The times., 1901-05-13
A NOHE-FORGING MYSTERY
Claims Against Estates Presented
in Pennsylvania.
Mailed 20 Reputable Lawyers by an
Unknown Peumnn for Collection
Not a Penny Yet Realized From the
scheme-Thc Litigation Resulting.

Mailed 20 Reputable Lawyers by an
Unknown Peuman for Collection
Not a Penny Yet Realized From the
scheme-Thc Litigation Resulting.
EASTON. Pa. May l2-This section has
a mystery which has amazed the detec-
tives Within a year notes to the amount
Of more than 100000 have been presented
against the estates Of dead millionaires.
An are pronounced forgeries. The maker
Of the false notes, who appears to be the
same in each instance, is unknown. He
has not realized penny on his peculiar
venture. The authorities say he is as
sisted by a woman. He is clever pen
man. as shown by the photographs of his
handiwork and Of the signatures of the
men who are dead.
He has sought to get payment on the
notes through prominent lawyers Of this
and other nearby places. but the lawyers
have never seen their strange client and
have failed to reach him through the
mails In order to prevent discovery the
note ''liter' has communicated with the
lawyers elected I'm letters mailed from
trains so that his communications bear
the postmark of no town. An odd fea-
ture of the matter is the tirelessness Of
the spurious note operator. He has va
riety Of signatures, and every now and
then the executors cf some estate are as
founded by a demand for thousands.
lie began his work in 1856, with one
moderate note after which he was quiet
for several years Then, in October OF
slast year he started in again with en-
thusiasm, il is believed that there are
many of his forged notes eXtant Of which
there has been no public mention The
facts have been held secret for many
months in order that the detectives might
have a chance and now that there ap-
pears to be small hope of catching the
mysterious penman, secrecy is no longer
necessary. Just how it is known that a
woman is concerned. the authorities de-
cline TO say.
In 1856 William Z. Edelman, an attor-
ney of this city. received in the mail
Judgment note for 5000 against the es-
tate of the late Thomas NJ McThaney,
Of Stroudsburg. 1t was in favor of John
Henry, whom no one knew. The letter
accompanying the note was signed y. B.
Ford, and tks writer asked Mr.. Edel-
man TO collect on the paper and hold the
money subject 20 order.
Notice was given to the administrator
Of the McIlhaney estate, who demanded
the surrender Of the note for cancella-
tiOn. declaring it to be a forgery. Mr.
Edelman, who was acting in good faith
for his client. declined TO make a sur
render, but said that if after a reasonable
time Mr.. Ford did not appear and explain
the matter he would not present the note
for collection. Suit was brought against
the attorney. with the result that the note
is now in the prothonotary' office at
Stroudsburg for safe-keeping. at a cost
in litigation to date of $3.50 for the Nell
haney estate and of SIPS to Mr.. Edelman.
Three years ago, just after the death of
Stephen Kistler, rich tanner of Strouds-
burg, his administrators were startled by
the appearance of a note for S25 eco. pur-
porting to be endorsed by the tanner. The
note was repudiated. suit was brought,
and while the signature was pronounced
genuine, the note was pronounced
forgery, since it had been raised from $3.50
TO s25, 600 An effort to trace the note
after it had left the hands of the original
holder failed.
In October, 1890, a note was received in
the mails by Mr.. Edelman against the
estate Of Henry Fulmer, President of the
First National Bank of this city 1t
was for Ss9 coo. was dated November "A,
1895, and made payable four years after
date TO the order OF Henry Fulmer. 1t
purported to be signed and endorsed by
Mr. Fulmer-
Mr.. Edelman concluded that this note
was from the hands of his former mys-
terious client and was a forgery. The
more recent letter was signed u. B.
Smith" but comparison Of the two sig
natures led to the conclusion that they
were written by the same person. Mr..
Edelman wrote TO the address given in
the letter, but his communication was re-
turned stamped ''Uncalled for" He then
voluntarily surrendered the note to
Chester B. Fulmer, administrator of the
Fulmer estate, and II. ]. Steele, attorney
for the estate.
In April last a judgment note for s75.-
00o dated April 26. 1897, payable four
years after date, TO Henry Fulmer and
purporting TO be signed and endorsed by
him, was received in the mails by Knecht
& McKeen, lawyers here, for collection
Accompanying IL was note dated