The Pensacola journal., 1913-02-24
KING FORGER
WHO OPERATED
RE.ARRESTED
MAN WHO PASSED WORTHLESS
CHECKS HERE AND WENT uN.
DER THE NAME OF GEO. M.
BAILEY, Is JAILED IN YER.
MONT.

Ine loCdl pOllce began eendlng out
letters and kilograms in an effort to
apprehend the man, Chief Of Police
Sanders yesterday received a letter
from the chief Of police of Bennington,
Vermont, giving the information that
Geo. NJ. Bailey, as he was known in
Pensacola. and who bears the reputa-
/ ton Of being the king of forgers, Is
under arrest. but in the same letter
the local chief was advised that Flor
! ida is too far away and that numer-
Gus other states and cities nearer are
anxious to get their hands on Bailey,
known in Vermont as E G. Smith,
and In every city of any importance
under some other name.
Bailey paid a short visit to Pensa-
cola In December, 1911. His operations
here were confined to the issuance of
! two bad checks, but before he came
! here he visited In DeFuniak, where 1t
is alleged he hoated three checks and
left with $75. In Pensacola he rented
a house at the corner Of DeSoto and
Alcaniz streets owned by Mrs. Co.'S
! grove. the rent for which he paid with
bad check. He ordered SIS worth of
groceries from Hansen q Co, and
/ gave a check for $40. which proved no
good. In the house formerly occupied
by relatives of w. c. Norman, was
found the bank pass book of Mr.. Nor
man and this gave Bailey or Smith an
idea and he left the city without fur
ther operations. carrying with him q
number Of cancelled checks.
/ He was next heard from in Auburn.
Ind, and in going there passed
through Biloxi, where he secured trav-
cling expenses with a few checks. In
Auburn, Bailey purchased an automo-
bile from the Mcintosh Auto Co., and
paid for 1t with q certified check forg-
ing the name OF w. c. Norman to the
check. and with a stamp which he had
manufactured he put the necessary
| endorsements on it, purporting to be
certified to by the First National bank
Of Pensacola, but in doing so he for
got the initials Of the cashier and
made II read "J. W." Forbes, cashier,
instead OF W. J. Forbes.
| The auto people did not know this
though until Bailey had gone with the
returned by the local bank, who In
formed the Auburn people that It was
a forgery.
In Vermont the man continued his
work, giving the name Of Henry Mes
sersmith. Chief Sanders. who had Sc
cured photographs and descriptive
matter on the alleged forger, said last
night that he had over twenty Ave
aliases and had operated IN every sec
ton Of the United States The Ben
nington Journal of recent date, con-
tains the following regarding the ar
+ rest Of the man:
| Henry Messersu1ith. man Of many
aliases, and who the police and detec-
tives say has been one Of the most
successful false check passers who
ever worked in this coun ". was ar
rested early yesterday in Bennington.
VT He IL wanted IN 40 to so cities
and towns in every state IN the union.
Certified Own Checks.
mot content with passing the false
checks as others do 1t, Messersmith, 1t
is said, had full set OF stamps with
which to certify the checks, thus max
ing them appear even more bona fide.
It Is claimed that his checks have
ranged from $50 to $4,000 and that he
has cleared up many thousands of dol
lars through passing them on the un-
suspecting public The Boston nolica
are among the most pressing OF those
who desire to get their hands on the
man TO prosecute charges against him.
"Messersmith appeared IN Benning-
ton. Vt. several days Ggo and at once
orened negotiations with Hutchins &
sh, real estate dealers. for the pur-
chase Of stores in Shaftshury and
other towns near Pennington. After
a long conference Friday. however. he
was discouraged from buying the
places, as the business would not be
up to what he hoped for.
He packed his grip at the Putnam
house, Bennington, and stated that he
would take the 12:45 train SATURDAY
morning for the northern part of Yer
mont Sheriff Fred Godfrey, of Ben
nington, received message from
White River Junction stating that a
man had purchased store there and
had given check for 500. receiving
$50 in change, the other $50 being q
deposit to bind the deal The descrip-
ton Of the man tailed with that Of
Messersmith Sheriff Godfrey went -
the hotel after midnight and founI
the man lust as he was leaving 20
take the train
Refuses to Talk
"Messersmith refused to do any
talking about his past, When he was
searched the police say certified
checks ranging in value from SIS q
$4,000 were found on his person mads
out payable to various persons and
with an equal variety Of signatures
There were also two check books on
the Pioneer Bank, Palm Beach Fla.
and he Bank Of the Rav of Biscayne
Miami Fla. pass book in the name