La Junta tribune., 1913-06-14
WILLIAM EDWARD ROSS
Post.Ferosr Sentenced to Not Les
Than Eight Nor More than Four.
teen vsars-Has q Record

family journal during the past two
months. pleaded guilty to two
counts OF forgery In the district
court last Wednesday afternoon and
was sentenced by Judge Essex on
each OF the counts to u term OF
not less than eight nor more than
fourteen years In the penitcntiary
at Canon City, the sentences to run
concurrently. Ross was taken to
the penitentiary yesterday morning
by Sheriff Yant. another member
Of the party being James Fortine. al.
~ a confessed forger. who was sen.
tetnced to term OF not less than
two nor more than four years.
Ross was arrested In Rocky Ford
March iith. charged with passing a
fictitious check upon II. j. Black. a
jewaler Of that city. The check
was made out to Mr. Black. signed
by Fred G. Smith, who was the in.
dividual that Ross represented him.
self to be at that time. Ross pur.
chased lady's watch for $50. claim
ing that 1t was for his wife. He
gave. his check for $40, left the
watch to have name engraved up.
on It, and received so In change
1t was after banking hours. and
after Ross had left the jeweler be.
came suspicious that the check was
OF the bank upon which the check
was issued He was Informed that
no such person as Fred G.. Smith
had an account In that institution.
Marshal Potter was put upon the
trail OF Ross. aud found him in the
depot where he was waiting TO take
the stub" for Pueblo. II jus, hap.
pencd that the stub was late
that day or Ross would hav. made
hts getaway. just A. he had In mum.
erous other Instances.
On tho day previous To his Wis
II to Rocky Ford Ross passed n
fictitious check upon T.. g. Erick-
son. OF La Junta. In this instance
he purchased u pair Of shoes for 81.
gave his personal cheek for SO and
received So In change.
When Ross was arrested card
WAS found ON his person which gave
record Of a series Of forgeries es'
tending from 81. Paul through Oma.
ha and Denver. to Rocky Ford. all
within period OF two weeks. up.
on which was enumerated tn"
amounts he had realized In III"
towns visited. The amounts given
were: st Paul. s2t6o; Omaha. SIS;
Denver. 81; Cripple Greek. 1895;
Pueblo. 81 rs: Colorado Springs. $ii:
La Junta. 81. Rocky Ford. SO. Thes.
sums were totaled. making Si36i0.
ati ON the margin Ross had IN
scribcd tn. notation $50 week.
INDICATING that the po~t.forger
though, he had developed system
of making money that would dis.
count any mint conducted by your
rnci, samuel
Judg. Essex. IN sentencing Ross
croSs questioned him as Ia his re-
cohl for nearly an hour. and he
confessed every charge and every
detail Of his lifc'u history sn chron'
icl.d In = letter written by David
e. Pcyton. general superintendent
Of IN. indiana R.formatory. located
Mt JcfferHonvill.. Ind. To Governor
Ammons. u copy of which vas sent
W Judx. Essex. In sending III.
letter tn the judge the writer says;
u hope ! Am not ov~rst~ppinx tn"
bounds Of proprsey In calling your
attention TO tho facts In this f-l'
lows case. II there Was any po~.
sihis chance o reclaim him by his
rs,aAsc ! should b. tho last one on
carVs In writ. this letter. but I feel
that II would b. doins hin . positis"
harm 10 give him his liberty. Hence
the facts In his Case" The letter
10 very interesting and gives the
raroni Of the past NJ" NJ Ross In
detail:
April 10. 1919.
Ny dear Governor:.
Believing that there II possi'
biiisy IT \ serious mistake h~sns
made In the matter Of Justice In
npnnoctIon with = pgtson~r ~ Ia
Junta. Colorado. I deem Il proper "a
write you this letter. ! r-fer 10
the case ot william Edward Rosa.
am M perfectly familiar With all
tho details Of this man and his past
isar that shall write you very
much In detail. Ross served .
term Of four years In this inStitu.
] A. g a. -. - At.