The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-01
WHOLE NO. III.
sWINDLING ON A LARGE SCALE


The Cincinnati Gazette, of the, 10th instant, con-
Ians an account of most adroit deed of swindling
which has been perpetrated in that CITY, The cashier
of the Lafayette bank received letter purporting TO
be from tho Commercial bank Of New Orleans, of
which the following is copy
Commercial Bank of New Orleans,
March IL, l84i.
w. @. w. Gano, Esq, Cashier of Lafayette Bank,
Cincinnati:
Dear Sir: In conformity with the request of W. M |
Parker, Esq, of London, hand you enclosed half
my certificate of deposite in his favor, No. 800 pr.
3d. O00spece, which please deliver to him presen-
alton of the first half
MIR. Parker is unacquainted in your city, and has
adopted this course for safety and identity
j recommend him to your favor.
Yours, respectfully
GEO. o. HALL, Cashier.
On the Sd Of April Mr.. Parker appeared and re-
ceiyed the half certificate having produced the other
half which was found to be correct. No suspicion
was excited till the 18th, when Mi. Gano received a
letter. in answer to one written from Mr.. Hall, in
forming him it was all forgery ....E ...
1t appears by the following article from the New
York American, that the rogue has played the same
trick in New York: tt
aThe cashier of the Bank of America received
letter from the New Orleans Bank enclosing the half
of certificate for % 900 Mexican dollars which he
was to deliver to Mr.. Britton, on presentation Of
the other half and recommending Mr.. b. to Mr..
Thompson's consideration as an English gentleman
of fortune, who had deposited the money with the
New Orleans Bank. Mr. Britton appeared on Thurs
day. and received the half Of the certificate which he
took to Jacob Little & Co.'S, who cashed it for him
by check on the Union Bank which was paid in
900 dollar notes. At late hour in the day. anoth-
er person. evidently an accomplish, to Mr. Little
to buy soyereigns, and purchased 1000 sovereigns,
which he paid for in notes Of the Union Bank. The
next day the steamer for England sailed There
seems to be no doubt that this is but part of the plan
by which the banks have been swindled. ..
The New York Commercial adds the follow
ing particulars:
The amount of the certificate received at the Girard
Bank was $l5 900, and it cashed by the bank
The swinder, who ut the Grard Bank called himself
Draper-that being the name in the certiicate-im-
medately deposited the money in the bank, and then
proceeded to the office of Parshall Beebee g. Co.,
brokers' where he negotiated purchase of Treasury
notes to the same amount The terms of purchase
the Girard Bank and drew out the ST. 900 on his
check, receiving the amount in 500 bills With
these he proceeded TO the office of Parsha Beebee
& Co., to receive the Treasury notes and here
picon first awakened by the circumstance of his
having the $4,000 crammed into the crown of his
hat, which was thought very unbusiness-like fash
ion of carrying SO large a sum.
Suspicion was increased by the discovery that he
knew little or nothing Of fgures-ths conclusion be-
ing drawn from the ma inner in which he seemed trying
10 STUDY OUT HemOTaDuum placed before nlm
showing the calculation of interest, &c. the Trea
sury notes. ~" $685.. IL ...
Nevertheless the notes were given to him and the
bills Of the Girard Sank received from him in exchanges
but the brokers thought it advisable to communicate
with the Girard Bank on the subject and the result
was determination to cultivate some farther acquain-
lance tn Mr.. Draper
Mr. Young, one Of the Philadelphia police officers,
and Mr.. Peale formerly clerk in the United States
Bank, were employed to look after the gentleman, and
Al - a.
Thther they proceeded but learned that he had gone
to New York. 1t happened however, that while they
were speaking with Mr.. Sanderson, a man came II
inquiring for MrtDrapcr, and him Mr. Peae resolves
to follow. Telling Mr. Young TO keep not far behind
Mr. Peale accordingly set of after the stranger, wh
led him fine chase Of two miles, more, and final
ly entered small public house in Kensington.
Mr. Peale, concluding that his own motions wer,
suspected by the stranger hastily directed Mr. Young
to watch at the front door and himself went round
to the of the house, where he was just in time t.
see his climbing fence into another street
He followed again, and after another tramp of some
distance, the stranger set off upon run. All con-
cealment was now laid aside; Mr.. Peale gave chase
he colared. The stranger made fight, and the two
had smart tustle, in which Mr. Peales countenance
was punished severely but he maintained his ground
and eventually brought the man a prisoner TO the
bank. He was there charged with being an accom-
pce, and finally paid up the l5 0OO six thousand in
gold, and the other nine thousand in New York bank
notes. He then set at liberty-very improperly
we think for if he had been kept in custody it
probable the other rascal might have been secured and
the money recovered.
The following letter was received this morning by
the cashier ofthe Bank of America:
Commercial Bank of New Orleans,
New Orleans April 18th, 1871.
D. Thompson, Esq, Cashier
Dear Sir-Your favor of Sd instant has Just come
to hand, and hasten to say, in answer that have
no knowledge of the certificate of deposte in favor of
N Britton to which you REFER of the letter enclo
sing it.
Within the last few days have received acknow-
Judgments Of letters purPortng to be from me, from
the Bank of Kentucky, Louisville, Lafayette Bank,
Cincinnati, and GraId Bank, Philadelphia, relating
to certificates of deposte and other matters of which
am ignorant An extensive and singularly bold sys-
tenn of fraud has evidently been attempted, and am
sorry to see WITH thus far, much apparent success
trust you will have escaped being involved in it, and
that something will have turned up to excite suspi-
con and this have led to the arrest of the criminal
party. .... 49,.
certificate of deposite of this bank, issued in ia
nuary last for ssl OO0 to the order of MIR. Robert
d. Mackey, was presented to Us yesterday for pay
ment, altered in very ingenious manner to one for
$4,000 payable in specie, for which latter il had
been negotiated, we fear, to the Commercial Bank Of
Cincinnati it bore the endorsement of its cashier
Our police has been at work since yesterday but SO
long period has elapsed since the preparation
finding any of the particpators within our reach here
Respectfully yours,
GEO. o. HALL, Cashier
With this letter we have had shown to us the hal
certificate received at the Merchants Bank in thi,
city, which has never been called for. II is unques
ionaby genuine, being the right hand half, which
are the signature of Mr.. Hall and the name of the
payer, David Otis. The other half, containing the
amount was probably either forged entirely altered
lfthe former the work must have been done with ex-
ceeding nceness and accuracy to make the pieces t
We learn that Mr.. Blaney, the high constable OF
Philadelphia is the track Of the principal depreda
tor, and scarcely doubt exists that he will soon be in
custody.
The Philadelphia correspondent of the Journal Of
Commerce states that within the past week efforts
made by the persons alluded to above to obtain
from the Farmers and Mechanics Bank, and from
the Bank Of Pennsylvania through the instrumental
ty Of duplicate certificates $50 600 from l7 000
and from the other $4,000 but they unsuccess-
full in both instances.
This is Of the most stupendous frauds ever per-
pctrated in this country. The rogue has obtained
from the Cincinnati Bank $l3, O00 from the Louisi-
vile Bank $1,000 and from Messrs. Little & Co.
of New York $4,000; and had in his possession,