The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-16
BOGUS WARRANTS AFlOAT
MANY foRGERIEs OF STATE
TREASURER BoWEx's NAME.
Amount Already discovered Approx
imates Sio.ODp-ssrcrxe ID. Evans.
Who Hs. Disappeared, Suspected
of the Erfme-issued Duplicates

Special Dispatch 10 the Post-Is1sellsgeneer
OLYMPIA. Jaue i5.-The startling dis
covery has Just been made that there are
forged Washington state warrants IL cir
cuIatfoa. The amount already discovered
Is between sss8 and s1e.o1 What there
may bS IN excess Of these amounts WIZ
only be asceTtained by future calls by the
state treasurer. These forgerisss are of TIRE
signature OF the state treasurer. O. A.
Bowen. and are perfect. ard were com
United Il is suspected by George D.. Ev-
ans ex-depmty state auditor. whose where
a1outS u now unknown. The state VIII
lose nothing. The loss will fall upon the
holders OF the bogus paper.
The method used was uniform and sys-
senatic. The forger was no ''chubber''
The smallest forged warrant discovered
Was for 40, and the amounts vary from
this UP TO si.oM When a warrant had
been drawn for d large claim. the original
would be presented 10 the treasurer fer the
usual Endorsement. Not paid for want of
funds and then the forger would make
copies OF these warrants. usually two Gu-
plicates. which he would seii when oppor-
tuniiy appeared. The forgeries were gen.
orally on the treasurer usually indorsing
the name Of the payee Per E." In one
case at least which has already cosne 10
light the ex-depnfy auditor issued three siu-
piicates.
The f0rgeries are 80 perfeSt az to rnislead
an expert. and doubtless the treasurer him
self would not have detected the fraud had
the warrants passed through his hands
The only apparent difference between the
forged and duplicate warrants was in the
numbering. The number on the original
warrant was autographed. while those on
the forged ones were made with a num-
Sering machine.
This queer system of financierng COM
menced in September. 1885, and there is
now no means OF ascertainiag over how
long period IL continued. The fraud was
perpetrated on general fund warrants ex-
clusively. far as known.
The discovery was first made when ciu-
piicate warrants were sent TO the treas
urer in the same batch for payment
1t IS not thought here that Evans had
any confederates. and all the forged paper.
so far as known, was disposed of in Port
land. Seattle. Tacoma and Spokane
When the facts came TO the knowledge of
the state officials every effort was made 10
ascertain the whereabouts Of Evans but
without success as yet. Doubtless re-
ward VIII he offered for his rehensicn
On the expiration Of his tenn of office
January II, 1927. Evans. who had previous
iy been admitted TO the bar. went to Spo-
kane and opened law office. While there
he frequently exhibited considerable sums
without income OF any kind.
Evans was a Republican was appointed
deputy state auditor from kittias county
and was very capable clerk. He was
married, and had an adopted child. and his
wife and child are nov living at The
Dalles Or.
Evans has left Spokane and his where
abouts seems TO be unknown. even TO his
most intimate friends. He came of q good
Iowa family. his father being banker in
that state. The cause OF his downfall was
undoubtedly liquor and he was known as
"A sporty" character when intoxicated
frequently snending considerable sums CT
money during nights debaucn. After a
spree In Spokane a short time before leav-
ing that city, Evans WAS reported as hav-
ing had a narrow escape from death ny an
overdose OF an opiatc. taken TO allay ner-
vousneSs. although those nearest 20 him
believed that he had attempted suicide.