Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-16
DETECTIVES ON
THE TRAIL Of A
CLEVER FORGER
Fred T. Funk Issues
Bad Checks
GoIdfieId and Los Angeles Men Inter.
ested in Mining Affairs Are se-
'lected as Vctims-May
Be in Mexico

Pinkerton detectives are on the trail
of Fred F. Funk, formerly of Muncie,
Ind, who is said to have defrauded
numerous Goldfield and Los Angeles
business men by means of forged
checks. Funk is thought to have sue
ceeded in crossing the international
line into Mexico. His last known stop
in this country was in Los Angeles,
where he remained a week and yvhere
he is charged with passing two bad
checks, the amount involved being
$14750.
In Goldfield, however, his operations
were more extensive, and he is said to
have victimized business houses in that
town to the extent of $500 or $500.
Funk, if the stories told of him are
true, is an unusually shrewd swindler.
He adapted his methods to circum-
stances. For instance, in Goldfed, he
is said to have secured possession of
a check book belonging to Asa H.
Boulden, Goldfeld attorney. Some
time later Mr.. Boulden went east on
business and shortly after his disap>
pearance forged checks purporting to
have been signed by him were pre-
sented for payment by business houses
through which they had been cashed.
The forgery was at once detected and
payment was refused. Meantime,
however, Funk, who Is charged with
having cashed the bogus paper, disap-
peared.
Tells Hard Luck Story
Several weeks later he arrived in
Los Angeles and here met DR.. j. j.
Gilmore, who has offices in the Mason
building, whom he had known in Gold
field. DR.. Gilmore had not been in
the Nevada town, however, since the
dataptnd and COTye,>
quently knew nothing of the matter.
He knew Funk as a pleasant young
chap who bore good reputation, and
consequently when the young man told
him hard luck story he was induced
to go to the Hoosier's assistance.
Funk explained that after leaving
Goldfield he had gone to Oakland,
where he was taken i'll and confined TO
his bed for three weeks. This, he said,
had so far reduced his available cash
that he had been compelled to sell
small block of mining stock
The money realized from the sale
had reached him, he added in the form
of check for $3.50, signed by J. Y.
CASTILLO and drawn on the State Bank
and Trust company of Nevada. win
this check he showed letter, giving
the details of the sale and in Whlcn
the writer explained that $3.50 had
1t looked all right, and consequently
when Funk suggested that his good
friend, DIR. Gilmore, identify him at a
bank so that he could get the money
the doctor acquiesced.
The two men went to the Central
bank, where the check was presented
for payment The teller, however,
asked that DR.. Gilmore indorse it, and
this was done. Then the money was
paid and a few days later DR.. Gill
more left Los Angeles for Goldfield.
No Such Bank; No Such Man
Meantime Funk, it is claimed, passed
still another bad check. This time in
mining stock brokers' office at 325
South Broadway. This check was
for $50.
When DR.. Gilmore arrived in Gold
field he found the check had preceded
him. He also found that there is no
such institution as the State Bank and
Trust company of Nevada and that no
such man as j. T. CASTILLO was known
in that city. The check was allowed
to go to protest, and then DR.. Gilmore
paid it, by so doing making the utterer
liable under the California laws.
1t is altogether likely that Funk's op-
erations In Los Angeles were on a
much more extensive scale than the
two transactions noted would indicate.
He had maze eldDOIdIe pTSpdIdliciS "
victimize not only his friends, but any
one else upon whose credulity he found
he could play successfully.
The check form used was neatly en-
graved and had the name of j. I. Cas-
tello printed in one corner. Moreover,
it was an order to pay issued on an
institution which has not now and so
far as the Goldfield sheriff was able
to ascertain, never had any real exis-
tence
The letter also was a clever device.
Perhaps it was used not once, but
many times. Apparently there is no
reason why it may not still be in use, If
Funk's supply of blank checks still
holds out.
The local police has been on the look
out for Funk for several weeks. They
are inclined to think he has sought
new pastures.
Detectives who were detailed on the
case say the mans methods were ex-
tremely clever They have in their
possession some of the checks and
think it likely the mans trick will
prove successful until his methods. are
given wide publicity.