Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-10-17
HAD ABUNDANCE
OF QUEER PAPER
Organized Gang FIeeces Moline
Business Men for Large
Aggregate Sum
WERE ALSO IN ROCK ISLAND
Bogus Checks, Several on Mitchell
G. Lynde, Cashed at Var
ious Places.


stores have been cIeverly worked by
a gang of fOrgers, and the Moline po-
lice have captured one of the leaders
and have secured an accurate descrip-
ton of another. who goes by the name
of Godfrey. The one now in custody
n Truman Ward. who was a resident
If Moline for many years. and was
employed by Drs Whiteside and Nor
gan for some time.
He left town several years ago. and
had not been seen until he blew i'll
with the gang Saturday. BY means OF
MS large acquaintance in the city and
his good reputation. the members OF
the gang were enabled to get rid of a
large amount of the bogus paper only
TWO who were approached failing to
cash the checks.
The checks which were largely upon
Mitchell e. LyndC. of Rock Island. weru|
in sums ranging from SO to $G4. the
largest being honored by the cashier
of the Moline State Savings bank
The police were informed yesterday
that something was wrong, and Ward
was located and taken to the bank.
where he was closely questioned.
While there a telephone message was
received and Godfrey asked to speak
10 Ward. The request was granted,
with the result that Ward gave his
friend warning, and the police now
have little hope of securing Godfrey.
Admits There Were Others.
Desk Sergeant Bisant when he ar
rested Ward. found $50 on his person,
and this was turned over to the bank
this morning. Ward has admitted that
there were or s members of the gang
which operated so successfully in Nc
line Saturday. but could not give a
very accurate description of any but
Godfrey. He is being held pending
an investigation as to the extent of the
operations of the gang. So far the
list of those who were touched is as
follows:
Uhrus drug store, SIG.
State Savings bank. SCI.
Moses Ross, restaurant, SIG.
Moss clothing store $2i.
SandhOim. saloon. so.
DeClerll. saloon, SIS.
Rank. shoe store, SIS.
Joe Ullman, saloon, SIG.
Two Were Wise.
VanderVennett. the clothing man
and DIR. w. o. Beam were approached
and asked 70 cash checks of S12 and
$3.50 respectively, but both refused.
fortunately. AS far as is known they
are the only ones who did not accept
the bogus paper. Reports have not
been made by several of the banks,
and ii is probable that the list Will be
increased.
The police of Rock Island and Dav-
export have been notified and are CO.
operating with the Moline department
in the search for Godfrey and the 9th
cr members of the gang
Ward has admitted his part in the
operation to Sergeant Bisant and 9th
er members of the police department.
Rock Island Man Caught.
y. w. Steiner, the Rock Island drug.
gist, learned this morning when he did
his banking that he had cashed one of
the bogus checks, in the sum of $12.
He did not make the discovery until
the paper was presented at the PeO-
pies bank. and conference was held
with officers of the Mitchell & Lynde
bank.
The methods taken to get cash for
this piece of paper illustrates the man
ner in which the gang worked else
where \ lady living near the Steiner
drug store on Twenty-third street rent
cd two rooms to Ward and compan-
ion last week and they offered the
check in payment. The lady who was
acquainted with Mr.. Steiner. accom-
panied Ward 10 the store and the
check was cashed for her. she reCeiv-
ing $3.50 in payment for rent and
Ward the remainder. Saturday Ward,
who with his companion was to take
possession of the rooms yesterday. APP
peared and stated that he and his
friend were finding themselves short
of cash and were unable to buy meal
tickets. He asked if she would re-
turn part of the money she had re-
ceived when the check was Cashed and
wait on him for that portion of the
rent. She accordingly refunded $3.50.
the price of two meal tickets. and that