Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-07
TAKEN INTOCUSTODY
Gilbert B. Towles Charged With
Crime of Forgery.
ARRESTED In HARRISBURG TODAY
Warrant Issued From the Police
Court in THIS City
SUBSTANCE OF ACCUSATION

Gilbert B. Towles. the patent attorney,
who has occupied an office in the Robbins
building at No. SO eth street northwest.
was arrested at Harrisburg. Pa, this morn
ing by Detective Helan on the charge of
forgery. Inspector Boardman was advised
Of the arrest this afternoon. Detective He
Ian informed him that Towles had been
turned over to him by United States COM
missioner. and that he would leave there
at noon The detective and his prisoner
will reach here lates this afternoon.
The warrant upon which the arrest was
made was issued from the Police Court
yesterday on the oath of Detective Thomas
b NcNamee. 1t charges that Gilbert B.
'rowles did feloniously forge, alter and
counterfeit a certain instrument of writing.
bearing date Washington, D. c.. Septem-
Der j. 1899. calling for the payment of
S5.HU one month after its date. and bearing
interest at the rate of per cent The OBJ
legation was made payable to Zenas C. Rob
bins at the Lincoln National Bank This
note was signed by Towles and purported
10 be Endorsed by Zenas C. Robbins 1t is
alleged that the Instrument Of writing, with
the Endorsement. was falsely made by Gil
bert 3. Towles. being the counterfeit of an
original genuine note of the same tenor as
To the face thereof. and the said indorse-
ment thereon, except as to the date, which
was CnanSeN 10 september D. 1879 ana eN-
c-pt TO the amount thereof. which was
changed to S5OO0 from an amount which
did not exceed 500.
Before the Grand Jury.
Witnesses have been before the grand
jury IN the case. and yesterday the district
attorney concluded the arrest of the pat
ent attorney was necessary. An affidavit
for a warrant was prepared by Assistant
District Attorney Taggart in the case of
Mr.. Robbins note Two copies of the war
rant were issued. Detective Helan went TO
Harrisburg with one copy. while Detective
McNamee went to Gettysburg with the
other.
II is alleged that the defendant was in
terested with others in the prospective pur-
chase OF d big piece of ground near the
Gettysburg national cemetery, and an op-
tirn The ground was obtained.
II is stated that il was the belief of some
"t the M II interested in the matter that
Congress would purchase the ground for
the purpose of extending the cemetery. In
the event Of such purchase a handsome
sum would have been realized. but Com
ereSs failed TO make the purchase the
plan failed. During the course of business
connected with the affair. IL is alleged. Mr..
T"wles was given signed notes in blank
for him TO fill in. the amounts not to ex-
ceed certain figures The note mentioned
in the warrant. 1t is alleged, was taken
III by Mrs. Luchs matter of invest
ulent. She rented from Mr.. Robbins. and
hen she saw his Endorsement on the note
She did not hesitate to advance the money.
The nOjr went to protest and civil suit
instituted by Mrs. Luchs is now pending.
Previous Transaction.
Perhaps the first intimation of the al
l~ged wrongful conduct on the part of the
man taken into custody today was the fl
ing of an affidavit subscribed to by his
brother, Henry o. Towles. The action was
in connection with a suit at law to recover
on pronlissOry note for $1,000 instituted
the 2Ith of last November by Thomas w.
Smith. who named as defendants Charles
{. Bryan, Zenas c. Robbins, II. o. Towles
and Gilbert 3. Towles.
The affidavit Of Henry o. Towles set forth
that the piece of paper which Is sued upon
IN the declaration in this case has, since
atlantis Endorsement thereof. without affi-
ants knowledge or consent. been material
y altered by this atlantis codefendant, Gil
bert 3. TOwles, the amount thereof having
been raised and other material changes
made therein: and that said Gilbert B.
Towles has within the past few days admit
tel 10 this affiant having raised said note
2 Aforesaid