The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1916-10-27
oRovlllR wAsH1S sros 2croBnR s7, 1916.
NAPOLEON OF FINANCE
N"'ns Worthless Checks Lsuds 4.
Young Man In Tolls.

Ed' Running is in the tolls. and all
because OF habit that he fell into Of
urawing checks on banks in which he
carried no deposits. While he onerated
ne did flourishing business, and a
nuhoer OF victims at Okanogan. Oro-
si''e and Nelson are bemoaning hay-
ing placed too much confidence in the
young man, as they hold checks return
ed to them rubber stamped mot paid.
lor want of funds" Mr.. Running is not
stranger in this community, and as
ne formerly met his accounts it was
easy for him to float his worthless
checks. He worked for some time for
MRS. Z. X. Stanton, and drove a wagon
on the Stanton dairy milk route He
lett Tor Spokane some time ago. and
recently drifted back to Oroville. Last
week he commenced his career as a
check artist at Okanogan, drawing
|checks for various amounts on the Spo-
Kane Il Eastern Trust Company. He
saved his face to some extent during
his check drawing operations at Okla
hogan by stating that he had no money
in the bank upon which the checks
were drawn but money would be on de-
posit at the bank by the time the
checks reached Spokane.
Mr.. Running fitted on to Oroville
and this was an easy field to work.
Here, he divided up the checks he pass
ed between the Spokane & Eastern
Trust Company and the First National
Bank Of Okanogan. He would buy
goods and tender check in payment,
or he would secure money on the
worthless paper. He purchased goods
to the amount of $47.95 at the store of
F. V. Covert, paying the bill by check
on the Spokane & Eastern Trust Com
pany Becoming suspicious Mr.. Covert
had the local bank telephone to Spo-
kane and word was received that no
such individual had a deposit with the
bank upon which the check was drawn.
Mr. Covert lost no time In getting In
touch with Hunning, who gave a plaus-
able excuse and stated that he had
money coming from farmer near Mol
son and would settle the account.
Borrowing a horse from Bob Evans.
Running started for Molson, aad there
got busy again with his check books.
He accumulated sufficient to pay the
larger part of the amount he owed Mr..
Covert and also sent down the amount
of check he had cashed at the Oroville
Commercial company store. At Nelson
his operations ended. Deputy Sheriff
Ed. Burden was informed Of his check
manipulations and getting on his trail
followed Running to Phoenix, b. c.,
where he found the young man in a sa-
loon helpless from drink and without
q nickle on his person. The horse was
recovered at Bridesville. Deputy Sher.
iff Ward was notified and he came up
from Okanogan, secured the prisoner
and conveyed him to the county seat
Monday.
Just Low much money Running man
aged 10 secure on bad checks is not
known. hut the total will run up to
some 5000. The crime will go nard
with him, as it is stated by the officers
that he is now out of the penitentiary
On parc,e, he having been sent to that
institution from Spokane on charge
of cattle stealing. The only way to ac-
count for his actions is that his MIND
is deranged, for it does not seem posi-
ble thar sane man would so openly
and ca,iessly work the check game anu
make TO effort to escape the conse-
ouencss. It may be case where the
prisoner is more to be pitied than to
he blamed. When he worked for MIS-
Stanton, sc far as car be learned, ne
was .tcacy and reliable. Those whom
he so1,d with milk always found him
courteous. pleasant and very accom-
modating. 1t may turn out that the
asylum and not the Yenitentiary IS the
place V here he should be conhae".