The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-04-28
He COT AWAY
WITH The CASH
STRANGER FORCES CHECKS
IN THIS CITY
Passed Worthless Paper
Amounting to More Than
$5O.-Had Sought Employ
rasnt as Solicitor.

S0Vs--f1au Sought EuplOy-
Essnt as Solicitor.
A smooth appearing gentleman,
age about % years, sailing under the
name of F. S. Barker, came to this
city last week and put up at the
Dalziel house. After getting &C.
quainted with the town he casually
dropped into the Office of the Clau-
sen-Oistad company and sought en-
ployment as an insurance solicitor
and he seemed to know the game
from start to finish, and asked that
he be given employment on COM
mission basis for he intended to
make this city his home for a time.
Mr.. Oistad asked for references
and was furnished the finest any
man could ask for and he informed
the gentleman that if he would Sc
cure surety bond he would give
him employment. This was agreed
upon and an application was sent in
for bond, with reference attached.
Mr. Baker endeavored to get ac-
quainted with the insurance game
from local point of view, and day
or so later while Mr.. Oistad was out
of the city, he secured several blank
checks which he put away for future
use.
tJ;eS ,,1a~, xx,oS ~ cfort xuorly &C on
insurance solicitor upon the arrival
Of the bond.
On Sunday he decided to take Sc
veral people from the Dalziel house
out for an automobile ride and Sc
cured car for this purpose from
William DeMars. Previous to this
he had presented two checks to Mrs.
Dalziel in payment for his board one
week in advance and took the bal
ance in cash. One check was for
$4,000. forged with the name of
Mr.. Oistad, and the other signed by
F. S. Barker, both drawn on the Bay
field County Bank. He had also
presented check to the City Drug
Store in payment for cigars, in
much larger sum than the bill.
The City Drug Store called up Mr..
Oistad in regard to the check and
learned that it was a forgery, and
then Mr.. Oistad got Mrs. Dalziel on
the telephone to inquire if the Mr..
Barker was still there. Barker was
standing nearby and overheard the
conversation and Immediately went
to the waiting car and ordered the
driver to take him to resort in the
southern part of the county. Upon ar
irving at Mason he wanted to be
taken to Marengo where he said he
could obtain some drinks, and after
striving at Marengbl deaided he
would go to Hurley.
Upon arriving at Hurley he de-
cided to go to Ironwood and after
wards returned to Hurley. Upon
arriving at Hurley Barker paid VIM.
DeMars $500 on account and after
returning from Ironwood stepped in
to confectionery store to obtain
change to pay the balance of the
bill. The was the last seen of him.
Oistad and Undersheriff Long
made for Mason in the hope of catch
ing Barker and kept ON going to
Cable, but lost trace of the man.
Word was then sent out to Hay
ward, Ashland and other points to
be on the lookout for the crook.
Nothing has been heard of him.
Barker left a small bag contain
ing an assortment of moustaches
and whiskers, which accounted for
the small moustache which develop
ed on his upper lip after he returned
from norwood, which caused De-
Mars to think something was wrong.
He was slippery duck, well
educated and well versed in the in
surance business and he seemed to
know how to get the money. Police
officers over the country have been
notified and have been given an ac-
o,.rako dissertation of tho crook