The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-19
BOGUS CHECKS PASSED
CHIEF HILGERS EXTRACTS
STORY FROM PENMAN
One Clifford Miller Alleged To
Have Confessed To Issuing
Bad Paper

Through some quiet and clever
work. Chief of Police Jacob Hilgers,
who has been on the trail Of two
manipulators Of bogus papor IN this
city succeeded in landing two of the
men, who have already confessed to
using their pens for a bad purpose
1t was on Friday Of last week that
Chief Hilgers was tipped OF to the
fact that a number Of worthless
checks had been passed hero. BY
quietly following UP the trail, the
chief secured a chain Of evidence
which pointed directly to Clifford
Miller, an insurance solicitor In this
city, and two unknown young men.
Miller was requested to step into the
office of the chief Of police, and was
CONFRONTED with the uttering Of a
rum6er OF checks on the National
ht only had O balance Of eight dol
lars to his credit. Miller, It is al
legged. made O clean breast OF It Ito
the chief. The confession brought
out the fact that q check Of $40 was
passed on Christ Totals al the
American Beauty store: a $40 check
on the George Sohwickert hardware
store; q check Of $50 on the Empress
Cafe; one on the Ben Pay Hotel for
$40; another on Elmer Martin for
$15i a $40 check on Westhoff 4
Wallrisch and q $40 check on Flo &
Knapp grocery store.
Miller when seen in his coll at the
police station this morning by The
Free Press said that he had lived in
this community Tor the past nine
months and had always borne a good
reputation. II do not know what
ped over the ladder, and now l re-
alize the seriousness of what did,"
said Miller. Continuing, Miller said
that he had a friend in this city,
whose name b did not wish to make
public, who would come to his rescue
and make all OF the checks good.
The fact is," said Miller. II had in
tended depositing money in the CT
tizens National bank at st. James to
before could do e." :,
Alleged Passed Forged Checks.
The other young man picked up
by Chief Hilgers It would appear was
working here Saturday in conjunc-
ton with q pal and passed several
forged checks. This young man
Z from letters found in his possess sion
seems to travel under two names.
Letters found found In his posses
sion by the police would indicate thai
at times he goes under the name Of
H. c. Wise, Henry G. Wise, but the
name given The Free Press as his
true one, 10 Hans Jensen. He stated
that he had been working for some
time for farmers near ST. Peter.
One OF these men II Henry Westphal.
Jensen stated that he and another
young man, by the name Of Marvin
Vogel. whose home is in st. Peter
number OF purchases fol- ging
checks in payment Of the same. The
following list was read to Jensen,
and he admitted that he had forged
checks to meet all Of the bills. At
the United States Army Goods store
opposite the A. M. Stein clothing
store. two coats were purchased by
he and Vogel. for which forged
check Of $50 was given. Proceeding
farther south along Front street the
store of Philip Thilgen was entered
and q silk shirt was purchased for
IS. Here a forged check Of s22.50
was presented IN payment. Jensen
also confessed to he and his pal
passing a s25 worthless check on the
Anton Burner garage in st. Peter
and a 81 check on the Kronsbrock
hotel of that city. Vogel, It is I'M.
dsrstood. was arrested at ST. Peter
and is being held by the officers
there.
Parents Live In Iowa.
Jensen says that his folks live in
Iowa and are well to do, but he re-
fused to give the name OF the town
in which they live. He says that this
is the first time he has ever been
arrested, and feels very sorry for
what he has done. Miller stated that
he originally came to this state from
Illinois, but did not state what town.
Warrants have been sworn 20 by
Chief Hilgers charging Miller with
uttering checks on a bank, where he
did not have sufficient funds to
meet them and one for Jensen
charging forgery In the second de-
gree.
Defendants Are Arralqned.
Hans Jensen. charged with forgery
in the second degree. was drraigned
Judge Hiram 8. Goff, and his hear
ing continued until Friday at 2 p.
m, in order to give the young man
opportunity to write to his parents
who live In northern Iowa.
Clifford Miller, arrested on a war
rant charging him with uttering
checks on bank in which he had
not sufficient funds to meet them,
was arraigned. Miller viewed ex-
animation and was bound over to
await the action Of the grand jury
at the February term Of the district
court.
Sheriff Norman Of ct. Peter was in
court this Afternoon with q war; ant
for the arrest Of Hans Jensen,
charging him with passing worthless
tried here first, however
Since this morning Chief Hilgers
learned that Jensen passed worthless
checks on Zimmerman & Bangerter,
the Simon Lamm shoe store. and one