The herald., 1898-01-20
w. II. Geer, a Notorious
Forger
HIS GRAFT AT SAN DIEGO
MADE FREE WITH AMERICAN
EXCHANGE BANK CHECKS
Where He Had Filled Out Draft for
$4,000, Posing as Frank Nc
Keen OF 1erre Haute

A well-dressed young man giving the
name of Frank McKeen was arrested
IN this city yesterday by Detective
Hawley. at the request of the CHIEF
Of police of San Diego. on a charg,
of forgery. and locked up in the city jail
pending the arrival Of an officer from San
Diego. McKeen is accused oil having passc.
a worthless draft, alleged to call for 5000
and drawn upon Terre Haute, Ind, bank
at the Santa Fe ticket Office. in San Die
so, and to have received ticket for Chi
cago and return on the strength of II.
Mckeen is apparently me name OF re-
spectacle citizen of Terre Haute, Ind,
whom the fellow impersonated. His rea.
name is believed to be w. II. Geer, who has
led checkered career by reason OF his
bold forgeries. An Associated Press dis
patch from San Diego relates Geer's graft
here as follows:
A professional forger. with a national
reputation and as many aliases almost as
there are states in the union, has paid San
Diego a visit and as usual left behind him
an additional record to his numerous
criminal acts.
Nothing was known of the visitor until
yesterday morning, when well-dressed
nan entered the American Exchange
oank, where he introduced himself as
referred to his alleged connections there
with suavity of manner that carried con-
yiction. Before leaving. he filled out a draft
1gainst his alleged account at Terre Haute
or $500. A few hours later he returned
md explained to Cashier Horton that he
lad made an appointment with real es-
ate agent to look at ranch early Wed
lesday morning and as he might possibly
purchase 1t, he concluded to increase the
iraft to $2S00.
Cashier Horton furnished him with pass
book, showing the amount of the draft,
md having secured that his visitor ex-
)lained that he would probably go to San
francisco within a few days and he would
AXE check book with him in case he
night need some money. The cashier told
lis polite customer that no check would
,e honored until the draft had been cashed.
Shortly after banking hours McKeen
found his way to the Santa Fe office.
where he purchased round-trip ticket to
chicago. giving his check on the American
Exchange bank for $l30.
From there he went to the Lion clothing
store. where he purchased a fine overcoat,
giving in payment his check on the same
1ank. His last purchase for the day, so
ar as known, was a $50 bicycle from Ar
hur Small, for which he gave his check,
md the wheel was shipped to Chicago, via
he Santa Fe. This morning the check
rom the Santa Fe office was presented for
payment.
Without delay Cashier Horton tele-
yraphed to Terre Haute and learned that
frank McKeen had bank account there,
,ut was still in that city.
Then followed immediate Investigation
md Cashier Horton identified a photo
yraph hanging on the wall in his Office as
oeing that of a noted forger and also of
lis late customer. wanted on numerous
:harges. Others interested were also posi-
i've that McKeen was the man wanted by
oinkerton's agency and the nervy visitor
must have seen his own photograph when
n the bank. The mans name is w. H.
ieer but he has been known under the
aliases of r. II. w. Dwight. Geo. M. Miles,
]. B. Bowen. r. A. Myers, ]. r. Mott, Ed
ward Lyons and Others