The Laclede blade. (Laclede, Mo.) 1890-1945, 1905-11-18
A foR0ER FLEEcING MONEY LoANERs.
Has Worked Extensively In Illinois and Is
Said Now to be In Missouri.

Asmooth forger and confidence man
under the name of John Hoover, has
been fleeing the farmers and money
loaners of Illinois and as the police
OF several cities are after him he is
said to have come over into Missouri
to operate his scheme. Here is how
Hoover does the trick:
Hoover will look over several farms
that are for sale-some distance from
the county seat. Finally concludes
to buy one. Tells the farmer he is q
widower and is buying the farm for
his son with whom he intends to live.
Asks him if there is notary public
near there, or any one who can ac-
knowledge in legal way any papers
that are necessary to be drawn. Learns
there Is notary at the village near
the farm. Asks the farmer if he has
the abstract of the place and gets the
loan Of it, explaining that he wants
his lawyer to look it over. He then
ca lis on the notary at the village and
asks him to make out the power of
attorney, saying he wants to send it
to some friend or relative in the east.
After getting this-with the notary's
seal upon it-he either makes or has
made duplicate of the seal. He then
goes to the county seat and calls upon
some real estate man or lawyer and
tells him he is about to buy this farm
and asks him to kindly look over the
abstract and the county records to see
if the title is correct. This, of course,
is found all right. He then asks the
lawyer or real estate man to draw up
the deed for the farm, explaining who
he is and why he wants this particular
farm and in other way1 makes him.
self "a good fellow He then says as
the price of the farm is taking all Of
his ready money, and there are many
improvements he would like to make
on the place in the way Of buildings,
fences, etc., asks the real estate man
or lawyer if he knows of any money
lender who would like to make this
kind of loan. The real estate man,
Of course, sees little per cent in this
kind of deal for himself, and accord
ingly tells him he will secure the
money for him all right. He, Mr.. Hoo
YER, then takes the deed which has
already been drawn up, together with
The abstract, and goes to his hotel.
There he forges the name of the far
ner and his wife, then places the
seal on the deed in the way of
acknowledgement, and after suitable
ime calls again on the real estate man
md shows him the deed properly
igned and acknowledged. He then
explains that as he has paid out all his
eady money he would like to secure
he amount asked for on the place as
oon as possible, so that he can return
lome and move his family on the farm.
The real estate man sends for the man
Who intends to loan the money. This
'arty on his arrival looks over the !
iced, takes a note for the amount
sked for, also mortgage on the farm
o secure the payment of the principal
f the note and interest thereon, which
le records, and then the money is
,aid over and this "foxy gentleman"
kips the town.
Hoover is about so years old, and
i've feet ten or eleven inches tall. He
Weighs about $50 or 100 pounds, has
lark complexion and dark hair mixed
With gray. He goes smooth shaven
md has round face. He is describ-
d as rather good looking, squint-eyed
nd slightly stopped shouldered. he
generally wears a black soft hat and
ark clothes.