The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-11
+
VICTIMS ARE EASY
Gang of Check FOrgers Are Run
to Earth.
Two Women and Two Men Are
Held at Station.
MAKE CONFESSIONS.
Admit That They Have Done
Wholesale Business.
Are Also Wanted for Passing
Bad Paper in Kansas City.
CONFESSIONS.

The police last night captured the
boldest wholesale forgers ever operat-
ing in Topeka when they arrested Joe
Dolman, Jack King and two women,
Lulu Belle and Belle Omans, who are
suspected of being accessories. The
two men had cashed an armful of $40
and SIS checks among the merchants
after banking hours, the sum of those
reported now amounting TO more than
500. The checks were all drawn on the
Merchants National bank of Topeka and
signed S. Dolman & Son.
Joe Dolman, the principal of the
squad is a Topeka man, son OF J. w.
Dolman, and nephew of s. Dolman,
whose name was signed to the checks.
That he has been in the business
long time is evidenced by the equip
1nent found on his person and in the
baggage of the lot. He has Travelled
in Oklahoma for the Lopez Remedy
company and had blank checks from
many of the towns he made, Hunter
being his main stopping place. He also
had scores of blank drafts and checks
from Kansas City, st. Louis and other
towns of the middle states. In his
possession were check books on all the
principal banks in Topeka and a great
book of several hundred on the Mer-
chants National Joe had been en-
ployed as banker for the Kincaid Con-
the dixie and there had gotten the book
He also had a roll of several hundred
cancelled checks which he had retain
ed upon their return, perhaps for the
signatures: Sweated this morning by
the chief and County Attorney
Schenck, Joe told everything, almost,
except his age which he insisted was
10 years when he looks 80. He has
served a term in the reformatory for
the same offense, forgery. having been
sent from Wichita.
Jack King gives his age as %. and
his home at Blackwell, Ok. He is tall
and well dressed. Meeting with Joe in
Kansas City the other day the two had
planned to work Topeka, though ap-
parently neither knew the other pre-
viously. Arriving in Topeka yesterday
morning the four went to the Chester
field hotel where Dolman registered as
]. w. Bowerman and wife while King
signed his own name The checks were
written in Joe's room No. 30 and di-
vided with King. Joe's aliases were
J. w. Bowerman and G. H. Osborn and
Kings E. A. Benton and F. c. Hoover.
The first check to be turned in was
brought to the station last night by A.
Samuels, of the Famous Clothing COM
pany, whose clerk, D. H. Friedman,
had casned one of the checks for SIS
while he was at supper. Upon return
ing he looked at the chek and said
it was no good. Other merchants then
telephOned to the police of bad checks
with the descriptions of the men who
passed them and a search was made
Immediately as the trail was still hot.
The chief and Patrolman Penney start
ed for the Rock Island depot, Detec-
tive Hutton was sent to the Santa Fe,
and the regular man at the Union Pa
cifc was told to watch all out going
passengers.
This morning County Attorney
Schenck and Chief Eaton both sweated
the prisoners and secured admissions.
Worthless checks began to pour in
thick and fast. The two forgers admit
ted which one had cashed each as they
were brought in. Dolman had cashed
one on the Cash Mercantile Co. of
North Topeka for so. one on the
Famous Clothing Co. for SIS; one on the
Cash Bargain company for SIS, buying
shirts and furnishings in nominal
sums. which were found in the bag
gage, and taking cash in change King
had bought two % cent hair brushes
from H. NJ. Buckley at Waggoner's
drug store with SIS check, getting
the balance in money, had cashed an
other for s15. then bought a cheap re-
VOlver from the Capital Hardware COM
pany with a check for SIS. taking the
change At that time the two got
thirsty and went into the Pope drug
store for soda water which they paid
for but drew out two checks for SIG
each and gave them to c. S. Pope, ask