The Shipbuilder Who Wasn't: A Swindler’s Bogus Checks and a Wife’s Shame

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer gives the following particulars of the operations of John E. Higgins, who will be remembered by our people as the builder of the steamer Messenger. About a week ago, Officer Metzler, of the Harbor Police, was informed by E.H. Blackman & Co., ship tinsmiths, 101 Stewart street, that a person calling himself Captain John E. Higgins, aged about 45 years and of respectable appearance, had obtained $20 from the firm on a bogus check on the London and San Francisco Bank. Higgins came into the store after banking hours and prevailed upon the firm to lend the money on the check.

Obtaining an accurate description of the swindler, Metzler searched for him without success until Tuesday, when he captured him at Buckingham & Fair's store, where he had come to recover the 'check,' having doubtless heard that an officer was after him. On the prisoner was found a memorandum, and from it the officer was able to learn that the swindler had obtained the following amounts from the firms named on forged checks: one check on various banks (G.B. Knowles & Son, $50; H.J. Holmes, W. Hinchcliffe, Gait House, $20; A. Crawford, $10; Captain Laidlo, Tom House, Lick House; Captain Charles Goodall, Captain A. McNear, $10; B.C. Piatt, $5; Talbot & Co., H.B. Nichols).

On the swindler was also found a note dated Portland, Oregon, November 23, and signed by Nathan Ingersoll and George H. Himes; a letter purported to have been written by Gen. H. Houghton, Bath, Me., which conveyed the idea that Higgins had property there, and that there was money awaiting his order. He also had a bill of exchange for $100 filled in with a pencil, to be used as a copy. Several other forged checks for small amounts were found on him, which he doubtless intended to float in the same manner.

On being arrested the aged swindler claimed that he had only used one check, that left with Buckingham & Co., but on the officers searching him, he confessed everything. The accused came here four months ago from Washington Territory, where he had just married a respectable young lady of twenty-two years. He has been rooming on Market street. His wife, who was totally ignorant of her husband's character, is well nigh overcome with shame and the disgrace. The culprit claims to be a shipbuilder, and that he is from Bath, Maine. He was booked on two of the charges of forgery, that he could be held upon. His unlawful gains amount to about $200, of which only $15 were found with him.