The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-04
THE LIFE
STORY OF:
A F0RGER
Shear Says II He Ever Did an
Honest Thing II Was When
He Gave Himself Up.

Muskegon, Mich. Nov. 4-The life OF
Luther w. Shear. the forger. as con-
fessed by him just prior to his being sem
fenced TO IL years at Jackson prison by
Judge Russell, is a strange human docu-
ment.
-"I was born" Shear narrated. 'in New
burg, N. Y. thirty-five years ago. and a.
the age OF eleven moved with the family
10 New York city, where / became office
boy for a fruit importing house. / re-
mained I'm this business about two years
alternating between my work and school.
Then had my first trouble.
II was accused OF having signed the
firms name to a check for $500. The man
who committed the crime. however. final
ly confessed
MY brother Leroy and myself were
then sent on a trip around the world TO
keep us out Or mischief. was eighteen
or nineteen when | got back. My father
started me I'm the grocery business in New
York. in which l remained nine months.
A little later began 10 handle the news
paper transportation and express busi-
ness. the first that was ever started In
the world. | remained I'm this three years
and then went 10 Indianapolis. Denver
and the coast and TO Chicago. where
had my next trouble.
PASSED FORGED CHECK.
II was arrested for passing forged
check. which was executed by my broth
er but got out of the scrape through the
influence of then Lieut.. Governor Bev-
erdge.
'"rhen / went again across the water
and spent year and half I'm England
and on the Continent. I came back TO
New York and took up my trade as a
newspaper compositor. | was rapid: more
so than usual Wages were high. and
earned I'm two days enough 10 satisfy all
my wants for several more.
IL would work for short time and
then lay off and spend my time living
high. I became an expert billiardist. and
was nicknamed "Vigneux," after the fa-
nous French expert. This name / later
adopted.
''This life became distasteful. and
tried 10 stop IL, but couldn't. ! finally hit
upon plan.
II went 10 Syracuse. ~ " and told
the chief OF police there that had passed
a forged check on Letter Brothers, lessees
of the Syracuse opera House, two years
before II had been done by my brother
Leroy. One OF the Letter firm saw me,
and said 7 was not the man | was just
as positive OF the other way After six
weeks Of this uncertainty ] was sem
fenced 10 two and one-half years I'm Ali-
burn prison by District Judge A. +.
Smith OF Cortland.
GRANTED n PARDON,
After serving eleven months I wrote
Governor Dix my story feeling sure I
had had enough punishment and could
take care Of myself lie sent my pardon,
and I stayed two weeks at Judge Smith 5
home. I then again took up my trade and
drifted all over the country.
II struck Galveston the year OF the
great fever epidemic With several others
| broke through quarantine and reached
the Mississippi across country, striking
the river at Helena I again worked back
10 New York I'm 1852. and after staying a
short time again went West 20 Piqua.
Ohio. Elkhart. Ind. and then 20 kalama-
zoo, Mich, Grand Rapids. Grand Haven
and Musltegon. From there I took up my
residence in Whitehall and changed my
name 90 VigneuN. so people could not mix
me with my brother Leroy.
II carried the name until April. 1895. AZ
ter staying I'm Michigan a short time.
during which I married. left without
my wife. and went to Grnnell. Iowa. At
the latter place I Joined the church and
after n time signed mans name 20 n
note and had 10 go 10 Denver whore |
stayed from 81 90 %. Then 7 came back
to Michigan 20 live. and remained until
| began my forging operations In Muske-
gon. three years ago.
II think my forgeries here will amount
TO $4,000 or $4,000: possibly more | al
ways had a good note for basis and ex-
ecuted one and sometimes two duplicates.
That was my system While away from
Muskegon I spent my time az Port Jer-
Wis, ~. v, and N ever ala an honest
thing I'm my life. &; was wher l came back
and gave myself up"