The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1898-08-25
BOGUS CHECK FLA SHEER
And AIl-Round Fraud, Swindler and
Dead Beat.

Several days ago q tall, dark CON-
plexioned man giving his name as DIR. }.
B. killebrew, from South Carolina. ap-
peared in Henderson. He came here from
Franklintou where he had been staying
for some time his wife being at the hotel
there While here he stopped at Massen-
berg's Hotel and about town made HIM
self familiar with those he came in con-
tact with.
Henry Pannil, the we'll known roof
painter, had met the Doctor at Frank
linton and learning his business, kiile-
brew offered to buy the State right to
use his paint in South Carolina ut
sum agreed upon. Not knowing any
thing about the business, however, he
decided to come to Henderson with Mr..
Pannill where he was at work on large
contracts so as to learn something about
the business. That accounts Tor his
being here at the time he was. After he
had "got on the inside" OF the business
so to speak killebrew proposed to make
himself useful as we'll as ornamental
around his new-found friend.
He went in to hustle for business by
securing work to do. Having secured a
contract when the work was done kille-
brew collected for it unknown to Pannill,
representing himself to be member OF the
painting firm and president of the con-
Germ. As he had solicited the work and
it was done according to agreement the
parties for whom it was done as matter
of course did not hesitate to pay the
money over to him. In this way he had
got into Mr.. Pannll to the extent OF
about $4,000 before he got on to the
racket
Thinking it about time for him to
seek for greener fields and suckers new
Saturday he left. In settlement OF his
hotel bill Killebrew gave Mr.. Massenburg
check for $500 on the Farmers and
Merchants Bank OF JOnesville, 5. {. The
hotel man was not entirely satisfied and
telegraphed to ascertain if the check
was good. The reply came that there
was no such bank at Jonesville.
Mr.. Massenburg then telephoned to
Franklinton, where the fellow had gone,
in regard to the forgery and held con-
versation with killebrew himself who I'M
personated Mr.. Merrill, proprietor of the
hotel, with whom Mr.. Massenburg
thought he was talking. Mr.. Merrill was
away at Virginia Beach at the time.
After telling the supposed Merrill OF the
occurrence and advising him to beware,
kilebrew answered that the fellow had
been there but acted the gentleman with
him, having paid his bill all right. Mr..
Massenburg asked how he paid it, when
the sharp rascal replied: with money
and check" and that the check was
given on the Jonesvile Is. c. bank (the
same as Mr.. Massenburg's was.) When
| the statement was made that no such
bank existed at Jonesville, killebrew
| (the supposed Mr.. MerrilD said he was
mistaken and should have said Jones'
boro instead of Jonesville.
What Mr. Massenburg said we are told
| was not fit for feminine ears, nor indeed
did he know the fellow about whom be
was talking in terms anything but COM
plmentary and language sulphurous
was at the other end of the phone.
Mr.. Merrill returned Sunday night and
Killebrew left the hotel soon afterward,
going to Littleton. 1t develops that he
owes the Franklinton hotel man about
| $4,000. killebrew was arrested at Lit
| tleton and taken to Franklinton Tues.
| day. Mr.. Massenburg and Mr.. Pannill
! went up to help prosecute the rascal but
| as some one said to us over the phone
che beat the whole lay out"
In addition to the above 1Oungsvllle
| suffers to the amount OF $4,000 that we
know of by killebrew's swindiing opera
| tons. He went there claiming to repre-
sent the Woodmen of the World, fra
ternal benefit order, and got IA men for
$1,000 each. OF course they have never
received any certificate of membership
insurance policy or charter.
| 1t is sad commentary upon the laws
| of North Carolina that there is no Law
upon the statute books to punish fraud
ulent acts of such scoundrels and deat
beats Us this fellow kilebrew, George I,
Hart, and Others OF their ilk who ought
to be wearing stri pes and doing time or
the public works of the State.
One respect in which newspaper
| resembles railroad train is that boil
must 90 at the usual time. And
taking charitable view of it. tina
may account for the fact that 81
many Ikea free ride.