The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-10-05
J. +. MccIinon, Of Fl. Wayne, is
Charged With Having Forged
Notes to Amount of $4,000
UNEARTH MAMMOTH SWINDLE
Agent for Steel Range Com pa ny
Worked in the County and Re-
turned Score of Alleged Forged
Notes to the Company

| A mammoth swindle was unearthed
by District Attorney Baker this morn
ing when it was discovered that
man named ]. F. McC1inon and
claiming Ft. Wayne as his home had
in his possession thirty notes drawn
by residents of Kenosha county, and
it is alleged by the attorney that
fully three fourths of them, and pos
sib1y all of them, are forgeries.
McC1inon seems to be the innocent
victim of circumstances. He had
been in the employ of the company
for only short time and he alleges
that he had no idea that the notes
were spurious. He stated in court
this morning that he had accepted the
notes in good faith and had come to
Kenosha to collect them. The first
indication he had received that the
notes we're not right was from one of
the victims who declared that the
note alleged to have been given by
him was forgery.
A dozen of the notes sliced BY the
attorney we're alleged to be signed by
men in Kenosha, while there were. a
score of others secured in J, different
towns in the county. Added to these,
there was great roll of notes secured
in Racine and Milwaukee counties and
it is thought possible that all of them
are forgeries.
McClinon came to Kenosha Tues.
day night and began work as soon as
he got here. He was registered at
the Eiche1man hotel and was taken
into custody as he left the dining
room this morning. He seemed to be
greatly surprised over the, discovery
in regard to the notes, and IN court
he stated that he was, willing to sub
nit to any investigation which the
district attorney would deem neces-
sary. He at once notified the COM
pany at Fit. Wayne of his arrest and
it is expected that bond will be await
ing him if he is bound over to await
the further investigation of the case.
The notes had their origin in an eff
A salesman bearing the name of
George Kershner came to this county
in March and sold half a hundred of
the ranges. They were to cost 1913
each and in every case Kershner
took note for the amount from the
purchaser. These notes were all in
the batch of papers taken from Nc
Clinon.
When an examination was made
this morning it was found that some
of the purchasers had made payment
in the way of returning old stoves
and these payments were supposed, to
be Endorsed on the back of the notes.
Witnesses testified that they had seen
these endorsements made. Not one
of the notes contained the endorse
ments. It is supposed that Kershner
is the real culprit and it is asserted by
the attorneys representing the pur-
chasers that he destroyed the orig
inal notes and made new ones in order
to enlarge his commissions. This
would make it possible for the man to
SS'O AAC dDOAL DAO Ou CdCH COuIIdCls
None of the old stoves was ever
called for.
In March after the stoves had been
delivered the notes were turned lover
to E. r. Bradshaw, the general man.
ager of the FIT. Wayne company, and
he had sent them out for collection.
They were due on the first day of
October. Kershner is no longer in
the employ of the company according
to statements made by McClinon,
and for this reason he cannot be
located.
When the case was taken up in JUS
tice Sturges' court this morning Will
liam Tenneson, H. P. Tenneson and
Stephen Roster appeared and declar-
ed that notes alleged 10 have been
signed by them were forgery. The
agent of the company is being held
pending the further investigation
into the matter. McClinon claims to
have travelled out of TT. Wayne for
the past eight years and seems to
have the appearance of being straight
in the deal.
Late this afternoon the bankaat TT.
Wayne wired the First National Bank
to furnish bail for McClinon on any
amount and Justice Sturges accepted
bond in the sum of $3.50 for his APP
pearance.
a N1T