The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-25
ALLEGED FORGER OF
 CERTIFIED CHECKS ARRESTED IN CITY
Fertilization Stamps and Bogus Seal Found in Room og J. E. KiIIingSworth.
 Merchants Victimized

John E. Killingsworth, who claims that his home is Leachville, N. C., was arrested yesterday afternoon about o'clock by Harry Goldstein, J. B. Coyle and A. Van Arsdale of the Bodeker National Detective agency while in the act of passing a worthless certified check on the Farmer & Cannon Jewelry company of this city.
 When he was taken into custody he had in his possession checks to- taling $500. already made out signed and endorsed. The cashiers checks which kilIingsworth used, were made payable at the Carolina Trust company, Sanford. North Car olina. and guaranteed by the Me chanics and Metals National bank, of New York City. Investigation de- veloped that there is no such in- stitntion as the Carolina Trust coni- pany in the country.
 After the arrest of Killingsworth, the officers went to his room at local hotel and found check amounting to s549 that had been torn and thrown in the waste basket, a check for s150 in a suit case, and a number of blank checks.
 Bogus Checks
 Killingsworth had succeeded in passing several of the bogus checks He bought two watches, a fountain pen, watch, chain and charm from the Bromberg Jewelry store and gave as payment certified check for s165. The Third avenue store of the Schulte Cigar company was also victim. Killingsworth went to the store and bought 800 cigarettes and dozen safety razor blades and gave a certified check for $40. receiving the difference in cash. He next at tempted to purchase diamond from Farmer and Cannon. jewellers of Twentieth street.
 According to q statement made by MT. Farmer of the Farmer and Can non company, Killingsworth camc into the store and asked to see some diamonds. He selected one and of- fered a check amounting to $500 in payment. The store not having the difference between the amount of the purchase and the check. the man was asked to return in an hour and complete the purchase. Mir Farmer then went to his bank and after finding that there was no bank in existence known as the Carolina Trust company. notified the Bodeker agency who immediately went to work on the case.
 MT. Farmer on his way back to the store met Killingsworth and they both returned to the store where Kill lingsworth was arrested by Detec- tives Goldstein and Coyle.
 When the check presented in pay rnent of the diamond was shown the
 
 serial number used only by banks in the state of Oklahoma, while the check was supposed to have been is- sued by a bank of North Carolina.
 Stamps md SenI
 Among the articles found when KillingsWorth's room was searched. was a rubber certification stamp, an endorsement stamp and iron seal If the so called Carolina Trust com pany. The seal was made in Los Angeles, Cal.
 A 3S-caliber revolver was also found and a letter written by Kill lingsworth to himself. gave the o. ficers a clue as to how he came into possession of the pistol.
 According to the officers. Killings worth would write letter to him self and address it care of General Delivery. The letter which was sup posed to De rom nlS son, would en- close a certified check for S100 with instructions to buy a gun and to keep the change. He would then show the letter to someone in a hardware store which would en- able him to get the check cashed easily.
 Among Killingsworth's effects was certificate stating that he was li- censed as a marine engineer by the port officials of New York City. second district, and carried card of membership in the Marine En- gineers Benefit association, Local No. 101 The card was number 200S.
 Killingsworth was placed in the city jail on a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses and forgery