"BLAMES IT ON JAZZ, BOOZE & PRETTY CLOTHES!"

19 YEAR OLD SMALL TOWN WOMAN GOES TO JAIL FOR FORGERY

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (JFK+50) On January 25, 1925, The Omaha Sunday Bee reports 19 year old Margaret Walm of Palo, Iowa* is behind bars and has admitted to forging forty checks drawn on a Keystone bank.

When asked why she did it, her answer was... 

"Jazz, booze, pretty clothes!"

Apparently, the young woman has little remorse for her behavior as she added...

"I hate to go to prison.  It will keep me away from the bright lights and music."

*Palo is located in Linn County, 7 miles west of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  It was established in 1849, named after the Battle of Palo Alto (Mexican War).  The town suffered severe damage in the flood of 2008.  Its 2020 population was 1,407.

SOURCE

"Jazz Craze Invades Small Town; Girl Forger Blames Rum, Clothes," The Omaha Sunday Bee, January 25, 1925, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Jazz Club

by BadLuckArt

Deviant Art

www.deviantart.com/

"SIGNED $25,000 NOTE ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN FORGED"

CHARLES SCHWAB TESTIFIES BEFORE GRAND JURY IN FORGERY CASE

New York City (JFK+50) On May 9, 1923, Charles M. Schwab* "went before a grand jury...to testify in connection with charges of second degree forgery** against Mrs. Myrtle Hayes."

The multi-millionaire steel magnate claims Mrs. Hayes forged his name on notes totaling one million dollars.

Real-estate agent Henry A. Mark says Myrtle Hayes, a Boston business woman, sold him a $25,000 note signed by Mr. Schwab who has "repudiated the note."

*Charles Michael Schwab (1862-1939) was born in Williamsburg, PA. His four grandparents were Catholic immigrants from Germany.  CMS graduated from St. Francis University, 1877.  Under his leadership, Bethlehem Steel Corporation became the 2nd largest steel maker in the U.S.

**Forgery is a type of fraud involving making or altering written documents to deceive a person or institution.  

JFK+50 NOTE

According to Lawson & Berry, the difference between first and second degree forgery is that in the latter proof of simple possession of fraudulent writing is all that is necessary. 

In first degree forgery, proof of "uttering or delivering" the forged documents is required.  In the state of Georgia, both types of forgery are felonies.  Punishment for 1st in the state is 7-20 years in prison, for 2nd up to 7 years in prison.

SOURCES

"Forgery," Lawson and Berry, www.georgiacriminallawyer.com

"Schwab Appears Against Alleged Woman Forger," The Washington Times, Washington, D.C., May 9, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Charles M. Schwab

July 6, 1918

Library of Congress