The Mysterious Woman Passing Forged Checks
A woman allegedly defrauded five Ellensburg businesses using stolen identities before vanishing.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A woman is alleged to have passed bogus checks on five business houses in Ellensburg. The checks were each for $12, made in favor of John Anderson, indorsed by that man and signed by Robert Scammon. Mr. Scammon lives in this valley and signs his name in that style: R. L. Scammon. As to who she is, she is not known here. The alleged victims in this case include Phil Lewis, R. B. Wilson, Fred P. Wolff and E. A. Willis. Sheriff Thomas learned that the woman had left this city and at once started in pursuit of her and wired several towns. It is said that she has gone to Seattle, where she is presumed to be.
“Sheriff Thomas learned that the woman had left this city, and at once started in pursuit of her and wired several towns.”
Identity theft and check fraud remain persistent modern crimes, though digital banking has replaced the paper-based schemes of 1903. The elusive nature of the 'mystery woman' fleeing to Seattle by train echoes how criminals used the era's rail networks to evade local authorities.
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