The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-10-28
TAKEN IN BY POLICE
Young Man From NicoIIet
Gets Into Trouble
PASSED OUT HIS CHECK
But Banker At Rochester Claim
ed He Had No Money On
Deposit

After having attempted to pass al
an alleged worthless check for the
sum of $50 at local mems furnish
ing store this morning, Thomas c,
Munson, aged about twenty three,
and claiming his home as Rochester
was arrested at the Chicago and
Northwestern railroad station IN
Winona whire- waiting to catch an
resident Of Nicollet village, where his
parents reside.
Munson protested that the check
was good and that his paper had
been accepted without question else
where. The First National Bank OF
Rochester upon which the check was
drawn was notified, and the Winona
police were instructed to hold Mum
SON pending the arrival Of deputy
sheriff who would return the man to
the Queen City on warrant sworn
out by the manager Of the Brown
Hotel of that place. Munson has
victimized merchants In Rochester,
the bank authorities stated. Of sums
totalling between three and four
hundred dollars, and has no account
there whatever.
The Salesman Was Suspicious.
Munson, according to the story
told the police by the clothing mer-
chant, entered the store at about
$3.50 o'clock. : He was bareheaded
and wished to purchase a hat and an
overcoat. After the purchase was
made he wrote a check for the sum OF
$50. The salesman accepted the check
and then told Muhson that he would
have the creases pressed out Of the
coat and requested him to return
Steps We're then taken to verify
the worth OF the paper and it was
learned. police said. that he had no
account with the Rochester bank
whatever. A I few moments later,
Munson called by telephone and
asked If his coat was ready. The
salesman parleyed by asking where
he was. Munson told him that he
was speaking from pool room.
The police were Immediately mott
fed and Munson was caught at the
station, from which. the police be-
lieye. he called up in order to mis-
lead them.
Claimed Check Good
After his arrest. Munson maintain
ed that he was a magazine solicitor
and that his check was good. He
had deposited the sum of $1,9505C
with the Rochester bank on Septem
Der 1. he said, and added that his
checks had been accepted without
exception until this time.
Chief Of Police H. c. Riebau issued
warning to all local business men
stating that at the resent time ar
unprecedented number OF bogus
checks are being written in the city
During the past few days. he declar-
ed, the police department has had
numerous complaints and every at,
tempt is being made to put a check
on the false check writer's activities
The Winona police received 9
message from Munson's parents al
Nicollet, enquiring as to their son
They were told that he would prob.
ably be taken to Rochester and thai
he could be seen there.
Munson was not returned to Ro-
chester Wednesday night to answer
charges there as expected, but was be.
ing held here while his father and mo.
ther. who were to arrive late this aft
ernoon, were to make restitution fol
three other bogus checks which the
young man had passed here and which
were not learned of until Wednesday
night. The three other bad checks
We're for an aggregate sumyof $45, the
ponce said yesterday.
Others Were Defrauded.
Munson was to lave been returned
to Rochester to answer q charge there
yesterday of passing bad checks, the
charge to be preferred by Mayor
Charles Brown, manager Of the Brown
hotel. who. police learned yesterday
was one of Munson's many victims
says The Winona Republican ant
Herald. Bank authorities at Roches
ter last night told local police thai
Munson was also wanted in Iowa
where he Is said to have a number Of
worthless papers. When it was learn
Led here, however, that three loca
merchants had already been defraud
ed, the police at Rochester were no.
titled that unless restitution was made
here at once, the young man would
not be turned over TO the authorities
from the Queen City and he would In
stead be. arraigned on charges here
The Rochester police informed the
local department that Munson's par.
ents would come to Winona today
make good the checks here, and thai
he would, then be brought to Roches
ter. 1t was said this afternoon tina,
charges might also be dropped there
Confesses to Police.
Munson last night confessed tt
Chief H. G. Riebau that he had pass
ed large number of WORTHLESS:
checks throughout the country, the
chief said. and added that he hat
done considerable work about st
Louis, from which place he came
only recently. He is understood tt
have written letter to a girl of hi!
acquaintance last night in which hi
also said that he was guilty and tina
he was anxious to face theS music ant
| get fresh start in life.