Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-03-01
NEGRO FORGER
UNDER ARREST
Caught in Coal Bin After
Exciting Chase.


Sllas Mason, a negro, who It Is
believed has taken turns at swlnd-
ling business men and merchants In
this and other cities about the state
for months past, with bogus checks,
was caught after a lively chase
shortly after 4s30 o'clock yesterday
afternoon by Patrolman Chris Ham
son. He Ia being held without bail
to await the action OF the grand
jury, while the authorities of this
city are working with the police of
other localities In an effort to fasten
mora crimes upon him to Insure a
long prison term. The man, who
gave his name as Silas Mason. TWEEN
Lty-seven years old and lived In Free
hold. but he made out checks to
George and Sam Smith, Sam Jones
and George Morris. 1t Ii charged
by the police that he worked In this
city last December writing the name
Fred uarretson' ON bogus checks.
They declare he worked In iAsbury
Park and Freehold In January and
the past month.
Caught In Coal BIN.
Mason WAS caught In a coal bin In
the cellar OF q house Ia Stockton
street, after he had been chased by
Officer Hanson, being wanted for
passing a bad check for $7.b0 on
WoIff Cohen, Of 308 Smith street.
Just prior to the time he attempted
to swindle Cohen, the negro passed a
bogus cheek for SIS on Samuel Gold
stein, a clothing dealer OF 319 Smith
street. The checks were made out
~ Hax,VaJ GntfH oMa c5~rad ftFrnA
G~Hrretson." evidently meant for
Ferd Garretson. ~ the negro said he
worked for the alderman ut large.
Mr. Garretson says It il clear that
Mason intended to forge his name,
but made > very poor job OF 1t In not
being a. close observer and therefore
wrote Fred instead OF sFerd."
Macon pvt up a very weak defense
when arraigned before Recorder
Kehoe last night. When shown the
bogus check he. had passed on Sam
uel Goldstefn he said 1t had been
given to him by another negro. The
"0fher negro was believed by the
police to be a myth. The evidence
was clearly against Mason and the
court ordered him returned to q
cell to be transferred to New Bruns-
wick today to await the action OF
the grand Jury.
Gave Check For Clothes.
According to Goldstein, the negro
came into his store a week ago and
ordered a suit or clothes, gave 81
In cash az a deposit. He returned
to the store yesterday morning. tried
on the suit and ordered the trousers
made shorter and the suit pressed.
He called for 1t a few hours later
and rendered a check for SIS In the
name Of Fred Garretson," Gold
stein says he accepted It, and as the
suit cost $1t gave him SIS In cash.
He heard no more OF the transaction
and did not find out he was the hold
sr of a bogus check until excitement
arose OYER the 8 s after Mason's
capture later yesterday afternoon.
1t appears that soon after leaving
Goldstein's store yesterday morning
ne went { Cohen's 8 clothing establish
meht and ordered pair ladies' shoes
and two petticoatH at q cost Of
1855. Soon after fleeing Goldstein
In the afternoon he called for the
goods at Cohenss place and rendered
a bogus check for 1850. He was
given the goods and 31.85 In change.
Soon after the negro had left the
store Cohen,s daughter examined the
check and seeing FIRED Garretson"
~ tt1 kc.tc- Z Y remembered
reading IN tho newspapers about q
swindler at work here q few months
ago. She Informed her father and
he ran to . telephone to call up
Alderman at-Large Ferd Garretson.
Exciting Chase Starts.
Cohen was informed that Mr.. Car
retson had issued no check to q coll
ored Ill for s7.50 and the alarm
was given about the western section
of the city. A few exciting moments
followed during which scenes Of rum
ming mobs. such as are often seen on
moving picture screens developed.
While Cohen with a rapidly increas-
ing crowd was chasing the Bwindler
northward on Watson avenue and
then westward on Fayette street Pa
trolman Hanson decided to run out
Smith street and cut acros q field
to Chapman avenue, IS he believed
the negro would take to the westerly
part OF the city to hide In an fso~
lated place. He caught = glimpse OF
his man running on Chapman ave-
nue and gave chase with Increased
pace. Al the fugitive ran into
Stockton street the officer was close
on hfs heels and the man turned
into a yard, where the policeman lost
sight OF him.
Hanson followed into the yard
and seeing an open cellar door he
entered He searched through four
coal bins and in a fifth at the
other end Of the building the officer
nabhed his man. whom he found
huddled In q dark corner trying to
cover bis face with his coat. The
officer placed the prisoner In an an-
tomobile and locked him up.
Mason carried ON insurance cir
~culars, fountain pens n blank
checks. He said he was an lnsur-
ance agent and at first denied that
he made out bogus checks. He had
told Cohen and GoidsteIn that he
worked for Alderman-at-Large Gar
retson and when Mfr. Garretson saw
him last might, he declared II vas
the frat time he had ever seen him.
Other Checks tn Pockets.
Hfhnr <h2 rrfe~xnw 81 mAarnAaA