The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-07-15
20. E. Stone" One of the Best
Known Crooks in Country
Attempts to 0efraud Local
Business Firms.
POLICE ON DUTY
LET MAN ESCAPE.
He Was Pointed Out to Off
GERS, But Latter Took No
Immediate Steps to Capture
Him-Man Makes Escape.

The local police dragnet was stretch
ed yesterday for ID. E. Stone" bad
ly wanted forger who is known to the
police throughout the east and the
middle west but he succeeded in evad-
ing 1t and his whereabouts are un-
known. Stone, as he styles himself
everywhere he works tried to defraud
the Reed hardware company and the
Luken drug company out OF large
sum of money by the forged check
method, but at each establishment he
aroused suspicion by his actions and
was unable to pass his check, which
called for $500.
From the conflicting descriptions
of the man furnished the police 1t was
hard to identify him but the police at
length decided that the man they were
looking for YVES one who had left q
grip at the Muth saloon. Fifth and
Main street. II was thought that the
crook would call for his grip so at
o'clock yesterday morning two officers
were stationed to watch the Muth
place in the hope of securing Stone.
After the police had watched for como
time Mr.. Muth saw Stone pass along
the street and he told one of the police
officers. There's your man" Howev-
er no effort was made to arrest him.
At 10 O'Clock in the morning police
surveillance of the Muth saloon was
withdrawn, but Muth remained at the
saloon. Stone evidently was aware OF
the fact that the police were watching
and that Muth was assisting them,
because after the police blockade had
been withdrawn Stone remained in the
clear" until Muth had gone of duty
early in the afternoon. Stone then en-
tered the saloon, picked up his grip
and departed for parts unknown. Be-
fore going of duty Muth instructed
his wife and employees to keep their
eyes open for Stone and II he called
for his grip to Immediately notify po-
lice headquarters.
Had an Aeeompiice.
When Stone entered the bar to get
his grip he told the bartender what he
had called for. Mrs. Muth went to the
telephone to notify headquarters but
4 found a stranger using It. She asked
him to allow her the use of the phone.
but he told her to wait :. few moments.
When Mrs. Muth finally succeeded In
getting into communication with head
quarters Stone and the other strang-
er had disappeared. II is thought that
the stranger was an occomplice OF
Stone.
Monday morning Stone entered the
A. G. Luken drug store Seve.ith and
Main streets. After ordering SO
worth OF paint ne stated that he had
just purchased big farm seven miles
north Of Germantown and that he was
building quarters for his three married
daughters. He asked for bill and
after securing II he said that he would
return in the afternoon ald make pay
ment. ssS1
After leaving the Lrken store he
walked across the street to tho Irwin
Reed hardware store wncrc he ordered
$50 worth of wire fencing After Se-
curing his bill he told the sarno story
that he had told at the Lukcn store.
promising to make payment in ths
afternoon.
Offered His Check.
Early Monday afternoon Stone reap
peared at the Luken store and offered
check on the United States bank OF
Pittsburg, calling for $500. Mr.. Luken
refused to caSh this check and asked
Frank Taylor of the Firzt National
bank for advice He told Mr. Luken
that he did not think tho check was
good and advised Mr.. Lulcn 10 teIe-
graph the Pittsburg bank for informa-
tion. Instead of doing Lli5 Mr.. Luken
refused to cash the check
4 Stone then walked across to the
4, Reed store. but as the cork who had
@ sold him the fencing was not on duty
: he was refused the fencing. and Stone
4 made no effort to pass his check. The
\ merchants whom Stone tried to de-
fraud did not notify the police OF the
a affair until about 10 O'Clock Monday
= evening. An effort was then made to
A locate him but without success Tues
Z day at an early hour the police were
II informed that a stranger h1d left a
II grip at TIE Muth saloon The descrfp-
II ton Of this stranger somewhat an
e swered the description CT Stone, 50 the
e drcgnet was cast. but tie clever crook