Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-27
CHECK
FORGER is IN
POLICE TOLLS
PASSES BOGUS PAPER ON
LIQUOR DEALERS
HAS PENCHANT FOR BUYING
FANCY WINES
Is Caught by Detective Louis Rico
While Looking Over Large
IS Assortment of Bank
; Checks

II. M. Borgeness, alias Jan p. Jansen,
alleged to be check rorger, wanted in
every city on the Pacific coast, was ar
rested at Main and, Commercial streets
shortly after 10 o'clock last night by
Detective Louis Rico on description
furnished him by one of the men whom
he attempted to victimize.
The capture or BorgeneSS is TeSdfded
as an important one-and no less than
five cases of forgery can be made against
him in Los Angeles alone, it is alleged.
Borgeness is Swede of education and
considerable business experience. While
his past record is not known to the
police here he is believed to have been
a bank clerk or official at some time
i'll his career r
Monday morning he presented himself
at the Santa Clara Wine company on
Main street and made a purchase OF
three bottles of wine. He rendered in
payment a check for $22.50, made payable
to the order of Jan p. Jansen, drawn
on the First National bank and signed
in stamp by the Johnson Foundry and
Machine works, by e. J. Hall, secretary.
Tells Plausible Story
He explained that he was a draughts-
man employed by the company and the
wine he was buying was for his Thanks
giving dinner. He received $3.50 in
change.
Later he appeared at the saloon of
McDevitt & Gollner a 317 South Main
street and made a purchase of bottled
goods with the Thanksgiving dinner ex-
'planation. He rendered another check
for $3.50, drawn IN the same manner
and terms as the one passed on the
Santa Clara Wine company, and received
$1650 III change.
From this establishment he walked to
the saloon of Darmody & Schaeffer at
Fifth and Main streets and purchased
bottle of whisky, giving them in pay
ment a similar check for $225O receiving
$21.5O in change.
Tuesday morning the man was heard
from at Redondo, where he passed a
bogus check on the Pacific Drug COM
pany for $22.5O He related the same
story in explanation of his purchase.
Last night he appeared in the saloon
at 12l North Spring street and attempt
ed TO make purchase there. The clerk
became suspicious and refused to cash
the check, and as soon as the man had
left the place called up the police de-
partment and notified them of the occur
renee.
Detective Louis Rico was assigned to
the case and he went to the place and
received description of the man.
Has Plenty of Checks
He recognized it at once as that of
a check worker who was wanted in sew
eral of the northern cities, and started
out to look for the man.
At Commercial and Main streets the
detective found a man looking over a
number of slips of paper and passing
close by him saw that they were bank
checks.
The description of the man fitted ex-
actly with that of the one wanted, and
he arrested him and took him to central
police station.
When searched there several checks
drawn on the First National bank, signed
by the Johnson Foundry and Machine
company and payable to Jan P. Jansen,
were found on his person, as we'll as
SIG in money and bottle of liquor.
The prisoner gave his name as Bor-
geness and stated that he had arrived
in town from Seattle on Monday.
The police state that there are at least
a half dozen other checks which he
passed in this city which have not been
reported as yet.