Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-25
Very Rev. Father Eioppman Dis
owns Note for $12O.
SAYS HIS SIGNATURE is FORGED
Mr.. Jebb Who Has Been Local
Agent for National Life G Trust Co.,
of pes Moines, Was Arrested at Bal
IinsalI Last Evening.
From Mednesday's Daily

From Wednesday Dally.
Thomas |. Jebb, who has been in OF
tumwa for several months as repre-
sentative of the National Life & Trust
Co., of Des Moines, was arrested last
evening at the Ballingall hotel by
Chief of Police John Gray on the
charge of forgery, information having
been sworn to by Very Rev. F. w.
Hoppman, rector of St. Mary's Cath
olic church. The amount claimed toI
have been secured by Mr.. Jebb under
false pretenses is $120, and the priest
claims that his name was forged to a
promissory note for that amount, da-
ted September 20, 1902, and extending
over period OF ninety days. The
note, which is now in the possession of
the Iowa National bank of this city,
was made in favor of the National
Life e. Trust Co.. and was discounted
by the bank for Mr.. Jebb, as that con-
Germs agent in Ottumwa.
Discovery Yesterday.
1t was not until yesterday that the
discovery of the alleged forgery was
msde, although the note was discount
Gu the bank when it was only few
d9E'old. Yesterday Father Hoppman
received by mail from the bank noti-
ficafion that his note for $120 was due,
allja on investigation he came to the.
conclusion. that the instrument had
ben forged. He Immediately procur-i
ed q warrant and MI. Jebb was arres-
ted about O'Clock last evening. He
refused to make statement OF his
side of the case further than to say
that he would be able to adjust the
trouble satisfactorily and prove his
innocence. He was incarcerated in the
county Jail and this morning, as he was
to i'll to appear in police court, his at
torney, W. w. Epps, requested that
The hearing be set for January 2, which
was done. 1t is probable that the pris-
oner will be released on bond before
that time.
Father Hoppman's Story.
The story told by Father Hoppman
regarding the affair is to the effect
that he gave Mr.. Jebb a note for $50
date of the alleged forgery. This bona
fide note was to be paid as an invest
ment in the National Life & Trust Co.,
and has, Father Hoppman thinks,bee
sent to the home office of the company
in Des Moines. However, he has re-
ceived no notification as yet that it is
about to become due.
Calls on Priest.
Father Hoppman stated to Judge
Moon and other officials of the city
yesterday, that about two weeks ago,
Jebb called upon him and during the
4 conversation he asked the solicitor
where his note for $50 was, saying that
he wished to take it up when it ma
tured. He was told he said,
that it was in the Des Mones
office of the company, and
that he would receive proper notifica
ton in due time. Then, it is alleged,
Jebb proceeded to the Iowa National
bank, where he inquired and was told
the date of the maturity of the note
for $120, after which it is said he told
the officials at the bank that Father
Hoppman had told him (Jebb) that he
did not think he would be able to pay
the entire note at maturity, but that
he would take it up on installments.
Priest Objects.
Everything went along without any
more suspicious action than this until
yesterday, when Father Hoppman, or
receiving the note from the bank, re
garding his note for S12O, visited that
institution to demonstrate. An inves
tigation led him to obtain warrant
which was placed in, the hands O.
Chief Gray about 4 o'clock in the after
noon.
Not Easily Found.
Mr.. Jebb could not be found at the
Ballingal, where he has been staying
since he came to the city, when Chic
Gray arrived there with the warrant
The officer hunted in several place!
where he thought his man could bt
found, but not until about Z o'clocl
did he get trace of him. He was tolt
that Mr.. Jebb was in his room ant
had the lights turned out, but whel
he arrived at the door the appartmen
was empty. Returning to the Office o
the hotel the officer learned that hi
man was on the parlor floor, but a
he mounted one flight Of steps MI
Jebb came down another fight. How
ever. he was overtaken by the chic
and placed under arrest.
Was Violently Ill.
Mr.. Jebb was taken to the polio
station and remained there for shol
time while friends tried to obtai
cash bond SO that he need not be pt
anto Jail. Their efforts We're unsu'