The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-27
ARRESTED FOR FORGERY
Ex-Convict Tries to Cash a Bogus
Check.
BUT DID NOT SUCCEED
Lansing Signed the Name of W. j.
Guthrie to the Paper-Police Soon
Had Them-Newman Protests
His Innocence

J. R. Lansing, an ex-convict, and c.
l., Captain Stivers' rough riders, were
arrested last evening by Captain of
Police Leyden on charge of forgery.
The crime of which they are accused
was the signing of the name of w. j.
Guthrie to a check for $55, which was
drawn on the First National bank. The
young men presented the check at sew
eral business places and tried to get it
cashed, but did not succeed before in
formation of what they were at
reached Mr.. Guthrie's ears and he
caused their arrest.
Mr.. Guthrie is well known decora-
tor and window dresser When the
preparations for the soldiers reception
were being made throughout the city
he took contract to decorate a num-
Der Of the prominent business houses
and public buildings of the city. Among
them was the library building. While
at work on this building Mr.. Guthrie
fell from the first story and was so
severely injured he could not go ahead
with the work. He accordingly placed
/ Charles Bates in charge of the work,
and 1t becoming necessary to nave
more assistance. Mr.. Bates employed
the first two men he could find who
could do the work. They CHANGED to
be Lansing and Newman. When the
work was done Lansing went to Mr.
Guthrie and asked him to assist him in
getting employment. Mr.. Guthrie had
never seen the man up to this fine,
but knowing he had been working for
him a few days and as he did his work
well enough, Mr.. Guthrie concluded to
give him a letter of recommendation.
which he did. Lansing never presented
the letter to the party it was addressed
to. but employed the signature to raise
money in an easier way than working.
He drew up check on the First Ma
tional for $55 and copied the signature
of Mr.. Guthrie on the letter of recon-
mendation.
Yesterday Lansing took young New
man with him and started out to get
the check cashed. He presented it at
several business houses, but Mr.. Guth
rie's signature being known, as it
CHANGED, at the places, the check was
not honored. One of the places Wis
tied was Gordon Lewis Co.'S dry goods
store. Mr.. Guthrie had been for a
long time employed at that place and
his signature was very we'll known. 1t
was apparent the signature was not
his, and the young men were refused.
Mr.. Guthrie happened to drop into the
store shortly afterwards and was asked
If he had given the check He said he
had not. and was then informed of the
circumstances of it's presentation. Mr..
Guthrie at once called on the police
and Captain Leyden arrested the young
men a few minutes later. They did
not have the check in their possession
at that time but Lansing admitted
having torn it up.
Lansing Is an ex-convict who was
only a short time ago released from
the penitentiary at Deer Lodge. New
man is not more than 20 or q years
of age. He served with the rough rid
ers and has always been regarded as
an honorable young man. He comes of
an excellent family at Deer Lodge. He
took his arrest very hard and insisted
he did not know anything about the
check being forged. His friends and
the police force are inclined to think
he tells the truth and that he was an
innocent party in bad company. q