The Portland daily press., 1899-08-12
SOUTH PORTLAND.
The Forgers Got in Their
Fine Work Here.
Two Well KaOWn Firms Victimized.
Others Canned For.
Big improvements Made
at Fort Williams.
Other Items Gathered Along the
Cape Shore.

The gang Of forgers who worked Port
land this We. k, an account of which was
given in yesterdays PRESS, extended
their thieyin2 operations to South Port
land, and this fact came to light Thurs
day morning when checks wers deposited
at the Portland banks for collection.
This Is the way 1t was worked. Monday
last sleek Individual stationed himself
streets and picking out good looking
Coy, one OF course known to the mer-
chants OF the city, aceosted him, saying
"S,nnie, do you want to make ten cents,
IL SO, take this note to Mr.. J. u. Merri-
man, the grocer and wait for reply. /"
Ths hoy started oil and presented the
note. Mr.. Merrlman opened 1t and Efound
and properly endorsed by him, the check
being signed by Wood, hammond s. Co.
The note read "Please cash this check
and send money by bearer.'' and was
slgned A. ID. Wilson. Mr.. Norman
thought that Mr.. Wilson who, by the
way, is q druggist on the corner of Saw
| yer and Front strests. was little short
Of change, and was glad to accommodate
him. So hs enclosed the ten dollars In q
note which the boy returned to the sleek
individual who was awaiting him on the
corner.
This worked so well that the fellow
thought he would try the trick again.
This time he selected for his victim MIR.
e. l.. Cole, the grocer on the corner OF
High aad Sawyer streets, directly oppo-
site MIR. Merriman. The thief adopted
the same methods which he had success
fully played on MIR. Merriman, and Mr..
Cole, recognizing the boy who was 50 n
Of MIR. johnson, thought everything was
all right and parted with ten dollars in
Geld oash which. went into the hands OF
! the forger
Encouraged by the s'land cfiice'' huss-
ness which the fellow seemed to have
struck he attempted TO work the game on
others, and boy was sent to the store Of
Cole Brothers, but Albert was too shrewd
TO be caught and he sent the boy home
empty handed. How many mere were
visited it is hard to say but one thing is
certain. the city. was pretty thoroughly
worked by the gang.
IMPROVEMENT AT FORT WILL
LIAMS.
Great Improvements nre going on at
Fort Williams, not merely In the erection
of additional buildings, but In what we
might call the Landscape features of the
reservation. The ground Is being ievelled
by the removal of knobs, etc., grading
along the pond has been carried on,
sewers have been constructed and a long
| trench has tesn dug through which Seha.
so water win be introduced. Electricity
viii be used for lighting the grounds and
buildings In the matter of buildings
much has been done and work is still in
progress. MIR. q. W. Doughty has COM
pleted the cellar for the new officers
quarters, and has about finished the first
story. Smith u Rumeiy have already
finished the administration builaingsand
the store houses and yesterday large
platform scale was put In. So take 1t
all In IL many changes are being made
on the face of ths earth adjacent TO the
Cape Cottage
AT CUSHING'S ISLAND.
The Government Is not allowing any
grass to grow under dts fsss in the prose
cution of its work at Cushing's Island,
where oser 100 men find daily employ
menr. The men are getting ready to mix
concrete and for this purpose two big
mixers have been set up with a huge
engine to run them. 1te workmen are
clearing away the woods on the back side
of the island preparatory for tine placing
there of several Is pound guns.
ICAUTIONARY SIGNALS ON CAPE
! ELIZABETH RAILROAD.
The management,o the Cape Elizabeth
Railroad are leaving no stone unturned
to secure the safety of the patrons of the
road, and cautionary signals have been
placed along the line after leaving Angel
Avenue on to Cape Cottage at all the
sharp turns In the road, so. that the
motormen can check up at the right
time. The conductors have been ordered
TO SOW up in crossing the bridge and in