The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-20
IS TAKEN TO JAIL
J. {. Harrison Is Held on
Charge of Forgery.
JUST ARRIVED FROM COAST
Arrest Was Made by officer
Aspey Yesterday
JUST ARRIVED FROM COAST

J. z. Harrison was arrested yesterday by
officer Aspey and locked up in the city
jail. charged with attempting to pass a
worthless check drawn on the Fourth Ma
tional bank payable to the order OF F. E.
Foster and signed by J. E. Fisk. The
check was dated. numbered and had a
revenue stamp on it, cancelled same date
that check was drawn. and in the corner
was the two words "for painting The
check was Endorsed with name of F. E.
Foster, written as if the one who she
check was made payable TO was in the
habit Of signing his name in autograph
form.
So far as the preparation Of the check
was concerned, It could not have been bet
ter prepared by the cashier Of a bank.
But where Harrison fell down hard was
when he selected the business place Of the
George Ross Coal company, on West
Douglas avenue, 10 exchange the piece Of
paper for $3.50 of that firms money. Mr..
Ross has had a large experience in the
mercantile business and havin= lived in
the city for a number of years is ac-
quainted with almost every weL-known
citizen in the city, and Of course he saw
at a glance that the name Of Fisk was
a rather uncommon one, and had a suspi-
cion that there was chance Of something
being wrong, as the names on the check
and the man offering same were all strang-
ers. Mr.. Ross decided to call in the as
sistance Of Officer Aspey, who arrested the
stranger and took him before Chief Jones,
who proceeded TO question Harrison, and
strange TO say the man acknowledged
everything and voluntarily added that he
was a professional check forger and pass
er, stating that he followed the business
as his means Of livelihood, and wound up
by stating that he was now wanted in all
four parts Of the globe and more espe-
cially in Fort Worth, Tex, where he had
swindled a preacher out Of some money on
a worthless check transaction.
Harrison does not look the stamp of a
criminal. He says he is So years old, but
has gray hair, which he claims is heredi-
tary-that his father and mother and a
brother were ali gray when young.
Harrison was taken before Judge Enoch
last night about o'clock and heard the
charge read, as it was prepared by the
county attorney. When asked if he had
any requests to make or demanded a pre-
liminary. Harrison who is a little more than
ordinarily educated, stated that he would
Ike couple Of days to collect his thoughts
and to consult with the county attorney.
He claimed that he could not fully realize
what he had done; that it was the first
time he had ever got in such serious
scrape, and remarked that he would gladly
give his right arm if he could go back
twenty-four hours, when he enjoyed the
liberty and reputation of man free from
crime and not a criminal in the eyes of
the law. He said he had been drinking
during the day and found ready compan-
ions who were willing to make life-a holi-
day, and while drinking he said he seemed
10 lose all self-respect and become reck-
less and forget the full responsibilities Of
honor. II do not want to blame anyone"
he said, " for suggesting that we work
check off. In fact. I could not tell what
my new acquaintance look like, but met
some. and here am, a criminal without
friends"
Harrison stated that he was born in
Michigan, where he lived until three years
ago, when he went to California and To-
Gated. He claimed he was working his
way back to st. Louis and stopped over
for a while to make some plans to con-
tinue his way. Yesterday before the ar
rest he was guided TO a policy shop by
a bootblack. where he bought two gigs"
After his arrest he called upon the janitor
Of the City building, Jim Belts, to take
his tickets to the policy shop and If either
gig should win he would give him s.
out OF the SIS either ticket called for. Bet
It's went over to the pace and found that
one of the gigs" was a winner. He col
lected the SIS and walked back TO the Jail
and handed $l3 over 10 the property clerk
at the station for the credit of Harrison. I
which has since been turned over 10 the
state officers for safekeeping.
Harrison was taken to the county Jail
last night by Constable Voss and the hear
ing IS set for Tuesday in Judge Euoch's /
court. at O'Clock