Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-05-26
REYNOLDS, coNFEssED FoReER
B ,coMREGLEo TO READ &LErTER
FROM MoT+ER.
ATTRIBUTES HIS DOWNFALL
TO MANIA FOR GAMBLING
Adopted Bogus chsck Method to Make
Good HE Losses at Gaming Tabiss-
Invalid Mother Writes Letter to
Judge ln.sresdins For Her 'Errins
Son.

j Waterloo, May 90. - Gambling
brought me here"
These were the words uttered by
Grover w. Reynolds. self-confessed
forger, the man who has earned the
name Of king of bogus check passers,
as he stood before Judge Franklin c.
Platt in the district court this morn
ing and pleaded guilty to the indict-
ment returned against him for passing
q worthless check on County Auditor
Rainbow Feb. 10. last.
Reynolds appeared pale and trem-
bling. He was dressed in his natty
brown suit in which he was arrested
at Little Rock. Ark, ten days ago ana
wore q black. derby hat OF the latest
design. His two hands were hand-
CURED together and as he spoke MS
voice trembled and his recital was
frequently broken by his tears which
he attempted to dry by lifting MS
manacled hands to his eyes.
The story Of his, downfall as toio
by the young man, was story OF
promising life all but ruined IN rev
short months, of loving wife, heart
broken by her husbands action, Of
an aged and Invalid mother driven to
the verge of the grave by the thought
that her son was soon to be sent to
prison; OF good prospects thrown
away. of position and even his home
lost. all because Of his suddenly ac-
CURED love Of gambling.
Tha First False St0p
'1 admit I did wrong" said Rev-
nolds. when asked by the court II he
had anything to say. Il was started
on my crooked way by gambling.
would lose my money. then / would
get another check cashed and go
back to gambling only to lose that
I have lost everything thru gambling,
my position and my home. But I am
willing to pay the penalty like man.
.sPrior to a week before last Janu-
ary 1. I had never done wrong. Since
than I have lost $7,4oO. began my
Icrooked career at milwaukee. There
7 issued my first bad check, but az
forwards made It GOOD. was getting
S35 4 week and expenses then but !
rot mixed up with. some gamblers
with whom I was thrown in contact
while selling goods.
after spending Christmas with my
wife's sister, my wife and returned
to Milwaukee. There lost my posi-
ton. From there I took my wife 70
Chicago. where had bogus check
cashed and lost the money gambling
i then ioated three or four other
checks there, after which we went to
Louisville where gambled away
what money l had. All this time my
wife was doing her best to persuade
me to reform but I could not resist
the card table At Louisville Issued
bogus checks and secured enough to
take my wife and me to Indiana to visit
her relatives. From there we again
went to Chicago and 1t was In Chica-
20 that my wife, finding that I seem
inRly would not reform. separated
from me temporarily. promising to re-
turn to me when l made good what 1
had secured fraudulently.
Rssping the Whirk~ind.
IT realize now what have done. If
I had proflted by my wtfe's warnings
and pleadings I would not be here,
your honor, he resumed, the tears
running down his paid cheeks. God
knows I have as good a wife as ever
lived She stuck by me thru thick
and thin until she saw it was
useless. She is a christian woman
She gave mo good advice but I
wouldn't take 1.-THE devil of ganlb-
ling held me too fast. Last fall had
a good job, a happy home and a low
ing wife and mother, but turned my
back on all.
II am sorry now and would only
ask leniency for the sake Of my wife
and my mother. My mother is an in
valid. She has not walked for eighteen
years. My father died when I was
young and have tried to sup
port mother. 1t is hard for a young
man to think Of going to the place
where I must go. but ] believe I can
serve my time and be a man yet, don't
you think so. Judge?
'My actions have injured my wife's
health She has suffered more than
I have and pity her from the bottom
of my heart. I am afraid my mother
will not live until am a free man
again. but l will have to do the best
can
Gambling No Excuse.
Before passing sentence upon MIN
Judge Plat said that the fact he lost
what he did thru gam bling did not
entitle him to any sympathy.
Letter From His Mother.
Il have letter from your mother,
AIDED the court gently. ''rhe poor
woman seems to think I can let you
70. 1 have written her as comforting
a letter as i could. telling her that 1t
il necessary for, you to be punished IN
order that you reform.
II want you to read this letter. IT
Will make you weep. for 1t IL full OF q
mothers love for her boy. want you
to take Il with you 90 Anamosa and !
want you to read It often and to real.
ixe what II means to have the love OF
mother like that. Recollections OF
mothers love have good enect on
Noys and It win on you. Take the let
t.r 9TH. YOU and write to her and
comfort her4all you can.
The court then sentenced Reynolds
to an indeterminate sentence OF not
more than seven years at the reforma-
tory at Anamosa-