The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-09
RAILROAD NEWS.
Conviction Of Two Chicago
Ticket Forgers.
Passenger Association Wins an
Important Victory.
COUNTERFEIT PLATES
One of the Convicted F0rgers
an Engraver.
COUNTERFEIT PLATES.
Circulars Sent Out Announcing
MacLe0d's Success.

officials of the Western Passenger
association are congratulating them
selves on the recent arrest and convic-
ton of two Chicago ticket forgers-the
first ever convicted in Chicago.
Eben f. Macleod, chairman OF the
association, has issued a circular adj
dressed TO Lines Interested This
circular is being sent to railroad Off
Gals with the request that they give
the information of the arrest and con-
viction as wide a circulation through
the newspapers as possible. The circu-
lar was received in Topeka Monday.
Under the direction of the Western
Passenger association" says Mr.. Mac
Leods circular. this case was called
before Judge Kavanaugh Tuesday, Sep
TENDER "A, and the trial consun ed the
balance of the week; it being necessary
for the Western Passenger association
to bring witnesses from New York,
Buffalo, Detroit, Indianapolis and St
Paul to establish their case
After a stubborn fight on the part Of
the defendants, the case went to the
who, after celebrating about half an
hour, brought in a verdict of guilty
against both defendants.
The conviction removes from the
T..
the most dangerous forgers in the tick
ct brokerage business. The tickets in
volved in this case represented lines
both east and west of Chicago This is
the first conviction for forgery of rail-
way tickets in Chicago, and it's import
ance will therefore be appreciated as the
principle affects and the conviction
therefore benefits railway lines general
ly. This experience would seem to in
dictate the wisdom of continued prosecu-
ton of abuses of this kind by some
such joint action as was followed in
this case
The story of how the two ticket for
gers We're convicted is an interesting
one It appears that early last
July the members of a. prominent
engraving firm of Detroit, Mich, be-
came aware of the fact that one of
their workmen, a zinc etcher named
Jacob Wolf, was engaged in making
plates in his spare hours for railroad
tickets. The firm questioned him and
ascertained that the work was being
done for one Frank L Rice, of Chi
cago. Wolf claimed to them that the
work was all right; that he had done
similar work for Rice when employed
with another firm. They were not sat
isfied and kept watch of the man. 1t
developed that Wolf made a plate for
Monon issue of ticket reading from
Chicago over the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy railroad. a photograph was
made of this plate before Wolf shipped
it, and subsequently a genuine Lehigh
Valley ticket was received by Wolf
from which to make a plate of the issue
of that line. AL conference of lines
over which the forged tickets read, the
matter was placed in the hands of the
Western Passenger asSociat ton for in
vestigation, and steps taken at once to
secure evidence, Rice being we'll known
to them as engaged in the ticket bro
kerage business for the firm of Allardt
& Co.. 1856 South Clark street Opera
purchase tickets
at Rice's place of business and an
effort was made to locate plates This
was frustrated, however, by Informal
ton of the investigation leaking out,
but on the 18th of July Rice was ar
rested and his place of business
searched. On the same day the West
ern Passenger association sent a repre-
sentative to Detroit and Wolf, the en-
graver, made a statement in which he
claimed he was innocent and sur
rendered all letters in his possession,
which established complete informa ton
in connection with Rice and the tickets
in question Wolf accompanied the as
socia TONS representative to Chicago.
and agreed to appear before the grand
jury, it having been decided to take
the case direct to the grand jury,
rather than have preliminary examina-
ton. After arrival in Chicago, through
the influence of his brother-in-law,
who was connected with Rice in sew
eral business transactions, Wolf re
fused to appear before the grand jury.
and on the evidence presented he was
indicted jointly with Rice for ticket
forgery The case was called before
Judge Kavanaugh on Tuesday. Sep
TENDER "a, and the trial consumed the
rest of the week. The case went to the
jury Saturday afternoon, September o.
After celebrating about half an hour
the jury brought in a verdict of guilty
against both defendants.
AcprN TrTNNET c0MprETEn