The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-15
QUEER SIGNATURE ADORNS WARRANTS
ISSUED BY ASSISTANT PROSECUTOR
Four Courts Officials Puzzle the Handwriting
Until the Trick of Decpher ing 1t Is Discovered by
Turning the Paper Top Downward.
Probably the most peculiar 81

Probably the most peculiar signature in
St. Louis is that of Assistant Prosecuting
Attorney John d. Dalton:
In a financial way. this peculiar sigma
ture has not the power behind il of those
of bank presidents, railways presidents and
heads of great mercantile companies. but
backed up by the strong arm of the law. 1t
is almost impossible to estimate the males
ty 1t controls.
The petty larceny thief. as we'll as the
perpetrator of a felony. the embezzler and
murderer. has learned to know since De-
cember 10 when Mr.. Dalton took office.
what 1t means when he scratches this sig
t Nearly all criminal cases first pass
through the hands of Assistant Prosecuting
rest. Then they lay the complaint before
the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney If Mr.
Dalton believes crime has been commit
ted he instructs his stenographeE. Miss
Julia Fitzgerald, to draw up the warrant
She fills out the blank. and Mr. Dalton at
taches his signature.
Miss Fitzgerald. its femininity displayed in
every line. the signature of Mr.. Dalton.
warrant. looms up in deep contrast ''
PRESENTED IN STRONG CONTRAST.
Mr.. Dalton's writing is peculiar only
blank warrant himself the body of it is as
easy to read as the handwriting of any
other public official. But the signature is
Judge Hiram \. Moore of the Court OF
Criminal Correction. and lawyers who have
long practlced IN the court We're nOnpluSed
when they saw this signature warrants.
Judge Moore did not know of the unique
ness OF Mr.. Dalton'S signature. and when
he first saw it he asked Prosecuting Attor-
ney Charles p. Williams il It was Mr. Dali
tons signature Mr.. Williams assured the
court that il was.
One day Mr. Dalton had occasion to write
4 note TO Chief of Police Kelly. The Chief
mad not beard of the unusual signature of
the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and he
did not know what the scratches on the
bottom of the paper meant. The person who
carried the note did not know Mr.. Dalton's
name. This further perrleXed the Chief.
But the nature of the epistle assisted him in
determining the name of the writer
Through the telephone Chief Kelly asked
Dalton replied that he had and the Chief
was satisfied.
Chief Kelly likewise has a unique sigma
tu-e. It is characteristic of the head Of
the Police Department. He bears hard on
the pen and shades his letters at the bot
tom. The signature denotes strength
which no person will doubt in Chief Kelly
when once he his massive frame isD
Mr.. Dalton's signature. however. is nosn
chara of the writer. He is meth
who knows him personally would not eX-
pect such Il careless appearing signature
from him. handwriting expert would look
at the signature and say the writer is gem
erous and benevolent as he takes up so
much space i'm writing It,
. NOT A FREAK OF COLLEGE DAYS.
Asked how he came TO adopt such sig
nature. MI. Dalton replied:
Il am sure l can't tell you. Nearly every
person thinks 1t some freak of my college
days. but it is not true. l believe l started
II when j first possessed bank account.
hut do not remember Just how IL was. ]
have looked back over my old checks many
times and as 1 see that signature l wonder