The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-31
BRIDEGROOM FORGER
JACK MCCULLOUGH A PRISONER IN
NEW YORK.
FORGED COL. TESTERS NAME.
WAS sTENoGRAPHER FOR LESTER
e. RAVENEL AND USED THEIR
CHECKS.

After Many Observation-Disclosures
Mother Had Locked Up Marriage
License. wedding Ring and the
Brides CIothing--Whcre Pleading
Failed a Demand won out-Whcn
the CITY of Augusta Arrived in
New York "a Detective Arrested the
Young Savnnnnhinn-Had Forged
Col. Testers Name 10 "a Check for
S57g on the Savannah Hank nrd
Trust Compnny-McCuIROu Ar
rest OrdcreI by Supt. Reilly and
Deputy Sheriff sweeney Gone for
the Prisoner last Night.
John Mccullough, for several years
stenographer for the law firm of Lester
& Ravenel, was arrested after the Sa-
vannah steamer City of Augusta reached
her New York pier and tied up yesterday
morning The young man was on his wed
ding trip and his bride was with him
when the hand of central office detec-
tive fell on his shoulder.
The offense for which Mccullough was
arrested is the forgery of the name of
Congressman Rufus e. Lester TO a check
on the Savannah Bank and Trust Com
pany for s577 This is the principal offense
young Mccullough is known to have COM
mitted, but he has made free with the
: firm name of Lester & Ravenel, which he
has signed to several checks for small
amounts These were drawn on and CASH
ed by the Chatham Bank, but in these
cases the bank has begun no prosecution,
and it is understood that the forgers for
mer employers and victims will bear the
loss and that nothing will follow.
Neither Col Lester nor Mr.. Ravenel
would discuss the matter when they were
seen yesterday, further than to say that
they had not instituted the prosecution
nor caused McCullough's arrest, and that
the whole trouble in which he had man
aged to involve himself was a shock to
them.
Arrested in New York.
The arrest was made on telegraphic in
structions from Superintendent of Police
Reilly. who has acted in the matter for
the Savannah Bank and Trust Company.
Yesterday afternoon Mr.. w. f. McCauley,
cashier of the bank, appeared before Mag
istrate NJ Naughtin and swore out war
rant for McCullough's arrest, on a charge
of forgery. Last night Deputy Sweeny
left on the Central train for Atlanta
where he will secure a requisition for Nc
Cullough's return from New York to
Georgia and leave at once for New York
TO bring him back to Savannah. The New
York authorities have been wired to hold
their prisoner, pending the arrival of the
officer with the warrant and requisition.
Superintendent Reilly had entire charge
of the police and of the case, and got
Gxr~ao Ia he frira Fba
officers believe that great part of the
money viii be recovered.
The Savannah Bank and Trust Com
pany also filed a civil suit in the City
Court in which Mccullough is the de-
PENDANT and is alleged to owe the bank
$5T7 for money had and received. The
term is a legal one and in this instance
merely refers to the amount of the check,
bearing the forged signature of Congress-
man Lester which Mccullough cashed.
Bank Has Brought Suit.
1t is understood that the suit was in
stituted for the purpose of attaching some
of the property of the defendant, so that
his ill,gotten gains might be recovered.
The bank, of course, is the loser in the
transaction, as no matter how skilful the
forgery may be it does not protect that
institution.
Mccullough is rather quiet young man
X
tent no one has known of practices, in
dulged in by him. which usually serve to
explain such occurrences. II ne has
gambled, il must have been on rather
small scale and though he drank, 1t was
not to very great excess. The whole
thing is a good deal of a mystery and
how the boy expected to commit such
an offense and get away with the money
Is unsolved problem TO everybody. In
his recent MARRIAGE evident dova for
and devotion to the young woman he
made his bride and the obstacles that pre-
scented themselves to the union which
he seemed so determined to surmount
lies the possible solution of the problem
and the explanation of the commission
OF the act that has blighted his life.
Welded Under DsmcuIties.
There was just a tinge of romance in
the marriage of Mccullough and Miss
Bell The young woman's family had Sc
rious objections to the match and Mrs
Bell was firm in her opposition. They
were 20 have been welded Monday morn
Ing. but Mrs Bell had said most posi-
lively that the marriage should not take
place. The brides trunk, with the we'd
ding ring and the marriage license were
put under lock and key
Mccullough pleaded and then he
stormed. The hour for the departure of
the New York steamer was getting near
er and nearer, and the articles that are
absolutely necessary in a matrimonial af-
fair were in the custody of Mrs Bell.
who plainly said that she had no desire
20 become the young mans mother-in-
law. demand was finally made for the
articles and they were surrendered.
The couple went TO the house of friend
in the neighborhood and then to the Ca
thedral, where they were made one A
cab was secured and they were driven
rapidly to the wharf OF the Ocean Steam
ship Company. The City Of Augusta had
been delayed a little in starting and the
bride and groom were just In time to Sc
cure passage.
Mrs. Bell had all along objected to the
match for various reasons. 1t is said that
Mccullough on one occasion threatened "a
DO himself violence unless the young wo.
man married him, and certainly he was
persistent in his suit He told conflicting
stories Of wishing 10 he married immedi-
ately. One was that he had TO go North
on business for his firm. and that all OF
his expenses were being paid. He stated
at another time that Col. Lester had Sc.
cured for him a lucrative position in Bos.
ton
Brides Mother Overcome.
When the family OF the bride learned OF
the arrest OF Mccullough on a charge OF
forgery they were overcome with grief
A.