The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-02-24
ARRESTED ORFORGERY
son OF A PROMINENT MINISTER
GOT BOGUS CHECKS CASHED.
Victimized Several Persons, lnclud-
ing Ministers, in Savannah ana
Albany. Well Known Here.

Albany. Wen Known Here.
The Albany Herald reports that
Sheriff Tarver Of Dougherty county,
telegraphed to Savannah authorities
asking them to hold ]. Fred Clark,
Methodist minister's son, who was
arrested in the latter city on the
charge of forgery. Clark is wanted
in Albany on two charges OF SIM
liar character. 1t is alleged that
two checks purporting to be signed
by his father, Rev. Chas. T. Clark, OF
Claxton, Ga, one for So, endorsed
by Mr.. Aubrey Allen, and the other
also for SIS, endorsed by Rev. L. j.
Ballard, came back with the endorse
ment that the signatures thereon
were not that of the Rev. Mr.. Clark.
Young Clark came to Albany about
Feb. 4th. He asked Mr.. Allen, with
whom he was personally acquainted,
to endorse a check for $15, signed by
his father, so that he could get 1t
cashed Mr.. Allen readily complied
with the request, knowing the young
mans father we'll, and having no idea
that the son had turned forger. Mr..
Allen knows the fathers signature
well, and says the one on the check
was a splendid imitation.
Young Clark told Mr.. Allen that
he was going to Camilla to see his
wife, who is living there with her
mother.
After returning to Albany from
Camilla young Clark went to the
Methodist parsonage about o'clock
at night, and secured the endorse
ment of Rev. Mr.. Ballard to a check
for SIS. Mr.. Ballard endorsed the
check as a matter of accommodation
for the son of a brother Methodist
minister, never dreaming that it was
forgery.
Besides securing endorsements OF
Savannah parties to alleged forged
checks amounting to about SIS it is
stated that young Clark answers the
description of a young man who Sc
cured SIG from a Savannah boarding
house proprietor by telling her that
he wished to pay for room in adj
vance and took SIS in change for a
counterfeit $40 bill. If this proves
to be the case young Clark will be
lin bad also with the United States
government.
His EsCapades in Savannah.
In lengthy account of young
Clark's arrest in that city the Sayan-
nah News says:
Clark is asserted to have used his |
fathers position and name in obtain
ting the signature of the Rev. 7. B. |
Stanford, pastor of Trinity Methodist |
church, as an endorsement on a |
check for $50.
Another check for $40 was cashed |
by H. r. Shuman of the city market. |
Shuman endorsed third check for |
$50 on which Clark is alleged to have |
obtained $25 from 7. E. CasWell, also |
of the city market.
The prisoner fits the description |
of a man who on Monday swindled
Mrs. John McWilliamS by taking
change for a $40 counterfeit bill af-
ter stating that he wanted to pay for |
q room in advance. He obtained
$500.
Father Is Prosecutor.
Clark was arrested on complaint |
of his father, Rev. Chas. T. Clark,
who denied the signature on the |
check when it came to the First Ma
tional Bank of CIaxton. The check
was sent to Mr.. Stanford and he !
made it good Rev. Mr.. Clark then
called the Savannah minister by tel |
ephone and asked that his son be |
traced down and arrested.
Detectives Beach and Christie |
found Clark at the Southern hotel,