The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-12
Don Thompson, Topeka Forger,
is Now Sorry.
Wouldn't Try 1t Again for a
Million.
liz HAS MADE RECORD
Says He Gathered in Fourteen
Thousand Dollars.
Served One Term and Now Faces
Several Others.

Don Thompson. a Topeka boy, Will
be taken to Washington, D. c., tonight
and will receive sentence for fOrgeries
OF checks in the aggregate of S22. 900
and for impersonating Lieut.. Earl Nc
Farland, another Topeka man, who is
an officer in Uncle Sans coast artil-
lery- For ThOmpsOn'S violations of the
law, he might receive a maximum sell
tence of 413 years in the federal prison.
Young ThOn- 1son is but "A years OLD.
Yet in his short career he established
a national reputation as fOrger and
in 80 states Thompson's bogus checks
brought ready money. 1t was when the
Topeka boy 1Onned the uniform of a
lieutenant and passed checks signed
Lieut.. Earl Mcfarland" that he found
himself in real trouble. Immediately
federal officers all over the country
were looking for Thompson. In 1909,
he was caught at Norfolk Va. Since
that time he has been in the federal
prison at Leavenworth.
With cool deliberation, Thompson
talks of his troubles and admits that
his case is serious one. But Thomp-
son makes no apologies for his action.
But not for million dollars. the boy
criminal declares, would he try the
game again. Thompson is ready to quit
If he only didn't have to pay the
penalty FOL his misdeedS of the past.
For months Thompson disposed of
his worthless checks in almost every
state in the Union Almost all of the
checks were in denominations of $50
and 500. Usually Thompson had little
tro Ible in dispOsing Ct the paper anu
from town to town and state to state
the Topeka man followed his pursuit
Of easy money
Last week Thompson finished his first
term of two years in the federal peni-
Tertiary. When he left the prison
walls he was again arrested and was
brought to Topeka Friday night by
William H. Mackey, United States mar
shall. Thompson stated that he would
plead guilty. He viii be taken tonight
to Washington, D. c., where he will
enter his plea before the federal court
in the District of Columbia. 1t is not
known whether all of the charges
aaginst the young man will be group
ed at this time, or whether he will be
sentenced on the charge for which
Mackey held a warrant. In addition to
the federal charges, Thompson is want
ed for Offenses against state laws in
St. Louis and LOS Angeles.
In the last few months Thompson aged
mother has visited the federal building
often in the interest of her son. Tearfully
she has pleaded with the officers to urge
clemency in the case of her only
ThOmpsOn's mother is a widow and has
lived in Topeka a number of years. The
sons latest trouble has weighed heavily
on the mothers mind and she has used
every resource to save the boy.
Calls 1t "a Pretty Big DeaI.'
Its an awful fix to get in. / know"
remarked Thompson, who talked freely
to visitor in the Shawnee county jail
land If I had chance to start all over
7 wouldn't try it again for a million dol
lars.
Il guess my story is the same old tale,
though. and I don't think I can say any
thing about 1t that is different from the
cases of hundreds of others. I wanted
money, Oh just ever so badly. The more
i got, the more I wanted. The game SEEM
ed easy and 1 sure played it for all it was
worth. They say ] got SO, 900. but I think
that is a little high. 1 think I only got
$4,000. But, say, wasn't that a pretty big
deal for a kid?'' and a smile played over
young Don ThOmpson's face as he recalled
his exploits.
When asked what caused him to enter
the forgery game, the young man said
associates and desire for high living.
''It was too much fast company that got
me into this mess declared Thompson
Il wanted to go just fast as any of
the other boys did. didn't have the cash.
so I devised a scheme to get it. One day
] signed another mans name to a check
for $50. 1 was nearly scared to death
though, it wasn't so hard. I kept writing
more checks and cashing them until I
had my pockets full of money. The more
money / got, the more steam I put on. OF
course one day they got me-somehOw /
always felt they woodland now I have
TO pay the penalty"
Thompson didn't shed a tear when he
told his story. He was sorry-for mothers
sake-that it all happened. But Thompson
Keeps his grief to himself. If he feels
remorse for his misdeeds Thompson
he is willing to pay the bill.