The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-17
TRIED A BIG SWINDLE
REST In NEW YORK FOR Of
FERING BOGUS NOTES
RICH MEMS NAMES FORGED
Paper Represents 100000 and
Bears the Names of Potter Pal
mer, D. v. Purington and
Others AS Makers.

NEW YORK, Nov. 16-Capt. Titus.
chief of the detective bureau, tonight
gave out the details of the arrest today
of man who is suspected of trying to
negotiate with Wall street banks and
brokers worthless notes amounting in the
aggregate to $1oS,0oo on which the names
of Potter Palmer and other prominent
Chicago men are alleged to have been
forged. The prisoner is said by Capt.
Titus to be O. B. Wheeler Jr., fifty years
old although the prisoner himself says he
is Azmer J. Wheeler. He refuses to give
any address, and says that he acted IN
good faith in trying to negotiate the
notes. He was locked up at police head
quarters tonight.
Can't, Titus says that he learned that
among those with whom Wheeler was
trying to deal was Fred l.. Wheeler,
reputable dealer in investments and Sc
curities in this city, and who Is In no way
related or connected with O. b. wheeler.
The notes which o. B. Wheeler was try
ing to dispose of were all drawn for six
months time and were as follows:
One for $34, 700, dated Oct. 16, 1901, bear
ing the name of Potter Palmer; one for
S14,35O. dated Nov. IA, 1901, bearing the
name of D. V. burlington, president and
treasurer of the burlington Paving and
Brick company; one for $l5,70o, dated Oct
20, bearing the name of V. +. Becker;
one for 81, O65, dated Oct. 10, 1901, bearing
the name of Stratton & Fields, and one
for SIS, 05O, dated Oct. Il, 1901, and bearing
the name of D. V. Purington as an In
diyidual. The notes were dated Chicago
and made payable to n. M. Duffy They
were typewriter, with the exception OF
the alleged signatures. They We're twice
Endorsed. first by n. M. Duffy and sec
ondly by o. B. Wheeler Jr.
WheeIer's Clever Story.
Capt. Titus says he learned that o.
B. Wheeler had first appeared in Wall
street about three weeks ago with the
notes in his possession. He says the
prisoner, in trying to turn the notes into
cash. told bankers and brokers that
he needed the money for. the extension
of brickyards at Kreicherville, S. l.,
and to pay off certain small stockholders
who were dissatisfied with their holdings
Providing he cashed the notes he could
fill large orders that would net him
$15O. 900 profit. He is said to have offered
as security the plant of the Richmond
Brick and Tile company, at Kreicher-
Vile, S. T., and also to have taken out
a 100000 insurance on his life. Capt.
notes had been given to him as consid-
Grafton for large quantities of brick he
had furnished.
Capt Titus says he made inquiries by
telegraph as to the validity of the notes,
and says D. V. Purington wired back
that he had never issued or signed such
note as Wheeler was trying to dis
pose Of
Potter Palmer was not in Chicago when
the captain telegraphed, but his son re-
piled that his father had not given any
note to Wheeler. The result of the in
vestigation by telegraph was that o. B.
Wheeler was arrested.
Wheeler told Capt Titus that N. M.
Duffy, whose name appears on the back
of the notes, is his Chicago salesman
and representative, and that if the notes
are fictitious it is Duffy's fault. The
Chicago police, replying to Capt. Titus,
say that the name of n. M. Duffy is not
in the Chicago directory, and that they