The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-11-09

A bogus check artist has visited
Fargo and has made his getaway aft
er placing a quantity OF worthless
checks with a number of gate city bus
mess people. 1t is limited that a num-
Der of local business firms OF this city
have been taken in by this clever
chap, but have not yet reported the
matter to police headquarters.
G. e. Cole, representing himself as
the agent for the New York Life In
surance Co., recently came to Fargo,
and opened an office in the Hunting
ton block, In room 6. He rented the
office Of w. @. Mcmahon, and also a
desk and told the latter that he would
pay him as soon as his headquarters
would send their check. 1t is alleged
that Cole has jumped his room and
board bill, that a woman had visited
his Office late yesterday afternoon, In
curing the whereabouts OF Cole, and
1t is understood that Cole was staying
at her place.
He came to Fargo Tuesday morn
ing, renting an Office and spent the
remaining part OF the day getting next
to the lay out and planned according
ly.
Late that same afternoon he made q
purchase Of $85 worth of merchandise
from the Luger Furniture store, and
ordered the goods delivered to his Of
fee and to send their statement and
he would forward it to his headquart-
ers at st. Paul, and that in the course
of day or so he would receive re-
ply and would give them q check for
the goods purchased.
Woodmark received a letter yester-
day from w. H. Merrick, general
agent for the Singer Sewing Machine
Co, at st. Paul to be on the watch
for fellow that answered the de-
scription OF the man that had visited
him. The Singer firm of st. Paul was
swindled out OF $40 Monday as were
number Of other business people in
Minneapolis and 1t is said that Cole
is the man who operated there
In Minneapolis he used a rubber
stampe that he stole from the ia
Crosse Motor Car Co. signed ]. e.
thinner"
At j. e. Johnson's place of business
he bought a revolver and gave a
check IN return for payment. the
check called Tor $40.
On Oct. 6. 1t Is alleged that this
same man. giving the name of c. M
Cook, passed worthless check on one
of the clothing merchants of La
Crosse, Wis, for $50, obtained a suit
of clothes. The check was on a
La Crosse bank. and was stamped
with a rubber stamp. just above the
signature Fidelity Life Ins. Co.," and
below this Agency and across the
upper end Fidelity Life ms. Co., and
signed G. M. Cook"
He Is described as follows: 26 years
old; about feet 9 inches tall; slim
built; weight 100; smooth face; light
Completed; well dressed, wearing a
soft light brown crusher hat, creased
in the center; and a light colored silk
waterproof cravenet and a blue serge
suit. This description tallies exactly
with the culprit that was in Fargo.
He is wanted by the La Crosse po-
lice on the charge Of forgery as they
have warrant for his arrest.
The Fargo police were notified by
letter last Monday, by the La Crosse
police to be on the look out for Cole.
Cole managed to put a check on the
Fargo Harness Co., for $40, purchas-
ing blanket that cost but triht
and presented check in payment
1t was his policy to leave his business
card and order the goods delivered the
next day.
A. L. Woodmark fell before the
bogus check stunt when Cole present
ed check for $40 in payment Of a
small purchase that was made.