New-York tribune., 1919-04-26
Banker Outwits
Alleged Forger
Brook
Lakewood Man Is Arrested
After Attempt to Cash a
$40 Check Signed by
Lima, Ohio, Drug Firm

BOUND BROOK, n. j., April 25.--
A speedy-looking roadster drew up at
1890 this morning in front OF the
First National Bank here. A bulky,
clean shaven man Of prosperous ap-
pearance got out and entered the bank.
From the depths of his ulster the rosy
faced stranger drew slip of paper,
which he presented at the window of
William Vert, paying teller OF the
bank
Vert looked at the paper. Ii was
q check for $40 bearing the sigma
ture OF the Churchill Drug Company,
Of Lima, Ohio. and payable to Con
rad c. Becker. 1t bore also the sigma
t0re of Dr.. j. P. Robinson, ex-Mayor
Of this place, as identifying the bearer.
There was nothing wrong with DR..
Robinson's signature, so far as Vert
could see.
AS his hand started mechanically for
the money drawer his eye wandered to
q circular sent out by the William ].
Burns National Detective Agency. The
face on the circular and that of the
man glancing through Wert's window
were marvellously alike. The man
pictured in the circular was wanted as
an expert forgcr and Jail breaker.
Texas and other states wanted him for
forgery. Iowa wanted him for iail
breaking.
Wert's hand did not pause in its
motion toward the money drawer, but
it grasped revolver instead OF a roll
Of bills With the revolver gripped in
his coat pocket and the check in an
other pocket Vert swung open the
gate at his elbow and stepped out OF
the cage. The rubicund stranger
moved unobtrusively toward the door.
The paying teller was at his heels
and drew his revolver as they reached
the street
"Where to?y asked the stranger
curtly.
"To your right; one block ordered
Vert, and they started for the Office
of Recorder Andrew Palmer, a block
away. Midway in the block another
stranger approached. He said he was
a detective and would take charge of
things
"Not much" said Vert, who calls
all the policemen in this town by
their first names Fall in and
march,
At the recorders office, however. the
second stranger proved to be a dctec-
tive from New Brunswick and was re-
leased The other prisoner, later in
the day. was held for the grand jury
on a charge Of forgery. Or. Robinson
check and identified the man known
as Conrad G. Becker" as man who
had called on him professionally and
for whom the physician had signed his
name 10 rece iptcd bill for his ser
wees.
Other cheeks bearing ccrthcations
by physicians, each for S74O, and each
concern, we're found on Becker" DR..
A. l.. Stillwell, Of Somcrvillc, whose
name was on one of the checks, said
that Becker" had obtained his sigma
turc as he had Dr.. Robinson's.
Through the license number Of the
car Becker" had left standing in front
Of the bank, it was found to belong to
Charles f. Wilharm, of Lakewood, N.
j. A. NJ. Beckman, county prosecutor.
said the prisoner admitted his name
was not Becker but Wilharm, and that
he lived in Lakewood with his wifc's
family.
Charles f. Wlharm came to Lake
wood in the fall Of 1917. He was stout
and ruddy and wore wcll-cut clothes
and an air Of prosperity He said he
vas an expert accountant and also Yave
the impression he was familiar with
stock market operations. Sc far as
Lakewood could see, he had no occupa
ton except that Of running n "Skce
Ball Alley" IN enterprise which was
not highly successful.
He married daughter Of $. n.
| Bodyne, Of Lakewood, and lived ut the
Bodyne home, although he drove mis-
own car