The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-24
A CLEVER swNDLER CLEvERLY CAUGHT.

A st. Louis Firm swindiea Ont Of Twelve
Hundred Dollars Worth Of WhIskey-How
to Start a Bank Without Capiral-Singular
Revelations.
A rather remarkable case came before Justice
Ledwith at the Jefferson Market Police Court yester
day, which, whether regarded as an expose or the
gulibihty OF Western firms or as illustrating the
manner in which certain Wall street operations are
| conducted, will be considered unique In its way.
| While only one person was crminally concerned.
| abundant evidence was given that an organized
| band OF swinders have been and are still doing
thriving business In this city by systemized fraud
The story OF this swindle as told In the AFFIDAVIT
made Two weeks since reveals the following facts:-
| in the month OF May last Giles NJ. Lawrence, alias
Mott Bede, then having ONCE at 80 South street,
and purportng to be commission merchant, wrote
| to Berthold Thompson, merchants Of ST. Louis
| Mo-, incosng his card and requesting to be sup
| pied with that FIRMS list OF whlskeys terms
| & Thompson sent samples Immediately stat.
ing that their terms were half cash and balance
street house, and In few days after an order for
81. 200 worth Of spirits was sent to ST. Louis and
delivered to Bedel, who recepted for it. Berthold
Thompson forwarded the same day draft at
sight for $500 and another at ninety days for the
but to the establishment Of the ST. Louis correspon.
dents, the first draft was not paid and they 6ave
since learned that the other will not he met EITHER
Aoprehensive that something was wrong, Berthold
& Thompson. after the four days from the accept.
Of the draft had elapsed wrote Bcdel to In
quire why the money had not been paid. No reply
was received by then and they accordingly directed
then y New York i Mr. e Marsson
had any previous knowledge OF Bedel and finding
that he had va, vacated led the premises in South
whskey, Mr.. Marston put the matter in
the hands Of Sergeant McDermort, OF the
given hn was that BedeIl had box at the Post
ONCE. The Sergeant detailed officer Brennan to
watch for the operator at the Post ONCE, for any
Of has cOnederates who might call for letters for
him. Brennan attended every day for nine days,
without success, but on Wednesday last he was
called for letter for Mott Bedei. Brennan followed
him to No: l7S Broadway, where he discovered that
viss, Lawrence Co., shipping and commission mer-
chants" Bedell tLawrence) was not In, but Serviss
w, Was and three others with him. The oiicer logged
ing informed his chief that "Serviss' was going
to the Park. Sergeant McDermott at once pro-
ceeded there, taking with him his wife and child.
lie saw 'Serviss' In conversation with man,
and waking up to them lie heard enough to con-
concert was over the two worthless walked down to
the Central Park Garden where Sergeant McDer-
son, in pocketbook, when searched in the station
house. check on the Eighth National Bank for
$3.50 OF doubtful appearance, signed g. N; Law
street." and en- unstamped receipt for twenty-five
doNars, signed &c. NJ. Lawrence" besides memo
randa written on slips OF paper. When asked his
name he said 1t was Lawrence, but that in tins case
IL was BedeIl
The following valuable opinion as to the proper
way to make money without any capital TO begin
with was written on one OF the slips found in MS
pocsetbook by the officer It had neither date nor
signature, but was evidently written by Bedell--
The easiest way, Ia my opinion, is to bank borrow
the capital Of person who viii bring the amount In
bonds otberwse the institution
and take again, thus keeping his funds In his own
hands yet so u w'l represent capital Then borrow capt
tai stock, them collateral Wall Operations
issus certidces Of deposit and raise money hem
Another slip, found sandwched between couple
Of checks, was evidently memorandum Of an ad-
Wan,sd-fmprovei real estate in this city or B-p, worth
y low cash valuation from 8i8t505o to Ssj(ieo0t
This be entirely unencumbered and which loan OF
y to sixty per cent could be easily obtained when desired
The prisoner was arraigned before Justice Ledwith
)n the affdavit OF Mr.. Marston and committed to
answer Ia default OF 50 500 bail. He was represented
" counsel and had the advice OF several sharp look
ng men, supposed to be his cOnfederates. One OF Tue
atler offered reporter OF On obscure evening paper
ifty dollars 10 suppress the afldavlt.