Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-10-09
PLEADS GUILTY
TO FORGERY
Passes One Check and Has Two
Others on Person

ing his name as John Davis and his |
former residence as Helena, Mont, |
was arrested in this city this morning
by Under Sheriff Adams. for forgery,
and is now in custody at the county
jail.
Davis blew into the city last even
| ing in an intoxicated condition and
after supper wandered around the
city before going into the place where
the forgery was committed. that of
the Mascot cigar store, of which Les
ter & Goodwin are the proprietors.
Last week as c. S. Goodwin OF the
above firm was returning from the
Walla Walla fair and while in the
Pullman sleeper, he fell in with a
| fellow in general conversation who
later proved to be the forger. They
conversed about the different parts
of the country and during the con-
versation Mr.. Goodwin invited the
stranger to call on him if ever he
was in Occur d Alene, and with that
they parted and nothing more was
thought until they met last evening
at the cigar store in this city.
Davis, who told to the Press rep
resentative this morning that that
was his true name, while he was
waiting in the sheriff's Office to get
an interview with the prosecuting
attorney, who was at that time en-
gagged in the court room, has been
tarrying about Spokane for several
days, and was about all in as far as
cash was concerned. and finally de-
would be necessary to get some
money, no matter how, and at once
resolved to forge some checks. He
made out and signed three, all in the
same names and made payable to the
same party, but in different sums
They were drawn in favor of George
Martin and were signed by the whole
sale firm of Benham & Griffith
The check used in this city was
for $45. He entered the Mascot and
after renewing acquaintance with
Mr.. Goodwin asked that gentleman
if he would cash a check but with
this suspicion was at once aroused,
and the latter said he did not have
but a limited amount but that he
would give him $40 and ne could call
for the balance in the morning. This
seemed satisfactory and Davis de-
parted for the hotel. In the mean
time Mr.. Goodwin phoned to Messrs
Benham & Griffith regarding the
check, and they replied that no such
check had been issued bS them and
that if they had it it was a forged
document. With this Mr.. Goodwin
u notified the police. who awaited the
coming of Davis for the balance OF
the amount, an dabout 9 o'clock he
put in his appearance and was at
once arrested.
At the Office of the sheriff he wa:
searched and the two other simila'
checks were found. together with
S4.60 in cash. Immediately after be
+ ing arrested Davis refunded the $1C
TO Mr. Goodwin. After being
i searched Davis was interviewed by g
Press representative and when asket
several questions he said that he was
a bookkeeper and dry goods sales
man. That he had been employed
in both Helena and Butte He sale
that he had never done such thint
before and that it was liquor tha
{ did it now. His father and mothel
: are both dead and ne has no broth
ers or sisters. He had no acquaint
ances in these parts and only cams
u west to attend the fair at Walls
Walla.
He stated that he does not know
( why he came to Occur d'Alene. ant
that it was after he arrived that h
. made out the checks, but in lookinl
Il them over they are dated and shOv
that they were executed while he va
g in spokanA When asked If he di'
u really commit the forgery he admit
. ted that he did. and said that il va
y a fool trick and he did not knoV
: what he was doing.
J. After being searched he brok
down and sobbed hard as he held hi
head between his hands, but it look
d ed as IL this was done more for et
le feet than any real regret.
RI Was Bound Over
Davis was brought before Justic