The record-union., 1898-01-26
CHECK SWlHDLER ARRESTED.
CAPTURED YESTERDAY BY OF
FICER WILSON.
He Had Bargained for Saloon at
Brighton and Swindled the
Owner.

The man who has been working the
gullible portion of the community lately
by means Of the bogus check trick is
at last in jail, having been arrested
yesterday by Officer J. A Wilson. He
has given a different name to every
person with whom he has done busd-
ness. but was first known as O'Brien.
officers Pennish and Douglass had
| been trailing the fellow and located
him on Monday outside the city, but
could not procure a warrant that would
enable them to arrest him beyond the
city limits
O'Brien-or whatever else his name
may be-was neatly trapped yesterday.
He had procured a check from local
bank and went out to Mrs. Maggie
Fees roadside inn at Brighton juno
ton. There he began to talk of buy
ing out the business, and finally made
a bargain with Mrs. Fee for 500. He
filled out the check for $115, indorsed
it j. E. Powers" and induced Mrs.
Fee to accept it and give him $50 in
money.
This latter sum he then began blow
ing in" and spent most of it for the
best luXuries to be obtained in the
place-in fact, playing Mrs. Fees own
money against her wines and liquors.
Yesterday Mrs. Fee induced the spec
| ulative gentleman to accompany her
to the city that she might have the
check verified. When they reached
Twenty eighth and NJ streets O'Brien
Cor Powers) began to balk He wanted
to argue the non-necessity of the step
she was taking, evidently with the in
tention of delaying matters until the
banks had closed for the day.
In the meantime Officer Wilson was
near by and an interested spectator
of what was going on. Mrs. Fee
finally induced her companion to board
an incoming street car, and officer
Wilson also became a passenger On
the trip in Mrs. Fee told the conductor
to let them off at Second and streets,
but her companion wanted to alight at
Fourth and j.
They compromised matters by leaving
the car at Third and J streets, and then
walked down toward the Bank Of d.
o. Mills & Co, the officer stalking at
their heels. There the man baked
again. He refused to enter the bank,
and Mrs. Fee, seeing that the officer
was near and apparently understanding
the situation, entered the bank alone.
Then the swindler thought he saw
his chance, and started off, but Officer
Wilson's hand fell on his shoulder and
he was told to halt The officer marched
him back to the bank, where it was
learned that the check was forged
one and the prisoner was taken to
Jail.
He showed fight on the way, but was
subdued, and again became hostile as
he was being put into a cell. This time
Sergeant McManus settled him with
good stiff punch, and the iron doors
clanked behind him.
A. Flores, one Of O'Brien's victims,
having reason to believe that the fellow
had gone to Woodland, went over there
yesterday to look for him. He learned
that O'Brien was also wanted IN
Woodland for passing forged checks, as
well as in various other places.
The prisoner is a short, heavy-set
man. with a black mustache and dark
hair, though partly bald. He says he
is 81 years old, and denies that he has
been working off checks in other places
than Sacramento.