Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-10-22
HARBORED CROOK
IN THEIR HOMES

Cedar Rapids Residents Wake Up to
Fact That They Made Social Lion
Of Escaped convict-Buys Auto
mobile and Vanishes-Wanted in
Several States.
Cedar Rapids, Oct. 1s.-That
Charles w. Sharp. former conf
dental bookkeeper and trusted en-
ploye of the Leonard Construction
Company, who obtained $4,000 Sept.
5 on forged documensAis one of the
smothest and shrewdest forgers and
bad check artists, since the palmy
days of Alonzo W..5.eman, is the
opinion expressed in letter re-
ceived Monday by Chief of Police
Morrison from August Vollmer, head
of the Berkeley. Calf, police depart
ment.
Vollmer's letter opened a line of in
which proves that for the
past fifteen years and possibly long,
er. Sharp led career Of crime in all
parts of the country, his trail ex-
tending from Atlanta, Ga, thru Chi
cago and the Mississippi valley to
the Pacific coast cities. He also
served time in the Washington peni-
Tertiary at Walla Walla and old po-
lice records still carry his name and
description as an escaped convict
from that institution.
Suave and polished. always i'm
maculately clean and we'll dressed.
with fund of varied information,
and a splendid conversationalist. he
was a welcome guest in many Cedar
Rapids homes. Many of his friends
here still insist he is suffering under
some mental alteration and that
eventually his forgery here will be
satisfactorily explained.
In the July, 1908, issue of the DE
tective," the official police periodical.
on file iii Chief Morrison's office, is a
ments and description, in which he is
referred to as noted bank rwind-
Ter and check worker FL w. at
that time wanted by the At-ent2 po-
lice and so far as. know, IS tin a
fugitive from charge lending
against him In that ciy,-
Chief Vollmer's letter revs that a
man answering Sharp's description is
wanted in several pieces for. similar
offenses. In a circular issued by the
Washington penitentiary he is given
as an escaped convict, tho his record
in that state is not, known. His
photograph in prison garb with his
official number attached was on this
circular.
In July, 1912. the Pinkerton de-
tective agency issued circulars for
his arrest for forgery and passing
bad checks. Since that time he has
been extensively advertised for by
the sheriff of Santa Rosa, Calf, md
the Oakland police. He is>elso want
ed at Chico, Calf.
Sharp, it is said, came to the Leon
ard Construction Company highly
tho it is agreed since.
that the papers upon which he OBJ
tanned employment probably were
forgeries. He is an expert bookkeeper
and gradually worked himself I'D to
a position of trust and responsif 2lity.
He handled many Of tho financial
for the ,compa,>y and his
frequent appearance at the Cedar
Rapids banks in behalf OF his en-
ployers gave him m acquaintance
which later led to his successful
forgery.
Sharp went from here to Chicago
where he purchased a Briscoe tour
ing car His son accompanied him.
Sharp. son and car then vanished
Chief Of Police Morrison
has in his hands a series Of clues
which are now being run down and
which may eventually lead to Sharp's
arrest. With the exception of Wash
ineton state, there is no police record
Of his hav.::r served time for his
various forS 1n'es.
---------------- ~
Of Course.
Where WAS the Declara-
ton of Independence si-aed?
1o