The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-20
FORGED A CHECK
Two Men Offer Bogus Paper
at Tapp'S Store,
PCTH WERE ARRESTED
One Man Falls Into a Cellar
Trying TO Escape.

R. S. Edwards and r. G. Deford, two
strangers, were arrested last evening fol
attempting 10 pass forged check or
James Tapp. Edwands made break fol
liberty after he was arrested, and Officer
Osborne was compelled to shoot at him
several times before he could make him
stop.
About Z O'Clock last night Deford walk
ed into Tapps store and presented re-
ceipt for s25 on the Kansas National
bank, signed by Cornelius Oldfather, a
wealthy farmer of Maize, and asked Mr..
Tapp to cash it.
Mr.. Tapp said that re was not in the
habit of cashing chacks for strangers, as
he had been imposed uIOn several times
and had lost money. lie looked at the
check closely and discovered that the
name was a. yned Neal Oldfather." Mr..
Tapp was acquainted with Mr.. Oldfa-
Tiers signature and knew it was a for
gerry at once, as the latter always signed
his name &C, Oldfather."
AS soon as he noticed this Mr.. Tapp
asked the man what his maine was, and
he said it was Hodges. In answer to a
query as to where he got tlte check, De-
ford, Mr. Tapp says, stated that he had
cashed it for a son Of Mr.. Oldfather.
Mr.. Tapp asked him how old, man he
was, and Deford replied that he thought
he must be about thirty.
This check" said Mr.. Tapp. "is a for
gerry. This is not Mr. Oldfather's sig
nature, and more than that Mr.. Oldfather
rs that So replied Deford, moving to-
ward the door 'I will have that man
arrested, then, If it costs me 800. 1 will
see the first officer 1 can find and put
him onto it,
Miles Wittum, a brother-in-law OF Mr..
Tapp, was convinced that the man was
a forger and said that he would follow
him out and have him arrested. He
saw Deford meet another man, standing
just outside the door. and walk down the
street. The pair passed Osborne and
did not even look at the officer,
much less call his attention to the check
as he said he would.
The men went into a saloon and
officer Osborne called officer AAspey
and the two arrested the men They took
them back to Taps store for Identified
ton. Just as they were walking into the
store Edwards, the man who had stood
on the outside while Deford attempted to
pass the check. made break for liberty
and ran out Of the door. Officer Os-
borne ran after him and called to him to
stop. Edwards turned west on Second
street and Officer Osborne shot In the N%r
Edwards dashed into the alley and Os-
ej and Osborne knew that he must have
hidden somewhere. He was not able to
find him 1T first, as it was very dark.
Finally he heard the man move and
jumping toward him, grabbed him by the
arm. The man tried to wrench himself
free ard by so doing precipitated himself
into a cellarway back of Taps store,
watch is about seven feet deep. Officer
Syl Anderson came running up the alley
just then and the officers then fished
Edwards ont and the two were taken to
the police station. Mr.. Tapp identified
DefoTd as the man who tried to pass the
check. and the latter, it is said, does not
deny it. He claims, however, that Ed
wards gave 1t to him and that he sup
posed that it was good, and that he gave
Edwards SO for-it He has not explained
why he gave his name as Hodges to Mr..
Tapp.
1t is thought that there will be no diff
ficuity in proving that the men are slick
rascals. Harry lockwood, it is said, was
near TaDp's store just before Deford
went in and heard the two men planning
how they should carry out the scheme
Hodges. or Deford as he later gave his
name, claims to live at Mt Hope. Mr.
Tapp says that he is well acquainted in
that vicinity, having lived there and
that he is sure the man never lived there
Mr.. Tapp says that it seems as though
he has been picked out as an easy mark
for check passers. He says that he is
willing for them to try and he will see
If the penitentiary population cannot be
increased.