The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-09-09
His Shortage, It Is Thought, Will
Reach Eighteen Thou
sand Dollars.
REWARD TO BE OFFERED FOR HIM.
Mrs. Moore Says She Did Not Sign the Notes
Which Branham Secured-Numer-
GUS Sufferers.

ton gives the following additional
particulars:
"The charge of forgery was yester-
day brought against 1. r. Branham,
until recently general agent of the
National Building association, OF Bal
timore city, who fled from the city
more than ten days ago, leaving many
victims IN his wake.
"This morning a reward for his ar
rest will doubtless be offered and cir
culars giving his picture and descrip-
ton will be sent broadcast through
the southern states. The victims of
alleged misplaced confidence held q
conference yesterday morning and
discussed the taking out of a criminal
warrant. This has not been decided
upon and probably will not be done,
as it is thought the warrant is useless
unless Branham could be located. The
grand jury Will doubtless take action
upon the case and the charges are
said to be now prepared to be sub
mltted to that body.
"Many new victims turned up yes
terday. Mr.. j. II. Morton, promi-
nent merchant of Jacksonville, Fla,
reached the city yesterday morning to
make an investigation. A short time
ago Mr. Morton bought $1,000 worth
of paid up stock in the association
which Branham represented. Mr..
Morton says that Branham gave him a
receipt for the money, saying the GER
tificate of stock would be forwarded
as soon as it could be issued from the
home office in Baltimore. Mr.. Morton
now says the sale of the stock has
never been reported to the home Office
and that he has nothing to show for
his investment except the receipt,
which he considers worthless.
"Olher unfortunates showed up dur
ing the day and several conferences
were held. The amount of shortage is
charged to be between 5000 and
$4,000, and some claim that the total
will foot up far in excess of these fig
ures.
1.-THE sensational development in the
situation yesterday was the charge of
forgery that was brought against
Branham by Mrs. Elese Moore, who
claims to have invested $4,000 with
Branham just before he left the city.
"Mrs. Moore says it was but short
time ago that she purchased from
Branham 50 600 worth of investment
or paid up stock. She says she re-
celved the certificate OF stock prompt
ly, but at the request of Branham and
upon his promise to use the stock to
her great advantage, she delivered to
hrm the certificate and supposed he
had made the arrangements he had
suggested at the time the certificate
was delivered to him.
"She says she has since discovered
that Branham placed the stock as COL
lateral with the Neal Loan and Bank
ing company and with Mr.. Geo. s.
May. Attached to the certificate, she
! says, are several notes purporting to
I be signed by herself. There has also
been found power of attorney bear
ing the name of Mrs, Elese Moore at
the bottom.
Those signatures are forgeries,"
exclaimed Mrs. Moore yesterday
morning to her attorneys, Messrs. AL
bert & Hughes. Il never made the
scratch of pen on those papers and
never saw them before in my life. /
have been imposed upon and robbed
by that man Branham, and l am going
to tell all the truth about the deal.
| never once thought he was robber
and can't hardly believe he has de-
celved men,"
Several banks of the city are said
to hold large amount of paper which
was discounted by Branham within a
period of four days before he left the
city. Much of this paper is secured by
certificates of stock which were
pledged to secure the notes, but if the
court should decide that the transfer
of stock was illegal the banks may lose
their collateral"