The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-04-15

ACLETER FoaGEaY-THE BANK OF TIE
STATE or NEW YORK "poSE" OUT Oh
s26 ,0O0.--The records Of crime in New
York, especially these OF q recent date
present many instances OF reckless dash
and boldness on the part OF professional
thieves, but it seldom happens that 80
cieverly devised and well-,xecuted forgery
as that perpetrated on the Bank of the State
Of New York yesterday finds its way into
our columns.
1t must be promised that the firm whose
name was so unceremoniously used by the
forgers (Measrs. Jay Cooke g. co., is one
which has before been victimized, and Is
hence now defended with more than triple
shields against forgers, burglars, and safe
blowers. However, as the sequel will show,
no amount Of precaution is sufficient to
deter the forgers of this city from the COM
mission of their crime.
Yesterday afternoon only short time be-
fore the closing Of banking hours the
paying teller Of the Bank Of the State Of
New York, on Wall street, was handed by
man unknown to him five checks purport-
ing to be signed by Jay Cooke & Co: The
largest OF these was for o little over 80 900,
the smallest called for only 5000, and the
sum total Of all was $4,000. Each check
was perfect. The check form used by Jay
Cooke s. Co. is one devised especially for
their own use, but the forgers had 80 sue
cessfully initiated this check that even en-
expert would find it difficult to distinguish
the bogus article from the genuine. Asthe
signatures were all apparently correct, the
teller paid the money, and ives shortly af-
terward informed that the checks were forge
ries.
What more clearly evidences the skill
and cleverness of the foIgers is the fact
that the customs of the firm had been in
every way adhered to, and the signatures
were so exact that their detection was
almost an impossibility. The firm has some
four or FIVE cashiers, who, when check
hos received the firm signature, endorse it
in their own name to the party to whom
the money is to be paid. Thus it will be
seen, if q person presented one Of Jay
Cooke & Co.'s checks at the bank without
the signature Of one Of the cashiers it
would not be cashed. The forgers evidently
knew Of this fact and of all other circum-
stances connected with the firms business
with the bank, for each check bore the
forged signature of a cashier endorsing it
over to the holder, and, in addition, an
other signature of the same cashier iden-
tifying that holder.
This latter signature served to mislead
the teller in another way, as 1t has long
been O custom with Jay Cooke & Co., as
we'll as other large houses, to arrange with
their banks not to pay checks in their
name Of over $1,000 unless the presenter
is known to the bank, or identified by some
person we'll known. AS these checks all
bore the identification signature of the
cashier, the teller took it for granted, it is
supposed, that personal Identification would
be unnecessary, and at once paid the mo-
ney.
As yet no clue has been obtained as to
the perpetrators of this audacious forgery,
nor are any suspicious entertained as to
who are the guilty parties. In course OF
time, however, the forgers, elated by sue
cess, will probably "blow" on themselves,
and the mystery which now enshrouds the
case will be removed. -Neao York CONNER
ciaI.