Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-06

RANk CASHIER DETECTS FRAUD
And Refuses to Cash the Check,
Which is Returned to Holt Pending
an lnvestiga tion-Holt Turned Over
to officer, But Had Destroyed the
discriminating Evidence.

"A bold attempt to pass a forged
check on the Fair Store late Monday
afternoon, after banking hours. was
frustrated by Cashier c. G. ST. CAR
of the City National bank, to whom the
check was brought after it was pre-
scented by Nels Holt, a Swedish farm
hand about so years old Holt is under
arrest, charged with intoxication, and
will be held until e. Thelander, Min
erva farmer for whom Holt claims to
have been working, can be heard from.
Thelander's name was forged to the
check that Holt presented.
About o'clock Holt entered the
Fair Store and approached Nerl Mer-
shon, one of the clerks, asking to LOOK
at overalls. Holt explained that he had
no money excepting a check given him
by his employer for his months work,
hut said that he would buy the gar
rnent If the store would accept the
check. The check, for $35, made pay
able to Nels Peterson, bore the pur-
ported signature VI ltSloAAuSA, ehAio
Mershon took it to the bank to get it
cashed. Cashier st. Clair saw imme-
oiately that the signature was not that
of Thelander, and Furthermore the
check was drawn on the First National
bank, whereas Thelander was known
to have his deposit only in the City Ma
tional.
Holt Brazen in Explanation.
Cashier st. Clair told Mr.. Mershon
that he was sure the check was a for
gerry and asked him to bring Peter
son, as he supposed the mans name
to be, into the bank. This was done.
st. Clair asked the stranger about The
lander, and the Swede looked the bank
er squarely in the eye and told him of
people in the Minerva neighborhood.
He also knew that Thelander was
tenant on the John Johnson farm,
three miles south of Minerva, and APP
peared to be cbnversant with certain
phases of his employers business. st.
Clair informed the man that it would
be necessary before he could cash the
check to get Thelander by telephone,
and ask him about 1t. To this the
Swede readily assented, but as The
Handler has no phone, it is seen today
why he was so willing to >have the
check looked into Holt left the bank
with the check, with the remark as to
where he was stopping, and that he
would be back to learn what Thelander
said about the check
Swallowed and Turns Down Alley.
Assistant Cashier II. S. Lawrence, on
a bicycle, started out to shadow Holt,
who started north on Center in the
direction of the place designated as
his lodging house Instead of going
on north, however, the man turned
west at the alley, and then north at
the alley running north and south. AT
State street he came east, and at the
corner Of Center Mr. Lawrence turned
him over to Officer Breckel, feeling
sure that the strangers actions were
proof positive that the check was a
forgery. When Holt was searched,
however, only a few moments after he
had left the bank, the check was no.
where to be found.
Ordered Out Of Town; Rearrested.
AS the real discriminating evidence
was then lacking the officer released
the man, and ordered him to leave
4 town within thirty minutes. Chief of
Police Nicholson arrived from a trip
to the hospital a little later, and upon
learning of the incident ordered the
man rearrested. The chief and Off
Ger Breckel started on a hunt searched
the first outgoing trains, and later
found Holt in a Third avenue saloon.
A charge of intoxication was lodged
against the prisoner, and he will be
held until Mr.. Thelander can be COM
lnunicated with.
Prisoner Had Some Money.
Hollis story to Mershon at the Fair
that he needed the check cashed in
order to make his purchase, was dis
proved when he was searched at police
headquarters. A little over 81 was
found on the mans person. 1t was
also learned after his arrest that Holt
had cashed a check for $25 at the Robb
restaurant. This check was given by
Mr. Thelander, and when it came to
the City bank this morning for ex-
change was pronounced genuine.
Holt is man of f1orid complexion,
light hair and blue eyes, and is a COM
mon type of the Swedish farm hand.
He is a raw-boned fellow, weighing
about 100 pounds. When arrested the
second time he was carrying a tele-
scope packed with his belongings and
was evidently on the point of leaving