The Topeka state journal., 1916-09-28
HELD FOR FELONY
Wanamaker Farmers Charged
With Fraud in Topeka.
Money From Topeka Packing
Company, False Pretenses.
GAVE CHECKS FOR CHICKENS
Weight Slips Cashed InnOcently
by Cashier.
Discovery by Manaeer, Who
Couldn't Find Fowls.
GAVE CHECKS FOR CHICKENS

Ten DAYS ago, when Ralph r. Baer,
head of the Topeka Packing company,
Laurent and North Madison streets,
noticed the large denominations of
checks his firm was issuing to George
Rogerson, a farmer living near Wan
amaker, in payment for poultry he
Congratulated himself upon the newly
obtained business of an extensive
chicken raiser. Baer made inquiries.
about the new customer. No one
around the office seemed to know
much about hlm but it was explained
that Rogerson was a man who had
been selling extensively to another
packing firm but had recently
changed to the Topeka Packing COM
pany.
Everything connected with the buy
ing seemed regular on the part of the
firm. Weighing slips, turned over TO
The cashier by George Dix, in charge
of weighing all poultry purchased by
the firm. corresponded with the
checks. Rogerson, Baer was in
formed always called in person for
the checks. Believing Rogerson just
happened to be in when he was out,
Haer thought no more about the mat
ter. Meanwhile his firm continued to
issue checks.
Then Baer began taking a fresh
interest in the matter. One day he
thought he would go out to the
-coops" and look at the chickens.
After searching for some time he
failed to find them.
sBaer called up Harvey Parsons,
chief of police, a few days ago and re-
cited the foregoing story. He asked
the police to try and find cut what had
become of the chickens he said he had
been buying. Parsons assigned Robert
Miler, plain clothes man, to the case.
tThis morning Miller terminated an
exposure of what the police claim is
one of the neatest and most daring
false pretense games they have un-
covered for some time, when warrants
ware issued from the county attorneys
Office for Rogerson and Dix, after they
had been arrested Wednesday night
by Miller.
According to Miler's allegations Dix
as weighmaster at the Topeka plant
made out bogus weight slips crediting
Rogerson with delivering so many
pounds of poultry to the firm The
slips were turned over to the stenog-
rapher and cashier, who, believing
the slips were genuine. issued checks
for the amounts called for. Rogerson,
AIiler says, always called for the
checks but he avoided meeting Baer.
Miller aims Rogerson did not de-
lixer am chickens to the firm.
Miller produced the checks this
mDrning. They range in amount
from $50 to $91 and total $370.12. Mi
Ter says the two men divided the
money, fifty-fifty. The checks. he
says. were cashed by the Shawnee
bank. They were dated between Sep
tember 8 and 26. he says.
Following the arrest on investiga-
tion of the two men Wednesday night
an inquisition was held in the police
station at which Miller claims he OBJ
tanned confession of the whole
affair.
The complaint issued from the
county attorneys office today charges
that the two men fraudulently obtain
ed $91 from the Topeka Packing plant
by false pretenses. The charge against
the men is felony.
Dix lives near Wanamaker. the po-
lice say, and near the home of Roger
son.