Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-26
CHECK FORGEA NADDEO
CONFEssEs TO STEALING AND
FORGING PAYEE's NAME.


Lewiston, H., = prepossessing strang-
er Of about 45 years, who had won the
good graces of residents of Marietta,
where he posed as cattle buyer, is
confined in the county Jail on charge
Of forgery led by II, S. Lawrence,
cashier Of the Iowa Savings Bank.
Further charges of forgery and theft
may be filed by +. w, Hall, manager
Of the Marietta branch Of the Albion
Elevator Company, from which three
checks were stolen, probably Tuesday
night.
The crime of which Brown is
charged is forging the name of James
Bearce to q check for 1851, drawn on
the Albion Savings Bank by the Mari
eta branch of the Albion elevator,
with Bearce rs payee. This check,
with two others, are said to have been
stolen from the elevator office at
Marietta. Brown rendered the check
for payment Wednesday at the Iowa
Savings Bank, receiving $500 in cash
and leaving the balance, 1881, on de-
post. The check was accepted at the
Iowa Savings Bank after it had been
presented ut the First National Bank,
where Brown was told to return later,
the bank officials desiring to ascer-
tain if the check had come to Brown
legally.
Forgery Is Discovered.
Failing to get the money at the
First National, Brown went to the
Iowa Savings Bank, thru which
great deal of the paper drawn on the
Albion Savings Bank passes. Cashier
Lawrence accepted the check when
Brown asked to leave 1881 on deposit.
His desire to make deposit, espe-
cially of more than half the amount
called for by the check, was regarded
as evidence that the paper was good.
Meanwhile the First National Bank
had discovered that checks, including
the one presented for payment, had
been stolen At Marietta. Other banks
of the city at once were notified and
the Iowa Savings Bank Immediately
called on the assistance of the county
and city officers and instituted
search for Brown.
Girl Employe as Sleuth.
Two hours after Browns check was
passed at the Iowa Savings Bank he
was arrested at the Henry Pappe
store, where he was making a pur-
chase. The arrest was largely due to
bit of successful sleuthing by Miss
Melinda Young, teller of the bank.
Cashier Lawrence and Miss Young
were first to take up the search, the
former going to the depots and the
latter making a tour of the business
district. Lawrence's search was with
out result, but Miss Young soon was
on Browns trail. Going from store
to store she found that man an
swering the description of Brown had
purchased an overcoat Of the Levin
her search and at the Pappe store she
came upon the forger in the act Of
buying . suit Of clothes.
Not being entirely sure Of identifi-
cation, Miss Young, unobserved by
Brown, called Cashier Harry Gerhart,
of the First National Bank, who had
seen Brown when he visited that bank
in the morning. Gerhart identified
the man as Brown. Officer Coffman
was called and Miss Young ap-
preached Brown, asking him to come
to the Iowa Savings Bank, as mis-
take had been made in his account.
Brown Makes Confession.
Brown accompanied Miss Young to
the bank, Officer Coffman keeping
from view but close enough to pre-
vent the escape of the alleged forger.
At the bank Brown was confronted
with the facts and Coffman stepped
in to make the arrest.
When questioned by Cashier Law
renee, Brown is said to have made a
clean breast of the matter, admitting
the theft of the check and the forging
Of Bearce's name. He declared this
to be his first offense and readily re-
turned to the bank the money secured
on the check. The overcoat and suit
purchased by Brown were returned
and the money recovered by the bank.
1t was said Brown probably would
make written confession and throw
himself On the mercy Of the court.
Brown 10 said to have been about
Marietta for several days and to have
famed tho confidence Of some Of the
business mon and farmers thru the
Interest shown In live stock. He
pond as = cattle buyer but had had
ne Business dealings during his short
stay in the village. He appeared to
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