The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-05-18
Negro Purchases Goods and
Receives Change in Return
for Bogus Paper.
Takes Goods and Money and
Disappears Hurriedly.
BASKETS ARE LEFT ON STREETS

Paducah was cleaned OF several
hundred dollars Saturday night by
some unknown ''forged-check men, "
who showed the checks on score of
unsuspecting business men. They
gave almost every merchant a chance
to bite at their bait, and the number
of checks they succeeded In working
may not be known for several days
until the business me intake the checks
to the bank for payment. All of the
checks were passed by a negro. but
the police believe that a white man
did the writing and managed the af-
fair. Every check was for $l2 and
was signed by g. w. Katterjohn, the
contractor. In every case where the
man was successful in passing check
he secured from $40 to $11 in money.
The negro was dressed in overalls
and represented himself as working
for Mr.. Katterohn, and after pur-
chasing merchandise in value from 81
To- So, handed the merchant a check,
which he represented as his weeks
wages. After getting the money he
left with the provisions, and all day
yesterday the police found baskets of
groceries sitting on street corners and
behind bill bords, where the forger
had left them. Many merchants turn
ed the checks down. because the ne
gro could not identify himself, but he
seems to have made systematic
round of the groceries and saloons.
The police believe a stranger did
the work, and It is not known whether
there were more than one. At some
places the negro wore a derby hat full
of holes. and at other stores he show
lice have secured information that he
also wore a cap at times.
e. II. ellison, the druggist at Ninth
street and Broadway, cashed a check
and afterwards became suspicious and
telephoned Mr.. Katteriohn, who said
the check was a forgery. as he paid
on in cash. All of the checks were
on the First National bank and Mr..
Katterohn does business through the
Citizens Savings bank. Some of the
checks were Endorsed by tom
smith," and others bore the signature
of Charles Jackson
The police were notified Saturday
night, and Immediately began hard
work to catch the men, but they were
slick artists He cashed a check in
the dry goods department of Jake
Biederman. and then went into the
grocery department. The change
was not at hand, and he took the gro
oeries. and said he would call for the
change. Detective Moore went to the
store and stayed over two hours, but
Tom never returned for his check or
for his money.
Business men who cashed checks
that have reported to the police are:
Roy Culley q company, II. ID. Me
Chesney. II. Dreyfuss & Brothers,
George b. Willow, Jake Biederman,
Louis Levy. Louis Hugg, f. ii. Gill
son, w. +. Cochran, Uric Young.
A clerk at the drug store of John
Hugg, Twelfth street and Broadway,
refused the check because he had no
authority to accept. The forger then
went to Louis Hugg's drug store, 232
North Twelfth street, and the pro-
rrletor being out of change sent to
John Hugg's store for the change for
the forger
Patrolmen owen and Eich arrested
II negro giving his name as Henry
Carroll Saturday night at midnight as
"a suspect.
Business men who cashed
the checks were called. but could not
identity Carroll as the man.
Other local dealers who cashed
checks were: George Backer, Fore
man & company, John Backer and
John Ward, who keeps saloon at
Second street and Kentucky avenue.
Chief James Collins has had the
checks reported but he refused this