The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-12-12
CLEVER SW|NDLER SUCCESSFUL HERE
 Posed as Grandson of James J. Hill FORGED SS50 DRAFT Drawn on Chase National Bank of New York and Indorsed by P. F. Kruse and the Meyer-Marx Liquor Company
FORGED $s5O DRAFT

Posing as a son of Louis w. Hill. president of the Great Northern rail- road, a man under the name L. J. Hill succeeded in getting away from Bir- mingham Thursday with sS50. The draft upon the Chase National bank, which he gave for the money and which was indorsed by the Meyer Marx Liquor company upon the recom- mendation of P F. Kruse of Milwaukee, came back declared forgery. And at this time detectives from many we'll known agencies are looking in Bir- mingham for the alleged imposter. He is very likely far. far away. | The story of this daring transaction came out yesterday when Mir. Kruse was located on the telephone in a near | by town and informed of the return of the draft. MT. Kruse very promptly came back to Birmingham and has made good the loss of Meyer Marx company.
 Operated in Montgomery
 It appears that MT. Kruse met MT Hill, under which name the man so smoothly operated, in Montgomery MT Kruse was sure his young friend was a grandson of the famous James J. Hill and they became chummy. It became known to MT. Hill that the Southeast ern Passenger association was to meet here next week so he phoned down to l Herbert Dunkle, chief clerk at the Tut wiler, to reserve b rooms of the best l type as he would have some of the Great Northern fellows down for the meeting.
 1 That sounded good, and when Mir Hill made his real play those with whom he associated were inclined kindly towards his plan. MT. Kruse accompanied MT. Hill to the bank. There MT. Hill was assured of the | banks desire to accommodate him, but | under existing conditions would he be so kind as to have an indorser?" Of course that could be procured for MT. Kruse went over to Ben Meyer and after himself indorsing the draft it was in turn indorsed by Meyer-Marx. The bank very handsomely shelled out the money. That was the last seen of Mir. Hill, although he made a luncheon en- gament with MT. Kruse which he failed 1 to keep.
 The rooms at the Tutwiler occupied by MT. Hill were entered later on and found to contain nothing except a small grip. He did not pay hotel bill of $17.15 at the Tutwiler. It is related that MT. Hill was an exceedingly smooth and prepossessing person. He merely received the draft from his father for the months expenses and while he did not need the change at the same time he would not mind getting the draft cashed. That was all there was to it.
 First Time for Krusc MT. Kruse is quoted as saying that in a travelling life of 80 years that was the first time he permitted any check or draft game to be worked over or him.
 Ben Meyer of the Meyer Marx Liquor company told an Age-Herald reporter that Hill was crook pure and simple and a smooth one.
 q did not fancy him." said Mr. Marx. | However, he was well dressed. talked glibly and was in every appearance a gentleman. I have since been informed by detectives that he is an ex-convict with 8 record behind him. Of course we have strengthened the matter out so far as we are concerned"
 The Chase National. upon which the draft was drawn, is protected by we'll known detective bureau. Representa- tives of that concern soft-footed about the Tutwiler, the Hillman and other hotels yesterday in an effort to locate a clue. They did not get any very val uable information, according to infor- nation secured from attaches of the two places last night.
 Hill told men at the Tutwiler and elsewhere he had only recently come from South America and trade condi- tions there were fine for seizure by , American business men. He said the , Great Northern intended to build a line down this way. He also said that he was an Elk, belonged to the New } York lodge, and had been around the world three times.
 And until late hour last night the whereabouts of the alleged son of the famous railroad man were unknown MT. Kruse is in the city.
 
 Il AG s-