Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-25
, ANOTHER FORGERY.
H. A. Mooers Of Mt. Vernon Buncoed
Out of $34.
Fraudulent Check Passed on Him for
That Amount.

Word has been received in this city
| thal H. a. Mooers of Mt. Vernon, was
made victim of forged check by the
same party or parties who afterwards
forged the name of John Coughlin to
two checks, details of which were pub
lished in Saturdays Journal. It will be
recalled that A. l.. Gaslin stated that
a man had been stopping at his res
taurant and had asked him to cash a
check for S34 drawn on a Biddeford
bank, but that he refused to do So that
the fellow took team and went into
the country and presumably saw
Mooers and induced him to cash the
same. At all events. Mooers AYERS that
the check was protested; that it bore
the name of Lester L. Melendy as en-
dorser. having been drawn to his order,
and that he has been obliged to make
the amount good. Mr.. Mooers is out
$34.
The same name figures in the Cough
lin checks that appeared in the check
cashed by Mooers-
When the first Coughlin check
reached the Augusta Trust Co., H. l..
Pishon Immediately noticed a dissmi-
IdTlIy OI IitiiiS anu Called tIe at
tention Of Cashier Smith thereto. Then
Mr. Coughlin was notified. This check
was dated Feb. 13, 1902, and was drawn
to the order of Eugean Weymouth. 1t
, was endorsed by Weymouth and then
by Lester l.. Melendy and by Besse,
Bryant & Co., a business concern of
Worcester. Mass. who deposited the
same for collection with the City Ma
tlonal Bank. Worcester. This bank sent
it to the National Bank of Redemption.
Boston, who sent it through the Boston
Clearing House to the Augusta
Trust Co.
The other check was dated Feb IL
ana was for $24. 1t was drawn to the
order of Z. G. Cobleigh and was en-
dorsed by that person, and by Lester
l.. Melendy. Edgar o. Whitney, Inter-
national Trust Co. and w. ]. Mandell,
cashier. Then it went to the Clearing
House and was dispatched to the Trust
Co. in this city.
Cashier Smith protested both checks
and notified the banks through the
Clearing House that they were for
geries.
A full description of the check cashed
by Mr.. Mooers cannot be obtained be-
yond the fact that it was endorsed by
Lester l.. Melendy, the same peculiar
name that appeared in the other checks
to which John Coughlin's name was
forged.
1t is stated, however, by a man with
whom Mr.. MOoers. has since talked,
that two men came to his store. One
of them whom he knew introduced the
stranger who wanted the check cashed
Mooers didn't want to do so. but both
insisted SO earnestly that he finally
cashed it. The man with whom he was
acquainted said that the other had been
a patient in an insane asylum, where
he had worked, but had been discharged
cured. and that he was all right.
Inquiry at the Maine Insane hospital
in this city revealed the fact that the
names of Melendy, Whitney and Wey-
mouth figured among the employees of
years ago, but are not there now The
initials are not the same, however.
1t was further ascertained that Lester
L. Melendy was discharged from the Bos-
ton Lunatic Hospital, Pierce Farm, on
Oct 25, 1899, and was then about % years
of age. He subsequently worked at the
asylum in Westboro, Mass