The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-03-27
LOOKOUT FOR Them
Three Astute Forgers Are at Work
in This Section.
Descriptions Of the Men and Details
Of Their Crimes Furnished the Lo-
cal Force.

Of Their Crimes Furnished the Lo-
cal Force.
The Columbia State says the po-
lice of that city is in receipt of a
letter from Mr.. William H. Pierce,
superintendent of police at Boston,
Mass, containing the descriptions of
three men and also facsimile check
of one of a number of checks that
each of these men have passed which
are forged papers.
The men are: Nelson B. Sears, a
man calling himself ]. Simpson, alas
H. Barlow, alias H. Mosher, alias JUL
ius Sternberger, and the other man
is known by the names of Charles
Williams, Charles Morgan, Charles
Moore, Frank Stephenson, Fred Mel
son and Charles Fisher.
The men are professional check
forging swindlers who have duped
many business men and merchants
in the United States and who are
said to be headed this way.
Nelson B. Sears is described as be
ing a man about 40. years of age
height, 5feet 6 or inches: weight
jl5O pounds; complexion, medium
When last seen had smooth face
! but previously wore brown nous
tache and Vandyke beard mixed wit
gray, and had on long gray co:
and black derby hat. He some
times wears glasses.
Sears scheme is to enter store
buy a small bill of goods and the;
tender in payment check, usually
on the State Bank of Chicago, re
ceiving back the difference in the
bill and the amount of the forged
check calls for. He sometimes work:
on millinery and dry goods stores.
i j. Simpson, with his aliases, i:
said to be from 35 to 40 years of age
height, feet 5inches; weight, 16(
to IT'S pounds; broad shoulders, ra
ther stout build; dark complexion
apparently a Hebrew. When las
seen he had dark moustache, darl
overcoat and black derby hat. HI
speaks with foreign accent.
His scheme is to have some wo
man present herself to the manage
of the store or one Of the firm, rep
resent that she wishes to purchase
some goods, show a check and aSl
him to place his 20. K" On it, say
ing that she desires to give same il
payment for the goods. This checl
Is very small, usually $3.50. H
puts his 20. K" on it with his mi
tials or name. This check is neye
offered for payment.
Later on the man calls at tn
store and watches his opportunit:
when the manager leaves the oflc
and then steps into the manager
Office. Afterwards he walks over t
the cashier, who had eresumabl..
seen the man go into the manager
Office, presents a check which i
raised in valus to a much large
amount than the original to get !
cashed.
The scheme of the first check j
to get the managers signature an
|, this being had, he forges the en-
dorsement or 20. K" to the bogu
check and the trick is done. Tn
purpose of the crook in going int
the managers Office IS to give tn
cahier the impression that he ha
just seen the manager and the checl
Is good.
The man. calling himself Charlie
Williams ct, ,al.J is described as be
. ing between 80 and~35 years old
height, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches; weight
$50 pounds. complexion, medium
: chestnut background faee,- sometime
wears a small moustache, darl
clothes and black derby hat.
His scheme Is to visit grocers, re
tail shoe dealers, whiskey house
and dry goods stores, and after buy
ing a bill of goods offers a .checl
larger than the amount of the bill
receiving the balance in cash. Thes'
checks are usually made out on tn
Boston and New York banks ant
are entirely worthless.
It would be well for the polio
here and elsewhere to be on tn
lookout for these light fingered gen
) tlemen. They should not be allowed
to run at large.