Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-06-25
pAsaEa BAD PAPER AND SECURES
ABOUT $500 At CEDAR
RAPIDS.
WORKED OUT SCHEME WHICH
WAS DIFFICULT TO DETECT
Bankers Refuse to Explain Operation
in Detail For Fear of Encouraging
Others TO Attempt Similar Crime
Forser Spent Six Months in Cedar
RAPIDS Paving Way For Harvest.


tensive forgery every committed in Co
dar Rapids was discovered Monday
when the Security Savings Bank refus-
ed to honor certain check made out
to Ernest Golf and supposed TO come
from Mrs Fred Pokorny, who conducts
q store at the corner Of 8 avenue ana
sixth street, east. A prompt investiga-
ton by the banks showed that Ernest
Golf and his wife got about $500 on
checks cashed in various places and
promptly made their getaway to terri I
tory unknown. Later circunstantial ,
evidence indicated that they got more !
money, perhaps, $500 or more. The
Cedar Rapids police and the William
]. Burns detective agency are working
On the case.
Patient Schemer.
Ernest Golf was not only clever,
but a very patient schener. He nao
the patience to work for months es-
tablishing a sort OF business reputa-
toin and he had the ability TO strike
the blow that would count and would
give him plenty of time to make his
escape
Mr.. and Mrs. Golf and their g.
year-old son arrived in Cedar Rapids
in December 1919. Mrs. Goff is
Spanish senorita of not only beautiful,
but striking appearance. Men who
have sold her merchandise and there
are many in number, stated that she
was of so striking an appearance that
she could not escape unnoticed any
where On arriving here Mr.. Golf
started in business as a contracting
carpenter The family lived IN sew
eral places. Their last place Of resi-
dence was at 1923 South Third street.
west.
The banks were to be Mr.. Gofrs
victims, so he promptly got busy get
ting in with the banks. He opened an
account In the Merchants National
Bank and In the Cedar Rapids Savings
Bank To give q seeming appearance
OF honesty. he made deposits both by
checks and in cash. Then he began
to look for contracts.
In April Mrs. Fred Pokoruy adver-
ttsed for BIDS on a Job OF improving
her store Cor wrote Mrs. Pokorny a
letter about tho work. She replied in
writing. Her letter furnished Golf
with Mrs. Pokorny's signature. Like
account in the Security Savings Bank
time. While he worked on Mrs. Po-
korney's building and also while he
made improvements for the Hall-Ek-
felt Company and other firms he con-
ttnued making deposits and cashing
checks. The checks cashed then were
good, for he wanted reputation for
honesty.
In the meantime Mrs. GoT visited
the banks and local stores on business.
She bought many articles of clothing
in the stores. In fact. as one clerk
states, she had the reputation Of be-
ing the best customer in Cedar Rapids
Mrs Golf was a very smart woman
She would enter the bank with hel
boy and would talk Spanish to the
child. II the clerk had the time, she
would engage him in entertaining con
versatton about her life as an inter
prefer n a hospital She related many
stories about sunny Spain and abou
Mexico. There was about her ar
atmosphere Of romance She SCENE,
refined and we'll educated. Her Eng
1ish was not perfect. but was beauti
iul. Always she was. proud to explai,
that sheawas Spanish.
Strike Saturday.
Saturday was the day for Mr.. COT
70 strike his blow. He walked into tn
Merchants National bank and de
posted a check for 5000. The chez
was on the Security Savings bank
made out by Mrs Pokorny to Ernes
Goff and was a forgery Golf had don
business with the bank for some time
nothing was suspected. He also de
posted checks In the Cedar Rapid
Savings Bank. II is said.
And on the same day Mrs, Golf wa
6a hind 4
checks in local stores. All Of the OF
erations Of the couple are not know
as vet. But 1t ts said that a check fc
$40 was cashed by Armstrong and M
Clenahan check for $50 was cashe
by the Buster Brown Shoe Compan
Checks also were cashed by the Hal
Ekfelt Company, by the Killian Con
pany and in the Denecke store. Son
Of the checks It was said were goo
The worthless checks were workt
against accounts Golf had in the tV
banks. Yves soboda, saloon keepe
casf,ed a worthless check for s25.
Withdrew Accounts.
Although the bankers do not want
explain the operations in detail. b.
cause all Of COTS business has
been estimated 1t is said that &c
withdrew his accounts It has not y
been aSc6TIdlueC just VIM wiz ~
Z the money. as there IS some dif1e
ence Of opinion about the respons
bility.
Frank Flip, CT The Security savtn
Bank, stated that as near as he CT
learn .Goff's operations amounted
about $500. At the Merchants Nation
Bank it was explained that Golf d
posited a check for 5000 Saturday.
the Cedar Rapids Savings Bank. 1t W
said that Golf one time deposited II
in cash and check and that he ma
many deposits. No amounts were me
toned. however, for the bankers {
lieved the time too early to make de
mite statements. One banker said tt
he was informed that Golf withdr
MIS- accounts and that several chez
4 FAR large amounts were cashed. Fr'
one store 1t was reported that NJ
oo6 bought eighteen shirts with
worthless check.
The COTS evidently cleaned up tn
business Saturday morning. AT
o'clock Saturday afternoon. their
iongings were packed and they W
g on train speeding out of Cedar RI
iis. The furniture they purchased
the installment plan was left in tf
home.