Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-02-25

Il
awhile the mere act of initiating
satisfied this strange criminal, ant
then he began placing 1t on the firmi
blank checks .
Having full charge Of the books ant
| enjoying the complete confidence o.
his employers, 1t was an easy thing t.
obtain money, whenever he wished
without exciting suspicion. He had NJ
need Of the money himself, and what
he gained in this way he usually
squandered or gave away. Yet, with
his own money, Masling was always
frugal and economical.
All the time that he persisted in his
illegal operations he had a comfortable
balance at his own bank. The salary
that he received from his employers
was more than ample for all his needs
And In addition to all this he was left
a legacy Of close to $4,000 by rela-
tive In Germany.
Yet he could not resist the tempta-
ton to counterfeit the signature that
fascinated him. He knew 1t was wrong.
He suffered agonies of apprehension
and regret for the wrong he was doing
men who trusted and had been kind to
him. But he could not stop.
The very danger that attended his
efforts to deceive, held the secret Of the
fascination, which led him again and
again to pursue his nefarious prac-
tices. He grew bolder and bolder.
II his employers had not trusted him
SO implicitly they must have become
suspicious Of him long before. Even
when they knew that something was
wrong they did not suspect him.
Instead they took him into their con-
fidence and asked his advice as to the
best way of discovering the culprit.
This final proof of their regard for
him was too much for Masling. With
out formality he made clean breast
Of the whole matter. He feared to walt,
lest his suddenly formed resolution
should forsake him.
At first his employers refused to be-
lieve him. His action seemed incredi-
BILE to them. Then they called in an
expert accountant and his initial in
vestigation showed that Masling's 8
statement was correct In every essen
tial detail. His operations. extending
over half a dozen months, totaled
many thousands Of dollars.
Yet they were 10th to prosecute.
Masling agreed to make restitution, in
80 far as his private means permitted.
And his employers were even willing
to permit him to remain with them
though, of course, not in his former
responsible position.
But Masling feared to accept their
proffered generosity. He declares that
he knew his strange weakness would
assuredly return. So without consulting
his superiors in any way, he gave him
self up to the police. charging himself
with forgery in the first degree.
TITS the best way" he sums up his
case. "As long as I'm out Of prison
can't keep from going wrong"
The story that he told the police and
to his employers is strange one. Even
as boy 1t seems he was obsessed by
the same peculiar penchant for imitat-
ing the handwriting Of others which
proved so serious for him In later
years.
According to his statement, when he
was only IL years Of age he so success
fully forged the handwriting OF the
school principal in a note to the father
of another pupil who was a member OF
the school board as to cause an up
heaval in the school. The principal
naturally denied the authority Of the
note. There were recriminations and
accusations and finally the principal
resigned his position.
1t was not until nearly year later
that the facts came out, and then II
was too late to do anything. And the
sole reason that impelled Masling to
utter this forgery was his dislike Of the
school principal and the weird fasci-
nation which his handwriting possess
ed for him.
From time to time during his later
years the fatal attraction which GER
tain handwritings exercised over him
resulted in his initiating them, but
never criminally, according to his
statement, until fifteen or sixteen
years ago. Then the danger that at
tended the passing of forged paper ap-
pealed to him even more strongly tnan
the pleasure he enjoyed in successfully
initiating anothers chirography.
In the meantime he had married a
we'll -to-do girl and was engaged In
prosperous mining business In Penn
sylvania. His strange obsession led
him into difficulties and he was forced
to seek other fields for his efforts.
It was at this time that he first COM
menced his criminal operations. Be-
ginning on a small scale, he soon In
creased his forgeries until they reach
ed considerable proportions. His sue
cess was such that, as even the clever
est criminals are sure to do, he at last
overreached himself and got into the
hands Of the police.
AS Charles Winkler he was sentenc-
ed to two years and six months on a
forgery charge in Newark in 1899. His
wife, believing that the punishment
would effect cure of his strange NAL
ady, remained loyal to him during his
Incarceration, sharing with him the
trials Of living down the disgrace after
his release.
For three years after the expiration
of his prison term he refrained from
practicing his dangerous faculty. He
made money and everything seemed to
be running smoothly, when temptation
again assailed him. He was caught
and in October, 1905, was sentenced In
New York city to serve five years In
Sing Sing prison. Then his wife de-
termined that there was no help for
him, and refused to associate with him
further.
And now for the third time he Is In
the tolls, this time by his own wish. AS
he says. "Perhaps it's the best way"