The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-21
eTolE BOOK OF EXPRESS ORD
ERs FROM WELLS-FARGo COM.
PANy AND SPENT MONEY WITH
LAVISH HAND.
ADOPTED ASSUMED NAME
After Leaving the Coast, Went to
Cincinnati and Chicago and Was in
Richmond Last Week-Friends Will
De Shocked by His Downfall.

Surprise will follew surprise when
It becomes known that George A.
Weeks" the young man under arrest
at Lafayette for forging express
money orders is none other than
Harry McFail, of this city. Because
of the similarity of names it was be-
lieved at first that Weeks" might be
Claude Weeks" who formerly resid-
ed here. McFail has asked that he
be tried quickly as he Is willing to
plead guilty to any charge that may
be put against him. and wants to be-
gin his sentence before hts family
learns of his disgrace. The young
man has two brothers and a sister re-
siding here. His parents live at Gin
cinnati
At one time McFail was employed
as a driver for the Adams Express
company in this city. He became in
volved In a transaction that was not
to his credit and the local office has
a claim against him for About $4S.
The route agent for the kdams COM
pany was at Lafayette Yesterday and
tried to replevin the Honey McFail
had with him when arrested, but
failed to do so.
McFail was in Richmond last week.
He had come to TIE city after visit
ing relatives in Cincinnati. He ap-
peared plentifflly supplied with
money and to friend showed an ex-
press money 6rder. which was made
payable at a/Nevada town. He had a
large roll of bills with him and said
ne was we'll fixed so that he could
get more/ He said he was going from
this city to Chicago. Instead he went
to Kokbmo and Logansport and from
the latter city went to Lafayette,
where he was arrested on information
furnished by the Logansport authorit-
les.
Went to California.
When employed in this city, McF'aif
was q popular young man. He was
well liked by his friends and indica-
tions were that he would have a fu-
ture career different in every way
from that which he chose to develop.
After leaving this city unexpectedly
and probably because he believed he
OF his crooked work, he went to Cali
fornia. He worked for about one year
for express companies in California.
It was while working for the Wells
Fargo company that he stole book
OF express money orders stamped at
Kern. California. The entire amount
Of orders was good for about 81 1000.
AS the orders bore the stamp of the
office, all McFail had to do was to
fill in the blanks in writing. For this
purpose he chose the name George
Allen Weeks.
Lived High Life.
With the book of orders in his poo
&et. he lodged about from town to
town along the Pacific coast and cash
ed . number Of the checks He lived
high, dressed the best and appeared
as fashionably attired handsome
young man. wherever he went he
spent money literally. as all he had
to do to obtain it was to write his
assumed name. He left California and
came east to Chicago. where he cash
ed more Of the orders. From the
Windy City he came to Richmond,
went to Cincinnati and again return
ed here. last week.
% Handsome Fellow.
McFail has been regarded by the
lafayette authorities as the hand
soonest man the department ever has
dealt with. He has appeared abso-
lutely Indifferent to circumstances
and now awaits his fate with a non
chalance that Is remarkable His only
request has been that he be given IN
immediate sentence to avoid bringing
publicity to his family. This will be