The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-10
CAUSED BY DEBT.
Marion Leonard in Jail For
Forgeries.
Committed Crimes at Sugges-
tiOn of Friend.
HE is A TOPEKA BOY.
Member of the Y. NJ. G. A. and
Well Known.
FOrgeries Perpetrated With
Hope of Paying Debts.

q Marion. G.Leonard, the young man who
was arrested Saturday charged with for
gerry, as reported in the State Journal -
10 years old and has lived in Topeka ter
IA years. He is the adopted son OF Q u
Bowles, who formerly lived at 1016 Maol-
son street, but who now resides in Gyp-
sum City, Kan. He has been employed
by different grocery firms as driver for
delivery wagons and a short time ago
worked as packer at Parkhurst & Davis
wholesale house. When he left that
place he worked as night man at the
Union Pacific depot lunch counter. and lt
was there he says he began the forging
of checks.
The warrant on which Leonard was
arrested was sworn out by james WertSy
who runs grocery at 53S Topeka ave-
nue., and who accepted one Of the checks
There are eight checks issued by Leon
ard which were turned into the police
station and which he admits he wrote
The checks were issued on the Citizens
State bank, the Central National bank
and the Bank of Topeka, and were such
an evident forgery that 1t is surprising
any of the merchants accepted them. He
used the title Mr." in both the names OF
the payee and maker. In every case the
checks were accepted and nothing wrong
was detected until the different mer-
chants presented them at the banks
r. d. Guy, who has a grocery at Fourth
and Taylor, accepted a check signed by
Mr.. Mccormick" made payable to Mr..
j. II, Creamer.v The amount was $6.7S.
Ed Condor. at Sixth and Horn. took
one for $7.S7, which was signed by Mr..
T. D. Humphrey, payable to Mr.. W.
Stewart. r. H. Bartlett, who has a
grocery at 800 West Twelfth. got one for
1913, payable to Mr.. Geo. Bradley and
signed by j. c. Darling. L. A Fisher
accepted one for $3.50 signed Geo. Park
hurst, by ]. H. Gordon, secretary, and
payable to Mr.. H. Spielman. w. Har-
vey, at 1881 Huntoon, got one for 1884
signed Mr.. E. B. Merriam and made pay
able to Mr.. H. Stratford. The check
James Werts, who swore out the war
rant, accepted. was for $6.S7 and was
payable to Mr.. NJ Stanton and signed
Mr. Geo. Brooks. Ella Stitt, who has a
grocery near Garfield park took one for
$494 signed Mr.. H. Hatfield payable to
Mr.. Geo. Martin. G.. w. Davidson ac-
cepted one signed M. T. Merriam, paya-
bic to Mr.. T. Martin for Sc. ST.
In all cases Leonard drew the checks
for small amounts and going into the
stores would make a trihing purchase
and present the check in payment Chief
Lucas found one check in Leonard's
room ready for use.
Leonard belongs to the local z NJ c.
A, and Sunday morning several of the
members called on him to see if they
~ or materially. He was a very shame
raced appearing young man when he
glanced up and saw who his callers were.
He told Chief Lucas that he had been
hard up and in debt and that the for
gerry scheme was suggested by another
party who explained to him how it was
DONE He did not realize the enormity of
should be pushed he would have a long
sentence to serve, but it is likely that all
of the cases will be dropped providing
the money is refunded.