PUTS FAST ONE OVER ON BANKER

Urbana Courier-Herald February 1, 1930

Orval Delaney put over a clever swindle on the Philo State bank on January 4 and would have gotten away, with it but for a "boner", he pulled yesterday afternoon by wiring the bank from Pueblo, Colo. asking the bank what his balance was.

He had never checked on the $1,000 deposit he had made on the date mentioned and his query caused Edward O'Neil, the president, to become suspicious. Investigation revealed that the check Delaney had deposited in the bank, by which act he had picked up $486.80 cash, was a forgery.

Pueblo Police Work Fast
The chief of police of Pueblo, was wired at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon. He worked fast, as is shown by the following telegram received by State's Attorney Roy R. Cline just two hours and 38 minutes later: "Orval Delaney in custody, also holding Clyete Smith, who admits being with Delaney when he wrote the check and at the time he cashed same: Says Delaney gave him money, to buy clothes and paid his expenses up to the present time. Both will waive extradition. Advise disposition; "J. Arthur Grady, chief of police."

Sheriff Elmer Shoaf and Deputy  E. Sturdyvin started for Pueblo this morning.

How Delaney Worked Game
No one hereabouts knows Delaney or has ever heard of him. Smith also is a total stranger in Champaign county.

On January 4, Delaney presented a check for $1,480.80 at.the Philo bank, stating that be wished to deposit $1,000 and draw $486.50. The check was signed Wesley & Rising, by C. B. Wesley. It was drawn on the Winston State bank of Sidney, in which village Wesley & Rising conduct a grain business. O'Neill readily accepted the check and it went thru the Winston bank without suspicion. Delaney was not seen or heard of afterwards until his telegram came yesterday afternoon. The fact that the $1,000 deposit had not been checked against caused O'Neil to call Larry Winston, president of the Sidney bank, and together they summoned C. B. Wesley, who at once branded the check as a forgery, declaring that he never had hoard of Delaney.

The matter was called to the attention of State's Attorney Cline who started machinery to working that brought the quickest action in the way of an arrest in all his experience as a prosecutor.