REMARKABLE FORGERY CASE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3733, 18 September 1886, Page 3

REMARKABLE FORGERY CASE.

♦ One of tho boldest and most remarkable cases of forgery by a boy over known m Philadelphia has just come to light, nnd it was no fault of the boy that ho did not succeed m getting away with a largo sum of money. James Barber, sixtocn years old, who lives m the top floor of tho Orphan's Court building, is m prison on tho clmrgo of lavcony and forgery. Detectives Mullcr ami Sbarkey on Saturday arrested him iv Mount Noriah cemetery for stealing a warrant for 1750d015. belonging to Judgo William N. Ashman, forging tho name of the Judge and that of City Treasurer Bell m an attempt to have it cashed. Tho warrant represented the Judge's salary for threo months, and was delivered by a letter carrier at tho Court building on May 20, it having boon sent by mail from tho Audilor-Goueral's ofiieo at Harrisburg. Tho lad either took it from the mail box or from a tablo m the judge's room. Ho then wroto a letter to the City Treasurer Bell, saying : — " Please givo mo a cheque for this warrant and send by bearer. — Yours, W. N. Ashman." Young Barber took tho warrant and forged note to Mr Bell. Tho warrant was not endorsed, and 'the lad was told to tako it to tho judge and have him sign hia namo on tho back. Tho hopeful forger left but instead of going to judgo Ashman ho stopped at a placo m tho vicinity and placed tho judicial signaturo on the back of tho paper. Ho again visited tho City Treasurer, who, uponcarof ully scanning tho warrant, discovered that the amount waa written I7oodols. m tho body of the warrant, while tho figures were 1750i015. Tho lad was again directed to return with tho warrant to Judgo Ashman, and a letter written by tho City Troasurer calling attention to tho mistake m tho warrant was also Eent. When a safe place was reached tho redoubtable youngster destroyed Mr Bell's note and composed ono of his own. It said : — " Please send up yenr bill. Something's wrong m your account." When tho note was delivered to Judge Aahman ho was puzzled, and said ho would call at the City Treasury. When ho called there tho judgo and City Treasurer soon learned the truo state of affairs. The detectives were immediately employed to catch tho thief and forger. Later m tho day seeing that he was bafiled, ho sent the warrant to Judgo Ashman m company with a letter signed "Jimmy-So-so." When arreßted ho made a confession that ho had robbed a number of desks m the court building, and stolen Judge Penroso's overcoat last winter.