Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1920 — JAILED ON A FORGERY CHARGE [ARTICLE]

JAILED ON A FORGERY CHARGE

Estel Florence in Limbo for Being a Too Prolific Check Writer.

Estel Florence, a young son of Wilbur Florence, a former resident of Jasper county but now residing somewhere in Canada, and who had been employed in Rensselaer and vicinity since last winter, was arrested Wednesday morning on an affidavit made by Oscar Weiss of Newton township on the charge of forgery. The affidavit charges the forgery of Mr. Weiss’s name to various checks which were cashed by a number of the business men in this city. The largest check alleged to be forged was cashed by George E. Collinj, same being for 125.50 and made out in favor of Jim Foster and signed with Oscar Weiss’s name. Other checks of various amounts were cashed by A. F. Long & Son, G. E. Murray Co., J. J. Eigetlsbach and B. F. Fendig. Young Florence was taken to C. M. Sands’s office and at first denied his ; lilt but later admitted forging Mr. Weiss’s name to the checks. He was then arraigned before Squire Irwin. Bond was fixed at S3OO, in default of which he was lodged in the county jail to await the September term of court. The lad is a nephew of Thomas Florence of Union township and is said to have been a bad actor sos some time. His father had written Tom to look after the boy, because of this tendency and really wants him put some place where he will keep straight. He was employed for a time on the'' Lawler ranch over in Newton county and it was thought took some money there that did not belong to him, but the theft could nohbe traced directly to his door. Tom says the boy is but 15 years of age, although he himself states that he is 19. His father and mother are divorced. It is said that the lad has written his father about his trouble and hopes to secure financial aid to reimburse the parties who cashed the forged checks, and thus get freed.