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$300 REWARDFor the Arrest of John L. But ler, alias John Hoover, alias John H. Kline.This is His Method of Working.A short time after striving to the County, he will look up farms that are for sale, usually some distance from the cpunty seat. He tells the farmer that he is a widower and is buying the farm for his son, or some other relative withIwhom he intends to live. He asks him if there is a notary public near there who can acknowledge the papers that are oeoessary to be drawn. Learns there is a notary at the village near the farm. He then asks the farmer if he has an abstract of his farm and gets, if posst-ble, the loan of it, saying he wants his lawyer to look it over. He then persuades the farmer and his wife to go with him to the notary at the village and induces them to give him either a power of attorney to sell the land for them or to sign an agreement to sell the land to him upon the payment of a certain price, usually a very good one. This power of attorney or contract is then acknowledged by the farmer and his wife, before the notary, who signs his name to the acknowledgement, and places his seal thereon. After getting this seal, he either makes or has made an exact duplicate thereof. Then he goes to the county seat and calls upon some real estate man or lawyer and tells them that he is about to buy this particular farm, in some instances takine the farmer with him to verify these statements to the lawyer. He then asks the lawyer or real estate man to look over the abstract, or if the farmer should have none, then to make one, and carefully examine the records and -see if the title is perfect. Thi9 is done and everything found all right. He then a9ks the lawyer or real estate man to tlraw up a proper deed for the farm, and to give the deed to him to take to the farmer to have it executed, or, if this is refused, directs the lawyer to ipil the deed to the farmer, requesting him to go with his wife before this particular notary public, to have the deed executed and acknowledged. He then says, as he is paying cash for the farm, that his ready money wifl be cor-sumed, and that there are many improvements he would like t»i make on the place, in the way of bullding9. fences, etc., besides purchasing farm machinery and live slock, asks the lawyer or real estate man to obtain for him, a loan on his land, which Is finally arranged for.He, Mr. Hutler, alias Hoover, then takes the deed, which has been drawn up, if it is delivered to him, or failing in this, intercepts the farmer's mail, by getting the deed out of the poatofflce or rural route mall box. Having obtained the deed, he then goes to his hotel or stopping place. There he very cleverly forges the name of the farmer and his wife to the de*d: also the name i f the particular notary to the acknowledgement, and then places the notary's seal to the acknowledgement on tlu* deed.After a suitable time. he again calls on the lawyer or real estate man and shows him the deed, the identical deed which the lawyer mailed to the farmer, all properly signed, sealed and acknowledged. He again explains that he has paid the full purchase price for the land, and would now like to secure the loan asked for on the place, as soon as possible, so that he can return home and move his family on the farm. Thereupon the lawyer or real estate man sends for the party who intends to han the money. This party, on his arrival, together with the lawyer or his own lawyer, agent or banker, look over the deed carefully and finding it, to all appearances regular, the signatures and notary seal genuine, make the loan, takes a note for Life amount asked for. and also a mortgage on the farm, to.se-cure the payment of the prinolpa! of the note and interest. The need and mortgage are now recorded, then the money in cash is paid over and thisslick imposter and forger skips the town.J»KSCRlt*TI N.Age about 5 b year* * leet S.] Indies: weight, about I HO pounds; complexion dark [ruddy]: eyes brown; hair dark, mixed gray; prominent cheek bones: broad forehead: richer heavy dark eye. brows: smooth face, may grow short bewrd and mustache: heavy built; rather broad shoulders, somewhat stooped: crease m base of nose: large Hut fe»l: legs unusually thin for hotly: generally wears black or dark clothes: fair dresser: rather slow smooth talker, but unassuming in his ways, seeking to represent himself a farmer with means.Will gladly pay the above reward for this man's arrest and conviction. If located or arrested, wire at my expense and 1 w II send an olllcer at once with the necessary papers.Kowaiik 1*. Smith,Sheriif Adams county, Illinois.
Newspaper Details
Spencer Owen County Democrat
Spencer, Indiana, US
Thu, Nov 29, 1906
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Kristeen M.
CA, 29 Mar 2018
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