Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-08-09
VANABKEN F0RGERER.
Coarse Work Of Forgerer Travel
ing Man Suddenly Ended by
Arrest at Maistique, Mich.


III. A. Van Auken. a former travel
ing man in this section of the state
for coal company, and who claims
to have sold the first bill Of -. 900 tons
OF coal to the Consolidated Water
Power company, was arrested on Mon.
day in Manistique, Mich, for nassipg
forged checks on several hotel keepers,
among whom, Manager Whitney of
the Dixon, is numbered. 1t is stated
that this is not the first operation of
Van Auken, but that his methods of
business in Milwaukee become so
suspicious that he was compelled to
leave there, and has since been making
Minneapolis his home.
Last Friday, Van Auken. accom-
panied by Fl. NJ. Jones. Young man
OF about eighteen years of age. and
who claims to be brother-in-law,
came into the Dixon hotel, and inn
mediately fell into a reminicent mood
calling to mind ali the fellows who
used TO be connected with the hotel,
and deploring the fact that time re-
moves SO many old friends, and wound
up by asking Manager Whitney to
cash $50 check which he had found
waiting his arrival for expense money.
Manager Whitney having no sus-
picionS that the man was otherwise
than honest accommodated him. and
therefore was ultimately compelled to
charge the amount on the wrong side
of the ledger
After cashing the check and having
dinner, Van Auken asked to be
directed to stenographer, and taking
his suit case with him, he Sought out
a west side young lady and dictated
three letters to her. These letters
were addressed to himself, on regular
printed stationery of the H. A. Van
Auken Coal Co., with the list of
officers, and the address in Min
neapoliS. The letters asked him TO
please find enclosed checks for $50, $50
or $50 for regular expense money, and
were signed by the secretary George
l.. Heffner. Later developments show
that these letters were mailed to the
Hotel Boyer, OcOntO; the Stevenson
hotel, Menominee; and the o.
sawinamakee hotel, ManiStique, Mich.
Forgetting to pay his board bill at the
Dixon, Mr.. Van Auken took the PAP
train Friday afternoon for Oconto.
where he found his expense letters
worked proprietor III. Sanderson to
the tune Of $50. Saturday he ap-
peared at the Stevenson hotel, Men
ominee but found he, could cash no
expense checks there, so he took car
to Marinette where he registered at the
Marinette hotel. His little game did
not work there either, so he jumped
his board bill here, and went to Man
iStique where he worked the land lord
of the hotel named above for two
checks, the aggregate amount of
which is not known.
When he arrived at Manistiuue,
however, Manager Whitney of this
city, had received returns on the check
given him on the Northwestern
National Bank, of Minneapolis, with
the declaration that there was no
funds to the Fl. A. Van Auken Coal
Co.'S. credit in that bank. Mr.. Whit
ney Immediately sought out the
stenOgrapher in this city to whom the
letters were dictated and thus his
little game was exposed. Mr.. Whit
ney telegraphed the police at
Manistique, where he is being held
for requisition papers, to bring him
back to this city and state, or for pro.
Secution under the laws of Michigan
for his crooked work at ManiStique.
Van Auken is man weighing about
ITO pounds, about 5 feet eight inches
tall, neatly dressed in green rough
suit, smooth shaYen and wearing a
black fedora hat. He would be taken
for a man of Importance and good
sound business judgment.