Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
CASE OF ALLEGED FORGERY
Treasury Department Clerk Arrested for
Imposing on Bank.
Institution Said to Have Fraudulent
Notes of His to Amount
of $1,000.

Middleton Smith, aged fifty-hve years,
employed a clerk in the Treasury De-
partment, and living at No. 1916 10Th street
northwest, was arrested shortly before
noon today by Detective Sam Browne of
the ninth precinct and locked up in the
lrst precinct station to answer the charge
of obtaining several hundred dollars from
the Riggs National Bank of this city in an
unlawful manner The exact amount OBJ
tanned by the defendant is net yet known.
The case will probably be heard in the Po-
lice Court Monday.
1t is alleged that the accused man has
been getting notes discounted at the bank
for number of months past, on each of
which, except the first, the initials of Mr.
James NJ. johnson, the vice president of
the bank, was forged. To the detective
who made the arrest Smith is SAID to have
admitted that he mad been getting money
from the bank by means of forged notes
for upward of two years, and that he used
this means to recoup his losses caused by
unfortunate speculations and by indorsing
notes for parties who failed to meet their
obligations when they became due.
A little more than two years ago, SO 1t is
alleged, Mr.. J. M johnson, who, as above
stated, is the vice president of the bank
vfctinIized, placed his initials as an indorse'
ment on note of Smiths for d small
amount, thus enabling him to get the money
upon the paper This note, 1t is said,
was not paid at maturity. and Mr.. john
son, it is understood, informed Smith that
further favorS could not be extended to
him.
Instead of regarding this warning, Smith,
it is alleged, a few days later drew up
another note, made payable to himself,
forged the name of Beverly II. jackson as
the signer, and also forged the initials j.
NJ. j" upon it as an indorser and obtained
the money upon 1t without difficulty. When
this was due Smith took it up, and In a
n
larger amount signed and Endorsed IN a
similar manner This course of pro-
cedure Smith is charged with pursuing
until the bank now holds, it is said, about
$1,000 worth of the forged paper
officials BECOME Suspicious.
Wednesday last the bank officials sus-
pected that Smith was not acting honestly
with them and they reported the matter
to Maj. Sylvester, superintendent of police
and Chief Inspector Boardman, and Detec-
tive Browne was detailed to capture Smith
BY some means it was learned couple of
days ago that he would probably ask that
another note be discounted for him today,
and Detective Browne went to the bank
soon after 1t was opened for business TINS
morning, and awaited developments
About IL 20 o'clock Smith walked into
the bank and handed in note amounting
to $50 for discount, and asked that ne De
given $500 on account. After brief delay,
during which notes aggregating that sum
were marked, this amount was handed to
him. At this juncture Detective Browne
stepped up to Smith and took him into Gus
tody. The prisoner was escorted into the
office Of Mr.. c. c. Glover, president of the
bank where besides Mr.. Glover, there
were Vice President Johnson, MIR. Thomas
Hyde, the note clerk; Mr.. Norman BestOr
and Detective Browne. Smith, 1t is said
confessed his crimes and surrendered the
money. He also, it is said, wrote a long
letter to his wife telling her what he had
been doing.
Later Smith was taken to the first pre-
cinCt station, on 18th street northwest. and,
as already stated, held to await hearing.
AS Il recognition of the skill displayed IN
effeCting Smith j arrest, and for the gem
eral efficiency he has exhibited in many
cases recently Detective Brown was this
afternoon detailed by Maj. Sylvester for
permanent duty at detective headquarters.