Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-06-26
HOT CHASE FOR FORGER
SHERIFF QUALLEY ROUNDS UP BAD
CHARACTER.
Pretended Horse Buyer Passes Two Checks
for Fifty Dollars Each and Skips Out.
But Sheriff Qualley and L. 0. Reed
Land Him After Strenuous
Chase.

last week to prove his qualifications
for the Office of sheriff, and showed
that he was able to deliver the goods
He carried out pretty piece of work
in rounding up forger who was evil
IDENTIFY an old hand at the business.
Last week two men, one represent.
ing himself to be horse buyer and
the other working for him, blew into
town. They claimed to be working
for Barrett. & Zimmerman, horse
dealers of st. Paul. and spent two OF
three days here. They met several
people around town and one day en-
gagged rig from L. o. Reed. the
liveryman, claiming that they wanted
to 60 out and look at some horses.
Retaining the horse, they offered Mr..
Reed check for $50 signed by Barrett
& Zimmerman, on the Second Ma
tional Bank of st. Paul Mr.. Reed
accepted the check, but had only S35
with him, and they took this and said
they would return later for the re-
mainder OF the change. They also
became acquainted with F. w. Boyd
and he cashed similar check for 500
for them. After time Mr.. Reed
began to get little suspicious of the
check, from the fact that they did not
return for the remainder OF the
change, and learning that Mr.. Boyd
had also cashed similar one. he went
at once to the Citizens Savings Bank
to get the check cashed. The bank
cashed it upon his endorsement and
Immediately sent it to the Secord
National Bank at st. Paul, upon
which it was drawn. The next morn
ing telegram as follows was re-
ceived in return: 1.-TWO checks fifty
dollars each passed yesterday are
frauds. A number of them circulat-
ing victimizing Iowa parties. Would
suggest arrest if possible. . Sheriff
Qualley was Immediately notified, and
on Friday in company with Mr.. Reed
started south on the Rock Island
toward Cedar Rapids.
1t happened that +. E. Figge of the
Ossian bank was in the city that day
and learned about the matter, and
upon reaching home was told by en-
ployes of his bank that the parties
had been seen in Ossian, travelling
with pair of ponies and delivery
wagon. He telephoned at once to
Mr.. Curtin at the Citizens Savings
Bank, who Immediately got into COM
munication with Sheriff Qualley on
the train, and he and Mr.. Reed got
off at Independence, and started
telephoning about the country. They
finally got clue from Spring Valley,
Mimi, and took the train for Austin,
Mimi, where they got livery and
drove through the country, finally
hearing that they had been seen near
Taopi. and going there located them
in barn near that place.
Before arresting him they bluffed
the man who passed the check, whose
real name is said to be Kirby. into
paying back the $50 to Mr.. Reed,
and then brought him here. where he
was lodged in jail and on Monday
afternoon given hearing before
Justice II. f. Barthell, where he
waived examination and was bound
over to the grand jury, fixing bail al
80, 200, in default of which he is now
in Jail.
1t is also said that this man trieC
to sell the horse he had rented from
Mr.. Reeds barn to local party a
the races last week, claiming that h,
had bought it for slS5, and thinking
he had been beaten, he would tax,
$3.50 for it.