 81
first commenced to have financial deal
ings with Professor Friedberg about
two years ago. He explained his bust
ness to me, and showed me his books,
as we'll as great stacks of papers, repre-
senting small loans, all Endorsed. He
proposed that l should furnish small
amounts to loan and he would divide
the commission and interest He dis
counted pay checks for railroad, tele-
phone and city employees. He tided
small business men over for thirty to
ninety days. Loans ranged from $500
to $500. The business looked straight,
and it was profitable. Before he shot
himself Friedberg came to my house
and made a proposition that would cost
me $4,000 more, but he killed himself
in time to save me that much"
On Tuesday afternoon Attorney
Moses Bloch appeared at the City Au-
ditor's Office and asked to have the sig
natures on a number of notes verified.
They were examined by the clerks and
compared with the signatures on pay
rolls, showing them to be very poor
forgeries. 1T this time the faces of
the notes were not exhibited, but one
of the clerks detected the name of
Friedberg on Clark's note and made
the remark that he was dead, the
| knowledge of which Bloch protested
ignorance.