Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-07-23
TRIMMED Lake MILLS
INNOCENT YOUTH BILkS FARMER
OF S1,345 AND
AUTO.
BOUGHT HALF INTEREST
IN VICTIMS FARM
Banked Check For $3.50, Borrowed
Farmers Overland, Drove Merrily
Away and Hasn't Been Seen Since
His Game Was Smooth-Selieved to
Be Partner of Old Swindler.
Special to Times-Republ!can.

Mason City, July 23. A queer
Lake Mills. In the early spring L. Is.
Boyd. aged about p years. hired cut
to- Peter SpeIlman to work on the
farm. He understood farm work and
everything Went smoothly. on July .
he received message from Thief
River Falls Mimi, that his father was
very sick, which was soon followed py
a SECOND message his father was dead
He went home and soon returned. he
said his father left considerable prop
erty ana in the viii he was TO invest
$1,000 of this money il farm. He
arranged 10 buy hall interest IN the
crop and stock Of Peter SpeIman.
Soon a check came to Peter Spellman
for $3.50. He Endorsed the check as
did L. b. Boyd. This was on the 18th
of July. That afternoon he borrowed
MIR. Spellman's new Overland and
drove to Forest City where he tried TO
trade il for a Hudson. He failed il
this but went to the First National
Bank and succeeded in getting Sl,S4o
on the strength Of his Lake Mills de-
post. Since that time nothing has been
The Thief River Falls bank says
''checq for $3.50 fraudulent" Spellman
is out a automobile and at east sl,Si5.
Officers fail to get clue Of Boyd.
Last April the boy, who is about q
years of age, came 10 Lake Mills and
secured a JOB with q prosperous far
mer He said his father was bust
ness man at Thief River Rails, MINI,
and gave his name as L. B. Boyd.
A letter came, telling Boyd his father
had been kicked by horse and was in
a critical condition.. He showed it 10
his employer.
Other letters were received and final
ly came message notifying the farm
hand of his fathers death. AL these
communica tons proved interesting TO
the farmer.
A contract was mailed TO Boyd,
bearing signatures of supposed
brother and sister, authorizing the sale
of a portion of the Minnesota estate.
Had 1 better sign this % Boyd asked
his employer.
The farmer examined tbs contract
and advised it
Now that I'm going TO get lot OF
money I believe would like to buy
half interest in your place" said the
boy in conversation with the farmer.
The deal was made, the money 10 be
/. paid upon receipt OF an expected check
A little over week ago the check
was received, Boyd induced his en-
poyer to indorse same, claiming it 10
be part share of the estate He de-
posted it at the First National Bank
of Lake Mills and in addition 10 a sum
of cash received certificate Of deposit
No. 1853 for $4,000.
Iowa bank detectives believe Boyd to
have been the partner Of one Of the
cleverest forgers in the country. and
expect repetition OF the swincle in 9TH
err parts.
The authorities have learned that
Boyd passed thru Forest City on July
Ii in the new auto, which bore the IL
cense number, D 2149. Since that no
trace of him has been obtained.
He took with him check book on
the Lake Mills bank, and with the GER
tificate of deposit to exhibit, will un-
doubtedly pass innUmera0le checks.
upon which payment will be stopped.
Bank detectives suspect Boyd may at
tempt to put up the $4,000 certificate
of deposit as collateral.
Secretary Hall has sent out hundreds
of postcards giving description of the
fugitive.