The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-10-27
FRANCIS G. LUKE
UNDER ARREST
Collection Agency Manager is
Charged With Forgery.
SENT A SUMMONS BY MAIL
ALLEGED THAT MAGISTRATES
SIGNATURE WAS FoRGED.

Francis G. Luke. manager of the
Merchants Protective association,
was arrested late yesterday afternoon
by Deputy Sheriff Cummings on
warrant issued out of Justice Diehrs
court, charging him with having
forged the signature of Justice Peter
Lochrte to a summons served through
the postott1ce upon G. w. Palmer of
Farmington on Sept. II. The defendant
was taken before Justice Diehl and lio-
Grated on "A bond of 81 900 to appear on
Monday or Tuesday for preliminary
examination.
In the district court numerous pro-
ceedtngs have been instituted by ag-
grieved debtors against Luke and
various of the precinct justices to re-
strain the manager of the collection
agency from enforcing execution of
judgments in cases in which no sum-
mons was ever served. although the
papers made it appear that the de-
PENDANTS had been regularly served.
In several Of these instances the dis
trict court has granted writs of pro-
htbition. as prayed for and E number
Of applications for writs are pending.
Ihis is the first time. however, that
Luke has been charged with a Grim
mai ofc in connection with his
prosecu of suits for debt, but Coun-
" Att Iey Christensen has been on
the alel for evidence sufficient to con-
Wet the collection agency man of
some offense. The public prosecutor
IS now of the opinion that be has a
sure case against Luke. and no effort
i be spared to accomplish his con-
viction.
Summons Sent by Mail.
The complainant against Luke is
Attorney J. w. StringfelloN, who was
retained by Mr.. Palmer to defend the
sat which the manager Of the conec-
ton agency brought against him for
recovery of S1.63 in favor of one. J. D.
Wood Tt is alleged that on Sept. II
Mr.. Palmer received a letter by mail.
ncloslng Coz y of a summons the
tginal Of which purported to have
been signed by JGstIce Lochrie, notify
ing the defendant to appear in the
Justices court within ten days there
after TO defend the suit in which
WOOD demanded judgment for $l.63
and costs.
No Complaint Filed.
f3.scre the expiration of the ten
days Palmer came to this city to re-
tain the services OF Attorney String
fellow to defend the suit against him.
Attorney Stringfeliow's Investigations
took him to the court of Justice Loeb
RE, and, to his surprise. he found that
no complaint had been filed as rne law
oirects for the commencement of a
,,tVll action. neither was the original
SNAAAAAVhE 10 De IOunQ. Later. however.
the complaint was found on file with
the date of Sept p erased and the
date Of Sept. Il substituted. Further
investigation brought forth the origi-
nal summons, but the justice was Ger
tain the signature purporting to be
ms was forgery. When this discov-
cry W0s made the county attorney
concluded that there was sufficient
evidence to commence prosecution
against Luke for the offense Charged
Attorney StringfellOw presented evil
dence 20 the county attorney yester-
Day showing that Luke had written to
Palmer, saying that If the bill were
paid the suit would be dismissed with
out costs. and this is believed TO be
the reason why no complaint was filed
W court as set forth in the summons
served upon Palmer. Attorney String
Ieiiows client declares that the bin
~ $l6S is an overcharge and de-
clined to settle.
The alleged fraudulent use of the
mails By Luke has been called to the
attention of the United States district
attorneys office. and Assistant Attor-
ney CheTrington has the matter of
prosecuting Luke for violation of the
postal laws under advisement.
A stitch in dme saves nine" and a