The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-30
NOT REFORMED YET.
R. B. Turner, the FOrger, Who
Served a Term
In the Penitentiary for For
gerry, at It Again.
Perpetrates Lot of Forgeries in Kan
sas City All for Small Amounts
Man Must Be Crazy.

r. 3. Turner, the young man who was
arrested in Topeka for forgery and sent
to the penitentiary for two years and
who when released returned to Topeka
to lecture on prison reform is again
in the tolls. When arraigned in To-
peka he created a sensa ton by an elo-
quent appeal in his own behalf and he
Is working on the same plan in Kansas
City where he is held on a charge OF
committing various fOrgeries.
The Kansas City Journal says of
Turner ard his operations:
The mystery of the smooth forger,
who several weeks ago passed checks
for various amounts, bearing the forged
signatures of the wives of some of Kan
saS City's most prominent citizens. at
the leading retail dry goods stores, has,
claim the police, been solved. The for
ger is said to be r. B. Turner. arrested
q week ago EY Detectives Hayde and
O'Hare on several charges of petty for
gerry committed in Kansas City a year
and a half ago. Last week Turner was
arraigned before Justice Spitz and sent
to the county jail TO await a hearing.
The police suspected that Turner was
the mysterious fOrSer, and yesterday he
was identified in his cell at the county
Jail by Mr. Harris, the emplOye a Dog
gett'S upon whom he had passed a forg-
ed check. The cashier at Emery, Bird,
Thayer & Co.'S, who was also victimiz-
ed, declined to go to the Jail, as he said
he could not be certain of the man.
Turner's method was an original one.
Three weeks ago Saturday. he visited
Emery, Bird. ThaNer & Co.'S, and ask
ed for a statement of the account of
Mrs. Webster Withers. He said he was
employed by Mrs. Withers and she had
sent him for the bill. 1t amounted to
SIS. In a short time he returned with
a check on Camp Bros, at Council
Bluffs, Ia, for $125, bearing Mrs. With
ers' Endorsement. The check was ac-
cepted, and Turner was given the re-
ceipted bill and 500 change. He left at
once,and later worked similar scheme
at DCggett'S for similar amount This
time ne used the name of Mrs. H. B.
SanbOrn of TWenty-eighth street and
TrOOst avenue. The checks went to
protest at Council Bluffs and were sent
beck here. Mr. Sanborn and Mr.. With
ers were notified of the protested paper
and at once notified the merchants that
the Endorsements were forged.
Turner, who had previously been ar
rested on four different charges of for
gerry, yesterday morning took a change
of venue from Justice Spitz' court to
Justice Kruger. Turner was brought
into court in charge of Detective Andy
O'Hare- He informed the justice that
he had employed no attorney but would
take charge Of his own case.
My case was set for last Saturday
and want to know why il was not
tried them he demanded of the Justice
Z know that I am helpless now but
my time will come to get even with you
folks"
Justice Spitz explained that the case
had been continued at the request Of
the state.
Wen, it's funny I was not consulted
about the matter" said the prisoner
Judge. order this detective to take
these handouts off; have little writ
ing to do
Andy, please take the bracelets off
the gentleman's wrists" said Justice
SPITE, with eXtraVagant courtesy. The
detective removed the handouts.
Mr. Clerk. give me four change of
venue blanks directed Turner Il know
a thing or two about law"
B. J. Waters. the clerk of the court.
handed Turner the blanks. The prison
er wrote industriously for a time but
stopped with a puzzled expression on
his face He looked at the Justice and
{ S, at the clerk He scratched his
head and seemed to be racIing his
brain for some thing, in vain Then he
fllled out the other three papers, but
frequently paused to think. Finally his
old confident manner returned
Let me have the pa pers in this case
L want to seee the charge against me
again" he said Turner walked up to
closely A relieved expression came
over his face. While he was examining
them, Justice Spitz winked at Detective
O'Hare and changed the bottle Of ink
Turner had been using. The prisoner
mad not noticed the change. and return
60 10 MS place He then filled in some
thing in each Of the papers.
There now, swear me to that and 7
will go some place else with nv case -
said Turner
The justice picked up the papers.
HOW's this, Mr.. Turner exclaimed
the judge; you have written YOUR mi
tials. R B.. in blue ink; the rest in
black a.
Turner was durnbfounded. The fact
of the matter was that he had forgotten
what initials he had given when arrest
ed and he wanted to be sure the ones
ne used IN his petition for a change of
venue corresponded with the ones he
had given when arraigned He has
stoutly denied that he was guilty of the
cnaTsSS against him, and has carried
himself with an air of injured inn0cerce
and extreme Importance. He will he
arTaiSned Wednesday afternoon IN ms
tire T(r11aerarse oo7,r& - = ~as'-