The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-11-26
A FORGER CONES TO GRIEF.
3. W. Bell, White, of Clarendon County,
Arrested for Forging a Check
On Bank of Manning.

B. W. Bell, alias J. II. Bell, white,
farmer who has heretofore lived near
Davis Station, Clarendon county, was
on Wednesday committed to jail on a
warrant charging him with forgery,
which was issued on Tuesday by Mag
istrate Wells on the affidavit of D. j.
Chandler. Bell was arrested on Tues
day night about fifteen miles from
St. Stephens, Berkeley county, by
Constable Jenkinson, of Manning, who
located him at the house of Bells
brother-in-law. Bell admits his guilt
and made no objection to coming to
Sumter after he found that he was
trapped and the evidence of his guilt
was so strong that there was no es-
cape.
The story of the crime is as follows
Several weeks ago Bell went into D.
J. Chandler's clothing store with a
regular customer of the store who
made several purchases at the time.
While they were there Bell was intro
duced to Mr.. Chandler, but when
asked if he did not want to buy some
goods, Bell said that he didn't have
any money with him, but he would
be in town again soon and would then
make a bill. On Tuesday, November
11th, he returned and bought suit
of clothes and other articles, the bill
amounting to s17.5O. When he finish
ed trading he produced a check for
s95 drawn in favor of J. II. Bell and
signed by S. NJ. Mixson, who, Bell
stated, was the we'll known merchant
at Davis Station. Bell said he would
90 to the bank and get the check cash
ed and return for the goods and pay
his bill. He returned in few min
utes and stated that the cashier would
not cash the check unless he could get
some one to identify him. Mr..
Chandler endorsed the check, had it
cashed, and after deducting the amount
of Bells bill gave him the balance.
The check was deposited and nothing
was heard from it until Tuesday when
Mr.. Chandler was called up. over the
'phone by the Cashier Of the Bank
of Manning and informed that the
check was forgery, that Mr.. Mixson,
or Nexsen, which now appears to be
the correct name of the Davis Station
merchant. said he had never given
Bell a check. Mr.. Chandler imme-
diately began an investigation and soon
ascertained that no j. Fl. Bell lived
near Davis Station, but that the de-
scription fitted 3. W. Bell to nicety.
A warrant was taken out for B. w.
Bell and Constable Jenkinson, Of Man
ming, who had in the meanwhile learn
ed that Bell left Davis Station for ST.
Stephens on Monday, was deputized
to make the arrest. When Constable
Jenkinson reached st. Stephens Tues
day night he found that Bell was 15
miles in the country. Constable Jen--
kinson hired buggy and guide and
at O'Clock was back in st. Stephen s
with his prisoner. Mr.. J: b.
Chandler, who accompanied Jenkinson
to St. Stephens and was awaiting his
return from the country, Immediately
identified Bell as the man who passed
the check and. Bell then confessed.
Bell asked for time to raise the
money to make good the amount he
had obtained on the forged check but
he was brought to this city and COM
mitted to jail. His father and brother
are in town today and they are en-.
deavoring to arrange for the release OF