Smyrna times., 1923-10-10
EARL RECORDS, SEAFORD, HELD
FOR FEDERAL JURY AS FORGER
CHARGED WITH SIGNING NAME
G. L. MORRIS TO MONEY, ORDER
Claims He Made Refund But U. S.
Marshal Makes Arrest-Case to be
Heard by Federal Grand Jury

Claims He Made Refund But U. S.
Marshal Makes Arrest-Case to be
Heard by Federal Grand Jury
Earl Records, 3O-year-old son of |
Mr.. and Mrs. Herbert Records, of Sea-
ford was held under $1,000 bail by |
United States Commissioner John
Pearce Cam, Thursday morning for |
the Federal grand jury on a charge of |
forging the name of George L. Nor
ris to money order and cashing it
at the postoffice there. Records was
taken into custody at Seaford by
United States Marshal Walter S.
Money, on the charge preferred by
Morris. Morris is the son of Mr.. and
Mrs. John Morris, of Seaford. He
lives in Washington, D. C. Last April
John Morris received a telegram call
from Wilmington, the party at the
Wilmington end of the line stating
he was his son, George L. Morris. He
stated he had lost all of his money
and was "dead broke" in Wilmington,
and asked the elder Morris to send
him a money order for $40.
Morris thought it was his son talk
ing, and sent the money order on the
first mail. A few days later, how
ever, Morris was surprised when his
son, George, returned home and eX-
pressed ignorance of the telephone
call. He said he had made no request
for money, and the matter was inn
mediately placed in the hands of the
postal authorities.
Investigation Made by Inspector
Postal Inspector Somers began an
investigation, with the result that a
network of suspicion was soon drawn
about Records. 1t is alleged he con-
fessed to signing the name of Morris
to the money order and receiving the
cash, but at the police station said
he had been taken into custody three
weeks ago by Inspector Somers, who
made him refund the $40 and told
him to report in Wilmington. Rec
ords said he had intended going to
Wilmington in compliance with In
spector Somers' order, but Marshal
Money forestalled him by placing him
under arrest. He said he thought the
matter was all cleared up when he re-
funded the money, as he has been
working in a cannery at Seaford for
three weeks without any surveillance
whatever. Upon being taken to Will
mington, Records was placed in the
police station over night to await a
hearing before the United States
Commissioner. Being unable to furn-
ish bail, he was sent to the New Cas-
tie county workhouse. Postal Inspec-
tor Somers Thursday morning stated
Records would be prosecuted under
section 1907 of the Postal Laws and
Regulations. At the present time
there is but one charge against the
prisoner, but Inspector Somers lntl-
mated that other charges may be
placed later. The case for which
Records is under arrest is but one Oi
many similar cases perpetrated OF
prominent citizens of Seaford and vi
cinity, and Records is suspected o.
knowing something about those cases
About the same time the Morris cas-
occurred, other SeafOrd people wer
getting telephone and telegraph mess
ages from Wilmington, suppOsedl
from relatives, claiming to be in ba'
circumstances, and asking that none
be sent at once. Among those VIII
claim to have received such message
are William J. Allen, McCleary Mill
gan, George w. MilIigan, Sr., Claud
G.. Porter, Harry f. Griffith, Mis-
Mayme Richardson and others. 1t
also said that a check was forged {
the bank of the Wilmington branC
of the Delaware Trust Company Q
= Edgar Morris, son Of Mr.. and Mr.
" Theodore Morris, of Seaford.
Lines Kept Busy on Suspicious Cas-
When the telephone message can
= to Miss Mayme Richardson, she W;
- in Philadelphia, visiting her brothe
who was supposed to be the party
the Wilmington end of the line. \
money was forwarded in this instanC
William J. Allen sent a money ord
to the Wilmington postoffice, su
ad posedly for Jacob Prettyman, who
10 that time was in North Carolina. A
20 len became suspicious after he h
~ mailed the letter, and his wife board
M an early morning train for Wilmin
ton, where she watched the postofii
to see who called for the letter.
is supposed the party saw Mrs. Alt
and, knowing her, remained aw
from the postoffice. While money "
t., sent to the imposter in Wilmingt
by several Seaford people, in some
stances the party he represented hi
self to be was at his home in Seafo
This was the case of George w. Mi
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