Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-13
MAN WANTED
HERETAKEN IN
OREGON TOWN
Forgery Charged to J. E.
Smalling, Jr., Who Disap-
peared Christmas Week.
FORMERLY A SOLDIER

In the little town of Bend Deschutes
county. Oregon, has ended chase that
started In Indianapolis Dec. %. ]. E.
Smalling, Jr., 81, alleged forger, is I'M
der arrest and today Detective Roy Peats
of the indianapolis detective department
started for Oregon to bring Smalling to
this city to answer the charge of having
forged a check for 5000, cashed at a
bank Dec TO-
1t was not the first crime with which
Smalling was charged. according to f. E.
Miller of the Pinkerton's national de-
tective agency, who has taken an active
part in the pursuit.
From indianapolis the chase led to
Chicago, Minneapolis and on to Seattle.
The fugitive was always just ahead of
the detectives who traced his movements.
He was heard Of in Portland. Ore, and
then the trail became hot" and the
PinkertOns got him at Bend, a little
town at the foot of q tall mountain.
Pilot Butte, In the very heart of Oregon.
During the war Smalling Is said to
have been a soldier, stationed at Camp
Grant. His home is at Bristol, Pa. There
he has father and a brother. Some
months ago, dressed IN a neat appear,
concentrations which detectives say were
forgertes, Smalling obtained employment
a a teller in the Liberty National bank
at Roanoke, Va. Some worthless checks
were passed, detectives aIlegc, and then
the young man, accompanied by his wife
aud a small child disappeared They
were later heard of in Marietta Ga,
where Smelling obtained employment as
the private secretary of a leading banker
and hnancier.
When Smalling left the bank at Roam.
oke Va. he rs said to have taken with
him the stamp of the cashier, used In
certifying checks at that bank, and also
n supply of checks One of these, de-
tectiyes alleged, he cashed at bank
where he had opened an account with
$3C at Marietta Tho Certified" check
was for $3.50. and Smalling is said to
have explained at the time he obtained
the money, that it was some money
which his wife received as part Of hel
fathers estate. similar check cashed
at Bristol for 500, is said to have been
q forgery
Less than three months ago Smalllng
and his wife and baby engaged rooms
az 2T24 Bellefontaiue street Indianapolis
He was employed in responsible po-
sition in an office in the Board OF Trade
building. Detectives say be obtained let
tiers Of recommendation from persons
whom he got acquainted with in this
city and used IL 10 establish a credit
with butchers and grocers who have not
been paid. Using his employers name
as wedge" he became acquainted with
an official in a local bank. That OH cial
is the son OF the man who employed
Smalling at tho Board OF Trade build
ing. The bank official cashed the 5000
check Dec. IS. II Is said, which check bore
the certified stamp alleged to have been
stolen from the Roanoke bank Eight
days later the check came back from the
east after being delayed going through
the various exchanges. II was stamped
forgery"
The Pinkertons had heard OF Smalling's
alleged operations but II was the hrst
TIME they had been called into the case
Then the pursuit. began lasting just
eighteen days, but covering thousands
Of miles, ending at Bend, where the
one time teller OF a bank was arrested
in the little mountain town.