The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-28
FORGED WAY
FROM PERRY
TO CHICAGO
Is Charge Made Against
J. G. SimantOn, Operator.
WAS MOST UNIQUE PLAN
Alleged to Have Signed
RipIey'S Name 10 Pass.

Guthrie o. T. August 27.-Forging a
pass over the Santa Fe railroad from
Perry 10 Chicago and using the same
is the charge on which J. G. simanton,
alias J. T. Simpson, is TO be returned
from Washington. New Jersey, to Noble
county 10 appear in court The case in
all Of its details is a remarkable one.
and shows the shrewdness of a man VINO
desired free transportation from this
territory 10 Chicago.
Sheriff George \. Foster OF Noble
county appeared here today asking for
q requisition from Governor Ferguson
upo nthe governor of New Jersey for the
extradition Of J. G. Simanton alias J. T..
Simpson. II is alleged that on or about
the 3oth Of April 1852, Simanton ap-
peared at the Santa Fe station at Perry
with a telegram which was supposed to
have been signed by 2. Ripley. presi-
dent Of the Santa Fe company. The
telegram read as follows:
Chicago. f-39, 1902
Santa re-, Sou Cal R'y Co, The S
F. & S J. V Ry, The S X Ry Co. Of
Tex. 934 P
- r. Simpson, Perry: This telegram
when stamped and coUntersisned by
agent, will be authority 10 pass YOU from
Perry TO Chicago il presented within
three days from date. on account Of wit
ness in railway case. Report to Attor-
ney Kenna Oh your arrival here.
"E T. RIPLEY.
''E. J. CHAPLAIN, Agent g"
Simanton alias Simpson. presented the
telegram to the agent az Perry. who
thinking that the forged paper was
real. stamped and c0untersisned the
telegram. Simanton Immediately left for
Chicago. and the fraud was not discover
ed until after the bogus telegram was
taken up by the conductor on the last
division. and sent in 10 the auditing de-
partment An Investigation was begun,
which resulted in action being brought
In Noble county by Sheriff Foster and
Simanton was located in Washington.
New Jersey. The officers there were
wired TO arrest the fugitive and Sheriff
Foster came to the city TO get q reQui-
sition preparatory TO going 10 New Jer-
sey after his man.
Simanton is a telegraph operator and
at times has worked for the Santa Fc
perfectly familiar with the methods. Of
the company in sending transportation
TO men wanted elsewhere Immediately
on court or other business. Simanton
also worked in a bucket shop in Perry
and was well known there, although
little of his history is accounted for be-
fore going TO Perry. lie is about &C
years Of age and a man well acQuaint-
ed with ways Of the world.
This method Of securing free transpor-
tation is new one on the officers OF
this territory. The daring of a man i'm
forging q telegram and securing the
stamp and countersignature of the
agent at Perry. indicates that Simanton
had well studied his plan HIS actions
after leaving Perry are not known. bur
much diligen1 work on this case has
been done by the officers having the mat
ter In charge.
If brought back to the territory it is
stated that the Santa Fe has "a clear
case against him, and viii be able to
prove that he forged the telegram which
secured for him the transportation TO
Chicago. and that he used the same.