Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-05-22
A Slick Bogus Check Man.

At least three business men and firmi
OF South Paris have been the victims OF
bogus check worker within a few
wee ks. And the peculiar thing about 1,
is, that the crook-if 1t was ali done BY
one-did not do the town up in a day
and then leave for the benefit of hi.
health, but that he extended his opera
tons over period of three weeks, with
an average Income 80 far as reported oil
about eighteen dollars per week.
To begin with, B. P. Adkins, who run.
shoe repairing shop and secondhand
store, made the first contribution, on the
10th of April. A stranger, young man
who appeared to be stopping at the
hotel across the street, had been In the
shop once or twice, and on Saturday, the
l4th, casually remarked that he had
got to write to the old man and get some
money.
On Monday, the 10th, he came In and
purchased from Mr.. Adkins stock .
typewriter, q suitcase and one or two
other small articles. He said he was 60.
ing to work in the toy shop and told
where he was to board, saying he would
take the things to bis room when he 90,
settled. He gave Mr.. Adkins q check
for 5000 dated April IA, drawn on the
Waterbury Savings and Trust Co. OF
Waterbury, Vt, to the order of Howard
B. Noble, signed by Noble of differen,
initials. In Mr.. Adkins presence he
endorsed the check with q pencil. His
purchases amounted to $13, and Mr.. Ad-
kins gave him the balance Of $500 in
cash.
he never came after his things, but
Mr.. Adkins did not suspect trouble with
the check until about ten days afterward,
when it came back to him from the bank.
Itsppears that the stranger had not
made up his story entirely from whole
cloth, because he went to the factory of
the Mason Manufacturing Co. the last of
the preceding week, and engaged job Of
Superintendent Mosher to run q plsner.
He was to begin work Monday morning,
but failed to show up. On Monday, the
18th, N. B. Noble, Readsboro, w."
registered at Hotel Andrews, in hand
which no one would hesitate to pro-
nounce that of business man, but dis
appeared Immediately after registering.
Asked as to whether the stranger was
slick looking article, Mr.. Adkins re-
piled, "He looked like great green
boy"
His next appearance was at the office
of A. w. Walker & Son, on the oath of
April, when he ordered half ton of coal
delivered at "the Jim Tubbs house, up
stairs" into which be was to move at
Norway. In answer to an inquiry as to
the exact location, he said, "Why, your
driver, the one with mustache, knows
where 1t Is, be knows all about me-"
he gave Miss Eva E. Walker, who was
in the Office, check dated April 20, on
the Norway National Bank, for $23. 90, In
favor of Arthur True, signed Ed. A. An
derson, and Miss Walker gave him the
balance OF $17.00 in cash. An attempt
was made the next day to deliver the
coal, but nobody could be found who
knew anything about 1t, and the check
was later returned from the bank as
worthless.
Nearly two weeks elapsed before bis
next operation. On Monday, the 7th Of
May, he came into the hardware store OF
R. E. Shaw, gave the dimensions OF q
building which he wanted to cover with
roofing, and asked Mr.. Shaw to figure
bow much 1t would take. Mr.. Shaw
figured the number of rolls, and 1t was
set out on the piazza, together with
roll of chicken fence, roll OF field fence
and some fence staples, the purchaser
saying that his team was at the black
smith shop, and he would drive down
after the things later. he gave Mr.
Shaw q check on the Norway Nations
Bank, dated May 8, for $40 90, In favor
of Lester Hammond, signed Fred Cum
mings. His purchases amounted Il
500 .25, and be got $l9.75 in cash from
Mr.. Shaw. 1t was week before MI
Shaw made deposit, and found that thu
check was no good.
The checks passed on the Walkers ane
Mr.. Shaw are undoubtedly written II
the same hand. The one passed on Mr.
Adkins is In Q different style of hand
writing, nor does 1t look exactly like th'
handwriting on the hotel register.
As there were no suspicious OF any
thing wrong, NO one took notice enough
of the man to give very close descrip
ton of him, and IL is not certain that Il
was the same man In all three cases
Mr.. Adkins describes him a. q man In
the early twsnties, and Mr.. Shaw say
he might be thirty-five or thereabouts.
In each instance he endorsed the chech
in pencil In the presence Of the one t.
whom IL was given.
Charles b. Pike Of Norway says tha
the checks drawn on the Norway Nation
al Bank and passed at the Walker ane
Shaw places are on blanks from Q ohech
book recently stolen from his office.
It would be expected OF pruden
swindler that after he had done one Of
two such stunts be would quietly dis
appear, and not be seen In the same com
mupity for many moons II ever. o.
course 1t lie possible that there is more
than one man, but there is no reasonable