Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1903-12-05
SW|NDLER IN
DURANGO VILE
Damper Put on ErstwhiIe Law
Book Canvasser Who Duped
Attorney T. B. Catron.
ARRESTEDAT SALT LAKE
Under Numerous Aliases He Had
Vietimized Lawyers by the Whole
sale in Southwest.

After victimizing lawyers by the
wholesale in the southwest, b. +.
Forman, alias C. M. Ford, B. M. Fow-
les, Bert ]. Forbes and Bronson j.
Freeman, who swindled the Hon. L.
B. Catron of this city on November -,
to the tune of $125 has been rounded
up. md is now in durance vile at Salt
LAKE City, awaiting requisition papers
tha will bring him back to the Terri
tory of New Mexico, to undergo i'm
prisonment in the penitentiary here.
with still many punishable crimes
hanging over his head
On November IS man who repre-
sented hil If to be the agent of the
American Book Company of New
York City 1ved in Santa Fe from
the sout 4a registered at the
Claire Ho, a sS "B. NJ Fowles, New
York City" The following day he
made the rounds of the attorneys OF
the city, and after trying in vain to
get J. P. Victory, ESQ.,, Colonel
George w. Knaebel and number OF
others to indorse sight draft for $125
on the American Law Book Company
of New York City, drawn in favor OF
C. NJ Ford, he succeeded in securing
the endorsement of the Hon. T. B.
Catron. received the money at the
First National Bank, and left the city.
In due time Mr. Catron received a
telegram from the treasurer OF the
American Law Book Company that no
such person as c. M. Ford was in their
employ, and that he had been the VIC
tim of a clever swindler. Mr.. Catron
Immediately got out a number of cir
culars offering reward of 500 for
the swindler, which he sent to the
chiefs of police all over the country.
Arrested at Salt Lake City.
Late yesterday afternoon the follow
ing telegram was received from the
American Law Book Company, ad-
dressed to Mr.. Catron:
"Bert J. Forbes who swindled you
for $125 arrested by Chief of Police of
Salt Lake City. You better have him
extradited, and wire Chief of Police
Immediately to hold. Answer"
In the absence of Mr.. Catron, who
is in Kansas City, Robert c. Gortner,
ESQ., Immediately made the necessary
information before District Attorney
e. C. Abbott, and warrant was issued
last evening by Judge J. R. McFie.
This morning the warrant and the in
formation was presented to Governor
M. A. Otero who lost no time in max
ing requisition on the Governor OF
Utah for the prisoner at Salt Lake
City. The reQuisition papers, warrant
and information were placed in the
hands of Sheriff H. c. Kinsell, who
left today for Salt Lake City to bring
back the man of many aliases for
trial on the charges of forgery and
receiving money under false pre-
lenses.
Circular Letter Sent Out.
Prior to the receipt of the telegram
late yesterday afternoon apprising
him that the swindler was in custody
in Salt Lake City, Mr. Catron received
the following letter from the Ameri-
can Law Book Company in addition
to a circular letter that was sent
broadcast to the principal attorneys in
J the southwest:
Dear Sir-A draft was this day
| presented to this Office drawn on this
, company for 1925 by a c. M. Ford en-
dorsed by you. We have no knowledge
of any C. M. Ford. and we are inclined
to think that this party's name, or
rather the name by which we have
, known him, judging from the hand
: writing, is B. NJ. Forman. Whether
under the name of Forman or Ford he
has no right to draw on this company.
Within the last two weeks we have
had several other drafts presented
here, the majority of them being
} drawn on us by B. F. Forman, one by
c. M. Ford, one by Bert J. Forbes and
one by Bronson ]. Freeman. We think
all the above drafts were drawn by
the same party. II so, whatever his
J name may be he is not only guilty OF
J obtaining money under false preten-
, ses, but of forgery. We would like to
have you wire us at our expense upon
: the receipt of this letter as to wheth-
er you will prosecute him crimfnally
.. in case we are able to ascertain his
, whereabouts, and have him arrested"