Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-03
BOYS AS FORCERS
HARRY coNNoR OF CHARLTON
AND FRED coNNoR OF
DERBY ARE HELD.
Joys are Cousins And Are Accused OF
Forging Several Checks for Sums
Aegregating Large Amount-Bound
Over to Lucas County Granada Jury

Charlton, Dec. 2.-Harry Conner, or
this city and Fred Conner. of Derby,
Who are cousins and mere boys aged
16 and IA respectively, are held to the
grand jury on bonds of 200 each for
forgery. The boys are alleged
to have forged checks to the
amount of $243.29 on various par
ties as follows: Two on Alfred Conner
of Derby one for five dollars and one
for thirty five dollars; Leander Moore,
McMains, of Derby, $50; R. E. Morris,
of Derby, $50, and Grant Penick, who
resides near Derby for s75.29. The
facts of the case as they are told by
j. ]. George, who is justice OF the
peace in Union township are as fol-
lows: Harry came to the city last
Saturday and rented a bicycle from
walton & Co., giving them check
for SIS signed bv his grandfather, AL
cred Conner, which was honored and
the change given the boy. Another
one for eight dollars signed by Leander
Moore was cashed at the Derby bank
md the boys hired a team and drove
to Charlton. and proceeded to BUY
themselves enough clothes for the WIN
ter. Fred went to the Press store and
purchased suit of clothes, giving
them a check for $500, which bore the
name Of U. G. Penick and endorsed
by M. S. Conner, Of Derby, the boys
father. Mr.. Press gave him SS5 in
money and his creek for $15 In change
While this was going on the other boy
Harry went to the Oppenheimer store
and purchased an overcoat and some
other articles rendering a check for
$35 In payment of same and signed by
his grandfather, Alfred Conner. Dave
Luce, the clerk, who kl.cw the boys
and who has resided near Derby sus-
picioned there was something wrong
nd
tain the boy until he came back. He
telephoned to Alfred Conner at Derby
about the matter who replied that he
had signed no checks. Mr.. Luce or
returning to the store accused the boy
who acknowledged his guilt and asked
to have the check back that he might
destroy 1t. This they refused to do
pnd Harry became alarmed at his &C.
tons and on Sunday he went to Sheriff
Bass and told him what he had done
and asked his advice. Mr.. Bass tole
him the best thing he could do woulc
be to get the money and straighten W
the deals he had made. Fred had made
his "get away and got as far as Gar
den Grove where he was caught. Thu
two boys We're taken to Derby Mon.
day and tried before Justice George
who bound them over to the granc
Jury. The other two checks agains
r. E. Morris and Dave McMains were
never caSneQ. harry Is d son Ol w. II
Conner, of Moscow, Idaho, and Fred i.
a son of NJ S. Conner, of Derby, botf
of whom are splendid men and thu
affair is much regretted by them.
Personal and Otherwise.
Will Dukes and daughter, of Russell
we're in the city Thursday on business
Miss Mary Patterson, of Russell
listed with her sister, Mrs. Will Cul
bertson yesterday.
Miss Gertie McCullom of Lacona wa'
In the city yesterday for visit will
friends.
The annual ball and banquet of thu
Charlton fire department will be helc
on Friday evening, Dec. 9 in the Ode
Fellows building, on the north side
The Misses Laura and Stella Tickl
left last evening for Centerville, wher,
they will be employed this winter
Chas. Copeland has returned t.
Ames to resume his studies at the col
eye