Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-10
ALLEGED AGENT
OF GOVERNMENT
CHECK SWTNDLER
Detectives Seek Man Who
Pretended Detail to Build
Coast Defenses at Sea
Girt.

| POINT PLEASANT. N. j., Nov. TO-
The combined efforts Of two Burns de-
tectives, County Detective william shaf-
to, the police forces Of the Jersey coast
towns and a number of private indlvid-
uals have failed so far in the search for
| Samuel Hess, Government engineer de-
| tailed to do some extensive construction
work in connection with the national
coast defenses at Sea Girt," and who in
cidentally buncoed merchants along the
coast during the last few days.
Hess" who is of refined manner and
appearance. presented himself last Satur-
day night at the office OF the Van Note
Lumber Company and purchased lumber
costing about $3.50. He said the Govern
ment had sent him to construct coast de-
lenses at Sea Girt, but that the matter
must be kept secret. In payment for the
lumber he rendered a check for $47456
made out to him by George Jones on the
First National Bank of Chester, Pa, and
certified by o. II. williams, Cashier"
The change he placed In his pocket and
engaged accommodations at the Marion
Hotel
HIS PLANS A DEEP SECRET.
Bright and early yesterday morning he
made the acquaintance of Frederick w.
Maxim, baker. Half an hour later he
had engaged Makln's daughter as his
stenographer after confidlng to Maxim
the secret Of his mission. The girl was
warned against divulging any official
secrets.
With Maxim and his stenographer Hess
went to the Ocean County National Bank
yesterday and, under a pretext of wish
Ing to make deposit with which to
pay incidental accounts of the work at
Sea Girt he presented to Cashier Clarence
Chafey two checks similar to that given
the VanNote Lumber Company, one for
$3.50 and the other for S1OO. In the mean
time the VanNote check had been banked
and Mr.. Chafey was not satisfied with
the nature of the certifcation.
He refused to cash the $3.50 check with
out indentification of Hess, and Arthur
A. Zimmerman, former worlds champion
bicycle rider and now proprietor of the
Marion Hotel, was sent for. Hess asked
him to Identify him by indorsing the
800. Zimmerman did so and Chafey
gave Zimmerman the 500. The other
check for $3.50 Hess left for deposit.
CHECK SPURIOUS, AGENT GONE.
With Miss Maxim he left the bank for
Spring Lake where he had other busl-
ness to attend to-" Chafey hastened to
telephone and was informed by the
First National Bank of Chester that the
paper was spurious. He then got in
touch with Prosecutor Harry Newman,
who detailed County Detective Shafto
to the case.
Before going to Spring Lake, Hess had
borrowed from Zimmerman new over
coat and when the latter heard of the
fraud he got into an automobile and
trailed the impostor to Spring Lake He
found him in the office OF the Lewis
Lumber Company, where he was pre-
pairing to purchase some more lumber
for the coast defense at Sea Girt. Zim-
norman asked for his overcoat and It
was handed to him. He then accused
Hess of forging the checks.
You talk foolish" said the man. He
left the office and walked down the street
Railroad trains. bar rooms, hotels, the
atres and everything have been watched
for him but to no avail. Warrants are
out for his arrest, charging him with
forgery.
Zimmerman returned the 800 to the
bank. Cashier Chafey communicated with
the Bankers Protective Association and
two Burns operatives were detailed to
the case.
Hess Is about five feet seven inches
tall and weighs about 200 pounds. He is
about IS year old.