Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1911-10-21
THE CLENDENIN
CHECK FORGERY
A Woman Has an Unpleasant
Banking Experience.

was prncticai business man. anu
Minnie. his wife. was In every Sense
feminine. One feminine trait she pos
sessed TO a high degree-she could
learn nothing about the practice OF
banking. -r
One day MIR. Ciendenin was called
away hastily-indeed. 50 hastily that
he had no time to arrange for MS
wife's financial needs during his abb
sence.
go to the bank" he said. land get
what you want. Sign my name to the
check. They will understand 1t. Banks
are not very particular where they
know all about the parties"
The funds that Mamie had on hand
were all expended within u few days.
Taking out ner husbands check book,
she drew "A check for 500. She did
not wish to 60 to the bank herself, the
day being stormy. and intended send
ing her coachman. Not knowing what
to write In the space left for the name
OF the. payee. after much deliberation
she concluded to keep ON the safe side
by leaving II blank. Then she signed
her husbands name to 1t and. calling
Patrick. told him TO go to the bank and
draw the money. Patrick did ms he
was told. but returned without funds.
",rhe man mt the winder, ma'am.
says to put my name TO It. But II ye
do ORR have to be idintytied."
whats identified meanr'
well. Oi think. ma'am. some one
will have to tell EN- that Ohm meself."
How provoking. / don't know any
body to do that"
But tie says if yen write bearer
In 1t he'll pay anyway"
This appearing TO be the easiest way
cut OF It. Mrs. Ciendenln inserted the
word ''benrer." and Patrick made an
other visit to the bank and returned
With the money.
1t was about week after this that
Mrs. Clendenin while shopping no.
ticed man who seemed To be keeping
a pair OF very sharp eyes on her, he
followed her from shop to shop. aud
when she got home she found MIN
there waiting for her.
Madam" he said. 81 tell fortunes
by means OF the handwriting OF the
subject
81 don't care to have my fortune
told" said Mrs. Clendenip.
The man was persistent. and In the
end the lady. to get rid OF him. gave
him a specimen of her handwriting.
After securing this he did not seem
especially anxious to tell her fortune.
aud as she did not urge him he re-
tired.
The next day Edward Clendenin re-
ceived the following telegram:
Am In
AS soon as Mr.. Clendenin could re-
cover from the shock he took train.
telegraphing from the station that ne
would be at home the next day.
When he drove up to his house at
rapid pace. threw open the cab door
and rushed Into MS home he found his
wife prisoner In charge OF the man
who had called on her for specimen
of her handwriting.
"Oh. Edward. I'm arrestsd.' moaned
the wife. throwing her arms about her
husbands neck.
"what for?" cried Edward. aghast-
Tell him." she said to the man who
stood by.
II am sorry to inform you. sir. that
have felt II my duty to arrest your
wife for forgery. l. however. permit
ted her to remain here Till your re-
turn ~
Forgery! What forgeryY''
"She has forged the name OF Ed
ward Ciendenin to a check on the
Manufacturers bank
II am Edward Ciendenin.-
what. You Edward Ciendenin?
didn't know that you were the man
whose name was forged. Then. sir.
your wife has forged your mama
"Have you the cheek with your
The detective produced u bundle OF
papers. from which he took the check
In question.
Mamie" said Edward after gianc;
ing at the signature. why the dickens
didn't you sign II In your own hand.
writingT.
why. thought must make II an
much like your signature as possible"
The two men looked at each other.
DIFFERENCE on the part OF the detective
kept his features stTaight, but when
the husbands face broke into a smoEtt-
Bed smile ne Joined. The smtIessaf
both became a broad laugh.
'so upstairs. my dear. said I'D.
ward. II think ! can bride this gen.
iIeman to release you from arrest :
Now. tell me- said Ciendenin. tax
ting tho detectiye.to a sidebonrd. show
che bunk CANA, TO press such'a case.
'The bank placss all It's iavfs bust-
ness. criminal and civt. In the hands
Of Perkins u Lamb. attorneys. l am
their detective. They gave me the
check. with directions to hunt up tho
person who drew 1t. traced II to
your wife. not knowing her to be your
wife 1 got specimen OF her hand
writing. compared II with the body OF
The check and knew II to be hers. rhe
officers Of the bank as yet know moth
ing about the matter Since Mrs.
cIandenin In a refined lady. gave her
permission to stay at home till your
return. Fortunately no charge has
been made against her. and the mat
ter may he dropped without trouble.
Mr., Clendenin received n polite note
81 apology from the president OF the
bank. giving the same explanation as
the detective Ind furnished.