The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-12-03
Worked A Check PASSING
Game In This City
And Took About SIS From
Local Merchants

Wuon u Hall HOS, HILy pOunuS OF
sugar, a barrel of -four and sundry
groceries were delivered Monday af-
ternoon to Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew
Proper, $50 West High street, they
we're at q loss to know why they had
been made the recipients of such a
generous donation. On each pack
age there appeared the address, 1880
West High street." so there could be
no mistake of delivery. Curiosity
finally prompted them to telephone to
the three stores from which the mer-
chandise came. and this revealed the
story Of one of the smoothest check
passing games that has been put over
here for long time.
On Saturday afternoon, a short,
heavy-set individual appeared at
Adams Brothers meat market, 1O1 IL
COsh0cton avenue, and after cereful
survey of the meats in the place pur-
chased half Of hog. In payment for
the same, he rendered check signed
presumably by Clyde Thatcher, a
well-known merchant of Mt. Liberty.
The check was for $50 and was ac-
cepted In good faith and $40 in
change given to the stranger who
made himself out to be G. w.
Cramer, corresponding to the name
on the check. He claimed to have
been in the employ of Clyde Thatch-
er, thus making it appear that the
check was his wages. He ordered
the half hog sent to $50 West High
street.
The next place enterd was the Lat
ia grocery, 104 Coshocton avenue, on
ly few doors from the meat market.
The stranger there procured from the
proprietor, James Latta, barrel Of
flour and fifty pounds of sugar. For
this he gave a check for $35 and re-
ceived $25 in change. The -four and
sugar were also ordered sent to $50
West High street, the stranger giving
no name, just the address. Harry
Ransom was In the Latta grocery at
the time and was questioned by
James Latta as to the liability of
Clyde Thatcher Receiving a favor
able answer from Ransom, Latta un-
hesitatingly accepted the check.
The swindling operations were
then transferred to the north end of
the city where, at the s. IL. Scott gro
Gerry, groceries were bought and or
dered delivered to the same address.
In this store, the stranger represent
ed himself as having recently pro-
cured employment in a glass factory
here. He cashed check for $25 and
received change, the amount of which
Mr.. Scott, the proprietor, would not
make known to a Banner reporter.
Having procured in the neighbor-
hood of $75, the stranger quietly slip
ped away. leaving no trace Of him
self. He figured correctly that II
would be Monday before the goods
were delivered to his haphazard ad
dress and that he would be far from
Mt. Vernon before his swindle was
discovered. II Is scarcely possible
that the man can be apprehended and
the merchants have resigned them
selves to the losses foisted on them
| by the smooth stranger.
Efforts are being exerted to locate
| the stranger who passed the bogus
checks, There was a report Tuesda!
afternoon that the individual resided
| In Morrow county, that he once be
fore passed check on Clyde Thatch
er. but that settlement was made
without arrests. II II Is the same
man-and the description corresponds
somewhat there Is possibility o
locating him. The name used by the
stranger In cashing the checks, G. w
Cramer. is very similar to that of G
II. Cramer, a farmer who resides IL
the central part of Liberty township
and this likeness aided the stranger
in his game.