The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-24
BELL UNDER ARREST
Shady Check Transactions
May Prove Forgeries.
HE Is VERY SLICK
Several Merchants Have Been
Victimized in the Past.

There was man who gave the name
Of J. ". Bell arrested late yesterday
afternoon by Detectives Massey and SUIT
ton and placed Jun the city jail with
charge of forgery staring him in the face.
If de proves 10 be the man the police
think he is there will be several cases
brought up against him for other ransac-
lions in this city several weeks ago. The
circumstances which brought about his
arrest yesterday are as follows: During
the afternoon the man Bell called at the
liver y7barn of Ed. Taylor and hired a
rig. He asked Mr.. Tslyor where a good
clothing store was and if he would go
along and show him where the place
was. Mr.. Taylor accommodated him and
they drove TO Fultons' store The horse
was fastened outside and the two went
inside Bell, who had already given his
name 10 Taylor as Welch, began to Sc
lect himself q suit, gloves, shirt, neckue
and rsuspenders. telling the clerk he was
going to drive out in the country a few
miles and get married. After the pur-
chases were completed he rendered a
check signed by Ed. Bushnell, who was
supposed to be prominent cattleman
out in the country. Bell claimed the
check had been given TO him for labor
in the country. The amount it was filed
out for was $3.50 and the purchases
came TO $3.50. The change was made
and during the time the goods We're be
ing purchased, Mr.. Fulton was watch
ing the customer, thinking he recognized
him the same party who left him an
y. G. check for $500 some few weeks
before and repeated the same dose at
Weinshank's grocery store with a check
for $500. These two checks were signed
in the name of Ike DEAN and were both
returned by the bank as forgeries. Mr..
Weinshank's clerk, who transacted the
business with the gentleman OF his pre-
vious visit, was called over to Fulton's
store and was quite positive that Bell
was one and the same man.
Mr. Fulton did not like the looks of
things and concluded that he would re-
quire some identification on the part of
the customer. so they Started over to
Talyors barn, where Bell claimed that
Taylor knew him Bell did not want TO
go in the bank but insisted on it that
i
ont that Mr.. Taylor did not know him
and he, too, got suspicious and began to
devote his time to looking after the rig
he had let Bell have a short time before
MIR. Fulton walked his customer back
10 the store and reversed the sale, TAX
ing his money back and handing the
check over to Bell. During this time the
police had been informed and they arriv-
ed and Mr.. Bells wedding trip was
spoiled, his purchases were immateTial
and he was taken into custody by Off
GERS Massey and Sutton. During the in
PERMISSION between the arrival of the
officers and their departure with Bell.
in charge. a search was being made for
the check that had been returned by Mr..
Fulton. 1t could not be found and some
one said they saw Bell eat it, but Mr.
Fulton kent up a search after the Off
GERS and their prisoner had gone and was
by finding the check done up
IN a little avid and thrown under one OF
the tables in his store. The recovery or
the check will be very strong evidence
II the charges are true and If Vein
check for $500 and Fulton's
check for $500. with some others known
TO exist, should all be found TO have been
casbed bv the same man. the situation
< one that Mr.. Bell VIII not find as
smooth sailing as it was IL he hah not
"a shed the checks and the wedding viii |
have to be postponed until later day
The police say that the man arrested mas
been working with threshng outht
east Of town.