Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 201, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1912 — Frankfort Forger Attempts Similar Methods at Indianapolis. [ARTICLE]

Frankfort Forger Attempts Similar Methods at Indianapolis.

The same methods used to defraud the American National and First National Banks of Frankfort Monday were tried in Indianapolis Wednesday morning. A stranger attempted to cash a fraudulent check for 57,500 at the National City Bank, but was frustrated by the assistant cashier, Harry B. Wilson, in charge of the bank at the time. “The man appeared at my window at 10:30 o’clock in the morning,” said Mr. Wilson last night, in telling of the attempt, “and asked me to cash a check for $7,500, drawn on the Indiana Trust Company, and signed by Walter Miarmon, payable to himself. At the same time he told me of his intention to open a checking account for $5,000, as he wished to take $2,500 of the amount with him. I knew instantly that the check was fraudulent Snd, stepping slightly to the rear, directed one of the clerks to call for the police Immediately, as we were holding a would-be forger. “The clerk instructed the telephone, girl in our office to call, which she did, but at police headquarters they misunderstood the message, and thought that we were reporting a burglary that had occurred some time during the night. As I learned later, no one was sent until two of the detectivesß for whom I had asked, not wishing to have bicyclemen Or patrolmenrush up to the bank, called in to headquarters, and were told to call on me. “While I waited for the police, I detained the man by suggesting to him that we required some identification before we could cash the check or allow him to open an account, but told him that all we wished was merely a perfunctory identification, by any one with whom he was acquainted. It was a custom of the bank, I told him, and was not intended to reflect on him at all. He said that he wished the money as soon as but finally, after he had been there about twenty minutes, said that he would go for a Mr. Henry, who was a short distance away in one of the office buildings, who would certify to him. I was expecting the police all the time, and feared to risk suspicion in his mind through making any fiffther efforts to call them.

“Had I not bfeen in sole charge of the bank, I would have followed him and caused his arrest by the’ first patrolman we met, but, as it was, 1 had to watch him leave. He sauntered out of the door and turned the corner out of my sight. “The man seemingly was about 20 years old, extremely well dressed in a Norfolk suit of pepper and salt cloth and wore a Panama hat. He was very slight, his face Was thin and sallow and he had black hair. “Detective Asch later showed me a photograph of Orville Hodson, whd is alleged to have defrauded the banks at Frankfort and Hartford City, having, it is said, jumped his bond, and I am certain Hodson is the man who appeared at my window. Personally, I am convinced that the young man is insane, for he was so cool and unconcerned during our conversation that a sane man could hardly have that much nerve. “I am sure that this is the man who had several bills of smaller denominations exchanged for notes of SI,OOO at the Jfleteher American and Capital City Banks recently. He received two bills of SI,OOO at the Fletcher American. Bank Tuesday, and one of the same size at the other bank today. We lost nothing by him, and would have lost nothing, but I am sorry that he could no| have been apprehended. He was the sixth man who had attempted to defraud banks with which I have been connected and the first to escape me.”