Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-11
BEAUTIFUL
WOMAN HELD
AS A FORGER
PRETTY EASTERNER ACCUSED
BY PIANO COMPANY
BUYS INSTRUMENT, TENDERS
BAD CHECK, CHARGE
Mrs. M. o. Gorham, Believed to Be
Wife of Wealthy New Yorker,
Is Prisoner in City
Jail

Mrs. M. d. Gorham, said to be the
wife of wealthy young manufacturing
jeweler of New York city, was arrested
In the Wiley B. Allen piano store at
416 South Broadway last night ana
booked at the central station on
charge OF forgery.
Mrs. Gorham arrived here from the
east monthtago and took apartments
at the Alexandria hotel. She remained
there for two weeks and then left, II
Is said. because she could not honor
the request of the cashier for a re-
mittance on her board and room Dill.
When she left the Alexandria Mrs.
Gorham moved to the Angelus. Sne
obtained apartments there and WITHIN
the past two weeks, or since she nao
been living at the Angelus, she mas
been a steady patron of the various art
and music studios of the city.
In this way she became acquainted
at the Wiley b. Allen company and
yesterday afternoon she appeared in
the place and asked to see the man
ager.
When the manager came forward at
her request she stated that she had
been commissioned by Mrs. M. S. DIM
mick of 1916 Westlake avenue to pur-
chase a piano.
Buys a Piano
Inc management WdS VI Coul DC
agreeable and after some considerable
time Mrs. Gorham selected an upright
piano which cost $3.50. She ordered the
piano sent to the residence of Mrs
Dimmick and then rendered in pay
ment a check drawn to the order OF
Mrs. NJ. D. Gorham and signed by the
name of Mrs. M. $. Dimmick.
The check was for $400 drawn on
the Farmers and Merchants bank and
was indorsed by the name, Mrs. M. ID.
Gorham.
Mrs. Gorham requested that she be
given the difference in cash, and while
the transaction appeared perfectly reg
ular the management considered II
best to telephone the bank for informa-
tion.
AS a consequence the woman was
asked to wait moment until the
cashier could get the change, and In
the meantime the Farmers and Mer-
chants bank was telephoned to-.
The reply from the bank was that
Mrs, Dimmick had no account at the
bank and was unknown there.
When this fact was mentioned to
Mrs. Gorham she stated that there
must be some mistake and that Mrs.
Dimmick must have drawn her check
on the wrong bank.
While she was detained In the piano
store discussing the matter the police
We're telephoned for and Detective Me-
Kenzie was sent to the place.
Arrested on Forgery Charge
On the complaint of the Wiley B.
Allen company the woman was ar
rested on a charge of forgery.
Mrs. Dimmick stated last night that
she had issued or signed no check for
$400 or any other sum and that she
did not know Mrs. Gorham.
The prisoner is a beautiful woman
about 20 years of age, and when ar
rested was dressed in a tailor made
gown. Paris creation, which must
have cost several hundred dollars.
She wore jewelry worth several hun
dred dollars more and carried a hand
bag such as is sold ordinarily for not
Less than 500. In this handbag were
a powder puff a piece of chamois skin,
several samples of dress goods and a
score or more addresses of we'll known
men and women in Los Angeles.
The baggage of the woman has not
yet been examined but 1t is believed
that she resorted to the method she
did to raise enough money to get out
of the city When arrested she did
not have cent of money and at the
jail ate heartily of the supper sent her
from the prisoners kitchen with a
relish as if she had not had a meal
for some time. She refused to make
any statement.