The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-03-21
THE CHECK ALTERATIONS.

work for the Lawyers-Thc Tricks that
were Played upon the Pctticont Bankers
-Cnrele-sness IN Cert yiug Checks-Tae
impudcnc' OF the Operator.
Ghe check alterations which have lately become
aarminrly frequent in Wall stree. are likely to
make work for the lawyers. On Thursday morning
last, about II O'clock gentor anly appearing indl.
vitutl Of good address. SPORTING large solitaire
diamond ring and about o. years Of age light com.
pexion and blue eyes, walked into the onice Of Mes.
danes Woodruff, clafn 4 Co., the lady hnanciers Of
Broad street, and requested the messenger at the
door to present him to tic members OF the firm.
He was accordn-ly ushered into the back ONCE,
where he represented himself as the agent OF PARK
b Til'ord, further stating that the above arm had
decided for the future make their purchases Of
gold through tile lazy brokers. because desirous Of
estifying their respect for tho bold stand they had
taken in establishing house for financial operations
The ladies were pleased with the PATRONAGE OF the
firm and negotiations we're soon Effected Tor tile pur
chase OF $3.50 Of gold. the person asking how
much the bill ul the same would amount t..
Gold was mt time selling n li24. and 81 3G ~
was tine sum Ia currency for tho Ioye amount iu
gold. the man then le I TIE Office, hut soon re-
turned, and offered checX signed hy Park & Til
iord FOR tie required anuSnt. II being notice uat
the che K was not ccrcfei. tNe lady brokers re-.
dutsted the bogus agent To wait urfN % messenger
should take It 10 the Greenwich Bank for certn-
cation.
To this no o. lection was ua'e. ani TIVE nes- nrer
soon returned with The uu ius tcller'- endorse.
ent on the cnecs, aner which the s3 500 In god
was delivered. The cheek the same day icros
tied IN the F. rur'h National Bank where q firm %
woodruff, Clanin Co. keep dcDosit account, and
nothing more was thought Of the transaction
We are Informed that ne cheek WAS duly paid nv
the Greenwich Bank IN Friday cle.r1ncea, an thht
no notification that the cieck had been altered was
-ivcn the firm until Saturday murring. Friday
afternoon mother called on 'he firm and offered
Park & Iilford's check for SGfpU and wished the
amount expended in the purchase Of gold T i
second cheek was also uncertided, but was drawn
Park 4 Ti'or1 was genuine. hut the nrm ~ Wood
hull, Claiiin Co, WIS In different handwri IN
nom the body OF the cheek. The 60 CO.. was
placed ~ the TOP Of tie check, where the rumber Is
usually written and also u, the bottom. The chec
gave no evidence OF alteration and did not appear
as II BE- had been sujected 20 ensures.
We lolru tht tie $i,3G652 eek was changed
from S21 and tie tbtOO rom S3j check issued nv
Park lilford. Tie Messrs. Woodhull & Cahin
objected TO the checx because not certified and II.
bnik, At the same time requesting the man g.
await bis return. After a few moments delay, on
rretence OF other business In the street he left q .
once, before the messenger returned, and has not
since been recognized.
Tie 80 Go1 checs sas certified by the paving teller
Of the New York County ia X, but suspectne no D..
t- appearance that dll was not right, the CoTtifca-
lion was subsequently cance led by the paying teller
before II return H. the messenger.
The mOius OperGHdi OF tnese swind,es was the
same as that prucli-ed on Nermilyea a Co., Tanner
X Co., and Others weeks since II is difficult
70 devise any practical method by hch u reT etiton
of these frauds av be prevented out the danger
OF loss u igLt be lessoned II bankers and lroker-
should adoUt different cOlored ecls Tor different
denominations. Alterations from small to large
amounts might thus Oe more realil, detectet; hut
unless some rene Y is soon suggested, a certified
check viii he looked upon with more suspicion than
1