The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-12
FRAUD PERFORATED
ON THE POLICE.
Two Men, Representing Themselves
ms Agents for Police History, Ar
rested.

Two Men, Representing Themselves
ns Agents for Police History, Ar
rested.
AS a result of soliciting subscriptions
for a history Of the Savannah police,
w. r. Matthewson and NJ. w. Wilkes
were arrested yesterday by Sergt. Nc
Cool and locked up on a charge of
cheating and swindling. The specific
cases that caused the arrest were So
Letting from Mr.. Geo. H. Ellis. Mr..
John Meyer and Mr.. John Kaiser. The
case is in some ways an interesting
one.
The men were employed by Mt.
Lathrop, who was the originator of the
scheme for getting out the book. He
went to the police authorities some
time ago and represented that he had
gotten out a history of the police de-
partment Of Richmond, Va, and want
ed to get out a similar one for the Sa-
vannah department 1t was to be
narrative of the origin of the deDart =
ment, its founding. those who had been
identified with its success. events of
Importance in which the members had
taken part and pictures of the present
force. The Police Benevolent Society
was to receive 20 per cent. Of the
gross receipts, the cost OF the work
and the originators' profit coming out
of the remainder. The idea seemed to
be a good one, and the Benevolent So
ciety being dear to- the hearts of all
policemen, authority was given 70 go
ahead
When the book came out, 1t did not
come up to expectations. and there
was considerable dissatisfaction in the
way collections We're being made from
advertisers and subscribers. Things
were badly mixed and the police took
a hand and assumed the burden of
clearing up things. Sergt. McCoOl ana
Detective Stark were put in charge
and upon their request the announce
ment was made in the Morning News
that they alone were authorized 10
make collections. 1t was this that re-
suited in the arrests. About 10 o'clock
Mr.. Ellis telephoned that one of the
men who had been in his store. at
Duffy and Lincoln streets. or the day
before had returned and represented
himself as a policeman authorized to
collect for the book. He had creden-
tials, and Mir. Ellis had paid him SO.
When he went to the phone. though,
the man darted out of the store and
boarded an f. and w. belt car. lie
did not deliver the book. and said it
would be sent around later. Sergt. Nc
Cool mounted his horse and started in
pursuit and, though he did noe
catch either of the mon
at Ellis store other notices of their
being at work began to come in and
the officer succeeded in locating them
in Broughton lane. They were at once
put under arrest
When searched each was found to
have a paper bearing the official in
dorsement of the police department
and addressed to the merchants and
business men of Savannah, telling that
the bearer giving his name. was au-
thorized to solicit subscriptions to the
Police Benevolent Society, the money
to be used for the benefit of sick and
disabled policemen and their families.
This much was typewriter, but the
signature in ink was "Owen F. Reil-
ly, Supt."
After examination the superintend-
ent said the signatures in both cases
were forgeries, but no charge was
docketed against the prisoners, it not
yet being determined whether they
committed the forgery themselves or
had been imposed upon by the party
for whom they were working The
officers said there was no excuse for
the men representing themselves as po-
.licemen, and for that reason the charge
of cheating and swindling was en-
tered.
Lathrop, who got up the scheme
has left the city. 1t is supposed he
left by Wednesday steamer for Bal
timore. A preliminary hearing will be
had before the Recorder this morn
ing, when it is thought the whole
story will ha fold