Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-11-23
MANYWORTHLESS CHECKS
Efforts Made to, Pass Them at Four
Stores and First National Bank.
$17 SECURED ON ONE OF THEM
Alleged Makers Are Not Known
In This City.
SOME MERCHANTS BECAME SUSPICIOUS

A man, who was apparently stranger
in the city, made attempts 10 pass
worthlcss checks Friday afternoon at
the clothing stores Of James il. Wright,
Eighth and Market streets: Max
Ephraim, No. 3l6 Market street, and
Reuben w. Wolters, Second and Market
streets, and Lewis |. Baer'5 shoe store,
No 407 King street, but he was not
successful, except at Mr.. Wright's
store, whsro he secured SIT in change
and left s2 hat which he had pur-
chased. lie also tried to get one Of the
checks casi1ed OF the First National
Bank, but the bank would not honor
it as the supposed maker of the check
had no account there, although the
| check had been made out on that bank,
as were also all OF the others which the
stranger endeavored to pass at stores.
| The matter has heen placed in the
| hands Of the police and Detective Wit
| sill has the checks and is looking for
| the man.
Shortly after noon Friday the man
went to Mr. Wolters' store and pur-
chased $40 suitof clothes. He ten
dered In payment check for S33, which
purrorted to have been drawn by James
| Green to the order of John Simpson.
!
| across the street. and telerhoned from
| the National Bark of Wilmington and
Brandywine to the First National
Bank. and on receiving the information
that James Green had no account
there, returned to his store and told
the stranger he could not cash the
check, wheroupon the man walked out
without the clothing, saying he would
get the check cashed and return for the
package. He had not returned up to
noon Saturday.
few minutes later the stranger ap.
peared at the First National Bank and
asked Oscar Gouert, JI., a clerk, to
cash it. Mr.. Geueit said Mr. Green
had no account at the bank and de-
clined to cash the check. The stranger
said Green was baker on Tatnal
street and he would see him and have
the matter adjusted. lie has not ye
returned TO the hank.
Shortly afterward the same man wen
to Max Ephraim's store, purchased SI
J worth of clothing and rendered "a checl
J for S32, made out in the name of Har
vey BALDWIN to the order of John Simp
son. Mr.. Ephraim detained the mai
until he could make inquiry at th
, bank. He was advised that Mr.. Bald
, win had no account there and also de
clined to accept the check. Tn
stranger left without the clothing ant
has not yet returned
The next place visited was Mr.
I Baer's shoe store, where he purchased
/ shoes and handed Mr.. Baer /, check TO
) $40. made in the name of Charlie
] Green to John Simpson. Mr.. Bae
. also declined to accept the cheek ant
3 the man left without his purchase.
q The stranger went directly to Mr.
D Wright's store, where be purchased
e g hat, rendered the check Mr.. Bae
Q had refused to take and received 81
{ in change. He was SO well please
D with this transaction that he Wake
q out without the hat he had bought.
is believed the stranger left the cit
shortly afterward. How the strange
came into possession Of the checks
q not known. 1t is thought. however
9 that in the case Of the Baldwin chec
il the person who wrote 1T intended
Q forge the name of Harvey Baldwin {
g Choate, in White Clay Creek hundred
Is Oscar Gouert, teller Of the First M
IS tional Bank. said Saturday morning ths
Il none of the parties whose names al
g reared on the checks had accounts {
is the banks. tbs believed blank chect
G were taken from the bank and file
,r out at random.