The Washington herald., 1917-10-27

80 OF inc cleVerest smalI-check
manspulators. Max Thompson, rs
years Of age, narrowly escaped q long
sentence a day or SO ago in court
when his case came up for trial.
Thompson. who already had . police
record, successfully passed eighteen
small checks, ranging from 81 to 81,
on as many different people before he
was finally detected and arrested.
Hover, the courts are hopeful that
Thompson will reform. and at the In
stance Of Prosecutor Ralph Given he
was sentenced to $50 days in jail in
stead Of several years. His record
was Thoroughly Investigated by the
probation officer before Mr.. Given
asked for the light sentence. There
were eighteen separate charges
against him, the most that any man
has had against him in years.
His confession, which he sent to Mr..
Given, entitled MY Sinful Life" is,
according to Mr.. Given, a warning to
many young men who are apt to be
tempted in I he same manner as
Thompson.
The confession is as follows;
Thompson's Confession.
MAY ask the opinion of the world
at large to forgive me in all my
wrongs and sins that I have commit
ted in my youthful life. I shall tell
you the history of my life in my
own simple way and I trust that II
will interest ALL
'T was born in Virginia in 1892
was raised up to my present age by
God-fearing parents. I lived In the
country until I was 10 years Of age.
did not attend the so-called country
schools to any extent as most OF
my schooling I obtained in this city.
IT was quite a bad boy from the
time I began to go to school in the
city, for I was only going to school
for short time when learned to
smoke. then chew tobacco. which is
the curse of my downfall. ! used to
play hockey from school and go swim
ming with the bunch when the water
was warm enough and in the course
of time I began to stay at the house
altogether. so my oldest sister went
downtown to a department store on
Seventh street and got me q position
as bundle wrapper.
His First Offense.
Il was employed there for a short
while when I became the assistant
to the window dresser, Mr. and
into me came the devil. My first ex-
perience in all my great sins when
I was helping the window dresser
one night after the store had closed,
and the thought struck me to take
watch valued at 81.
"The next day I was the possessor
of dollar watch, and so in the course
of time, I sold it for 25 cents. On
another occasion I took three beauti-
full neck ties, valued at 81 each.
wore one of them to work, and was
called into the main Office by one
of the head officials. and upon Ques-
tioning me, not being an expert as
such things, I lost my Job.
1T went home with an aching heart
not knowing what excuse. to give my
parents, for me coming home in the
middle of the day, but I cannot just
recall what I told them, but I played
my part fine. I was ideal for about
three weeks when secured another
position on the same street with the
same kind of a store and my duty
was to wrap bundles.
'T became acquainted with a young
Jewish fellow, and a beautiful blond
girl, both being employed in the same
store 1 was. The above mentioned
girl and fellow was sweethearts. and
on account OF him paying her so
much attention during working hours,
he got the yellow slip. Upon such
an event he got employment with a
real estate firm on F street.
Cnshes Bogus Check.
zone day he met me on the way to
lunch and said: Little Bits, do you
want to make g in about five minutes
So, thinking this big sum of money
to make so quick, I consented: so he
gave me what looked like a note and
told me to carry 1t over to the bank.
So done as told, and the party told
me at the bank to have Mr.. - phone
him and he would do as asked, and so
I carried the paper back to the one
got it from and he phoned to the
didn't cash it.
IT was sent back to the bank with
the paper. cashed it and got my 81 as
promised. So after many little sins I
committed 1 thought OF the check
working for a firm on Pennsylvania
avenue when I first obtained my So
called easy money. I wrote out a
check, signing my former employers
name, and goes next door to have OF
pretend to have a suit made, costing
$25. and the anxious tailor told me to
leave him a deposit.
80 I handed him the check, which
was made out for s12, and received s.
| in change. A few days later I went
to the credit house and got my suit
overcoat, gloves and underwear BY
paying down small amount and ther
weekly payments. So ! dressed up ir
my new outfit and went to see my
lady friends. En- route I was stopped
| by the captain OF certain police sta
| tion and questioned considerable.