Putnam patriot., 1930-05-29
CATCH ALLEGED BAD CHECK
 PASSER WANTED IN PUTNAM
Frank Hammer, 24, Run to Cover by Detective Rowe
 Fl. Wheeler
Marriages License Furnishes Clue to
 Identity

Identity
 Through the efforts of Rowe II. Wheeler. county investigator, Frank Hammer. 2l. wanted in all parts of the state as an alleged bad cheek passer, was arrested in Groton, Wednesday evening. and taken Co Nillmantie police station. He will be arraigned on tWenty-one counts for issuing fraudulent and forged checks. One of the counts Is for a worthless check for $2o on which lie received money from the Putnam Savings bank.
 According to allegations Hammer operated in this section by using the name James smith His mode of operation consisted of appearing ah bank, making q small deposit by check. and immediately cashng cheek Cu his account for fifteen or twenty dollars. In some instances. it is un- defstood. he prevailed upon stores and banks Go cash small checks. He is of good appearance, prenossessing and n good talker.
 Marriage License Clue
 Hammers downfall was caused by Detective Wheeler who followed up e clue contained in a marriage license which was issued to Hammer and Emily Marceau of Taftville for a wed- ding. May goth. In the license tho alleged cheek forger, for whom a statewide search has been under way since April, gave as his mothers maiden name. Mary Azzline." one of the names he is said to have used many times in his alleged bad check operations.
 According to the investigation to date all of the operations of Hammer. if he is in fact the man who has caused officials. banks and store-keep- CTS so much annoyance, have netted him but something over $500.
 Following his marriage in Taft vile. May goth. Hammer and his bride took a honeymoon trip leading to Col- chester, thence to Massachusetts and returned Co Colchester. then Co tho home af Mrs. John Mullen on the out- skirts Of Groton He was arrested Wednesday night as he sat in an au- tomobile in the center of Grnton the car bearing New York registration markers. lL6i06. The arrest was made ny County Detective Wheeler. Deputy Sheriff. Ernest Holland and Lester H. Blish of Willimantic, Chief Mccarthy and officer Edmund E.. Griswold of the Groton police.
 Alleged Operations
 Hammer formerly resided in Ply- mouth and Fairhaven. Mass, and at ll20 Lafayette avenue, Brooklyn, N. r., there under the name of Francisco Souza Signing checks under the name of William Azzline, he began his T 1. HsF passing a cheek for S2b in a chain store at Norwich. April 2nd. He then went to Willimantic and realized cash on three checks, they being s20 at the Thread Mill Economy store, S2O at the High street A&P and S30 at the Willimantlc Savings institute under he name of John B. Kelly. At the Savings institute his check was for $40. but he had the good will of leav- ing S10 in the savings deposit. He then returned to Norwich and passed another check for S2b on an A&P store there. Al Planheld National bank he deposited a worthless check without result He then appeared at the Jewett City Trust company and at th Moogup Trust company, where he received no funds. At the Brooklyn | cured S20 in cash and a deposit of | Si5 out of a S35 check. In rapid sue cession he then victimized the follow 1 ing three banks for $20 each: The Windham County National and Dam nieson Trust of Danielson. and the Putnam Savings bank of this city. He then secured amounts of 30 Co S2o from the following banks: National Bank of Commerce. New London; MH- ford Trust and Milford Savings of Milford. Conn: the Morris Plan bank, First National and Middletown Saw ings of Middletown; Meriden Nation al. Pennington Savings. Pennington; and the Thames Trust Co. of Norwich.
 Find Bank Books
 All of the bank books which he se- cured from these institutions on the deposits which he made on part Of the cheeks have been recovered, some of them on his person and others in a dress suitcase in his room. The in- vestigat0rs also found two cheeks for $35 each drawn on the Riverside Trust Co. of Hartford by William Smith, ready for cashluR. Several of the cheeks which he succeeded in cash ing during his Connecticut campaign were drawn on the Uneas Merchants National bank of Norwich and others cn the Phoenix State Bank Trust com pany of Hartford
 IL is expected that @ broadcast of his arrest with a description of the young man will bring in many addi- 4 E