The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-05-28
A BOLD AND DARING
CASE OF FORGERY
ONE OF THE BOLDEST EVER RE-
CORDED HERE.
Checks Forged to Secure Money
Telegram Sent and Followed by
Which $500 is Secured.

might say. boldest eases of forgery
that has happened in this section OF
the country took place in Ncwberry
and Columbia recently and was only
discovered on Friday.
Mr.. Il. l.. Crooks, who is an ell
%inccr on the Southern railroad, and
who lives in Columbia, kept an &C.
count with the Newbcrry Savings
bank in the savings department. His
account amounted to $354.69. Dur,
ing March check or draft was made
, on this account one for 800 and
another one for $50. Again in April
another draft was made for &4.69
! These drafts were cashcl by the
Bank of Columbia. but before doing
So, the officers of the bank phoned to
the Ncwberry Savings bank to in
quire if draft by Mr.. Crooks for
these amounts would be honorcd,
and of course the reply was that they
! would. and when the last one was
/ made covering the exact amount.
which was left to the credit of Mr..
Crooks. the officers of the Savings
bank presumed that it was his pur-
pose to close out his account aS his
last cheek was for the exact amount
IL his credit. The signature was very
much like that of Mr.. Crooks. In
addition to that, it was taken for
granted. Of course. that the officers
of the Bank Of Columbia would have
Mr.. Crooks identified before caShing
the draft.
Mr.. Crooks happened in Newberry
on Friday and was in The Savings
bank. making inquiry as to his bal
ance, ard when he was told that his
account was closed and what money
he had to his credit had been drawn
out, he was very much surprised and
informed the officers of the bank
that if any drafts had been made
against him that they were forger-
les. He was then shown the drafts
or checks and he promptly pronounce
ed them forgeries. He stated that he
had been rooming with Mr.. Frank L.
Goungblood for two or three months
and that he was the only person who
knew anything about his having mon
cy in the Savings bank at Newberrv
ami that Mr.. Ioungblood had seen
his bank account and his bank book.
The officers Of the Bank of Colum-
hia said that the party, who made
the drafts. brought with him to the
hank the bank book or Mr.. Crooks
and it correSrondcd with the state
mont made by the officers Of the Saw
in"s bank when inquiry was made Of
them as to the balance of Mr.. Crooks.
Linking these things together Mr..
Crooks swore ont warrant charging
Mr.. Ioun"blood with forgery and
placed it in the hands of the police
officers in Newberry.
On the 22nd which was last We'd
nesday, some one came to the Wes-
tern Union Telegraph office and filed
a telegram to the Carolina National
bank stating that OR. l.. Crooks
check on MS for $500 is "ood,' and
81" ed the telegram J. f. Norwood.
Cashier Newbcrry Savings bank and
paid for the telegram. This was late
in the evening. The next morning
some one appeared at the Carolina
National bank in Columbia represent
IN" himself as +. l.. Crooks and in
Quired if the bank had received a tel
cgram from the cashier of the New
berry Savings bank. stating that the
check Of r. l.. Crooks would be hon
orcd for $500. and when he was in
formed that such a telegram had
been received he made the check and
secured the $500. This draft or
check was sent to the Exchange bank
and attached 10 ii was the telegram.
When Mr.. Spcal1nan. Cashier Of the
EXchan@" bank. presented the draft
i" the Savi:~S bank he was notified
that Mr.. Crooks had closed out his
account and that he had nothing to
his credit. therefore. Mr.. Spcarman
, returned the draft to the Carolina
, National bank.
! From the description the operator
gives of the party who filed the telc-
gram at Newbcrry on Wednesday, it
was concluded that Mr.. Youneblood
was the one, who sent the telegram
and who collected the 5000 from the
Carolina National Bank. lie was in
Ncwbcrry on Wednesday.
Mr.. ". II. Meighan, of the Carolina