Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-26
THE ERA OF FRAUD.
The Chemistry of FOrgery-A Fersy
Thousand Dollar Swindle-Engeni-
Gus EIanOeuvrcs--Astcred Checks in
MAIL Street

bhHl 9blCChs
Wall street has once more been silake
with surprise at another prodigious swim
die. It seems that, like earthquakes
these immense frauds come in perfec
series and sequence. The latest victim
are the well-known firm of Charles Unge
q Co., No. As Exchange place. Severa
days ago, two men of gentlemanly appear
ance and prepossessing manners, ant
| giving their names as John Mitchell ant
James Cumingfort, called at the office Of
the firm above mentioned, and presented
letter of introduction from the agent OF
the firm in Baltimore recommending them
in the highest manner as men of integrity
and standing in the commercial world.
Cumingfort had an Office at No. 70 South
street, Baltimore, and represented himself
as shipper of produce Mitchell repre-
sented himself as an English grain ner-
chant, and had an Office at No. 4S Second
street, Baltimore. During the first inter-
view with the firm, they said that they de-
sired to purchase large amount United
States bonds as On investment sor some
surplus funds. The parties called several
times, and finally conclude the negotia-
4 7eACh 1OA tAO DdACA1doO VI RE1yOOO IL
$40 coupon bonds. On Tuesday after
noon, just before 8 O'Clock, Cumingfort
and Mitchell called at the Office of Unger
d Co. for the bonds, and they were deliv-
cred to them, Mitchell giving in payment
for the same check on the Ninth Ma
tional Bank for the amount of the bonds
with the premium added. The check was
signed 81. Mitchell" and apparently was
certified in the proper manner. The
check was taken without demur, and the
| parties left with the bonds The check
was sent to the bank the next morning,
and was pronounced worthless and the
certifcation forgery. The firm at once
| discovered that they had been victimized,
| and telegraphed to their agents in Balti-
more for information regarding the swim
dlers. Detective West of that city,
came on yesterday with a full description
of the man. Unger & Co. have issued
circular describing the swindlers and the
bonds, and offering reward of twenty
| five per cent. for their recovery.
From inquiries made in Wall street, it
appears that the swindlers recently made
the acquaintance of the correspondent of
Messrs. Unger & Co., in Baltimore. They
at first applied to him to procure them a
quantity of American securities, stating
that they wanted TO get five thousand
pounds worth of five-twenty bonds, for
remittance to Great Britain. But after
wards, with an ingenious affectation of
change of plan, they informed the cores
pondent that, as business matters required
their presence in New York, they would
be glad to get a letter of introduction to
the firm of Unger & Co. and they would
take an early opportunity of calling upon
that firm and making the purchase for
themselves.
THE LETTER OF INTRODUCTION
was accordingly furnished; the parties
duly came on to New York; and on Tues
day last made their appearance at the
Office No as Exchange place. The letter
was presented; the usual polite greetings
were exchanged, and, after some inqui-
ries as to the character of the various Sc
curities, Mitchell, who appeared to act as
principal, left an order for so, 900 of
five-twenties, which were to be called for
at 2:15 O'Clock in the afternoon.
TIE BONDS.
According to engagement, Messrs. I'm
| ger 81 Co. purchased at the Board five
| twenty bonds to the amount above indi-
| Gated. They procured twenty-six bonds
of 81, 900 each, of the issue of 1867; one
bond of $500, of the same issue; fourteen
bonds of $1,000 each, of the issue of
1864; and two bonds of $500, of the same
| issue.
THE FORGED CHECK.
Mitchell and Cumingfort, however, did
not call at the hour fixed by themselves.
| They delayed their visit until five minutes
before three O'Clock. There was then a
little preliminary talk; and the roll of
bonds were finally handed over to Mitch
| ell. He took them, folded them up with
a great sang froid, and placed them in
the breast pocket of his coat. In pay
ment he rendered a check as above de-
scribed, bearing apparently authentic
marks of having been certified that day
by the teller of the bank in question. The
| firm received it without hesitation, but the
following day the officers of the Phoenix
Bank, in which Messrs. Unger s. Co. had
| deposited it, notified that firm that it had
been refused, and that the certificate was
a forgery.
THE CERTIFICATIoN
| was made in the usual elliptical stamp;
but the ink used on the stamp was blue,
| whereas the bank invariably uses black
but the well-executed forgery of the
teller's name was in red ink, such as the
bank uses. The forger's stamp was evil
| IDENTIFY new one, as it had almost perfo-
rated the check.
| EFFORTS TO ARREST THE SwINDLERs.
On learning the huge fraud that had
been perpetrated upon them, Messrs.
Unger 81 Co. at once telegraphed to their
| correspondent In Baltimore, to learn what
they could about their rascally customers;
but no answer was received until late in
the afternoon, owing to the gentleman's
absence in attending to the usual routine
| of his business.
The correspondent at once put the mat
ter into the hands of Captain Smith, of
the Baltimore Detectives, and repaired
himself to the offices of Mitchell and Cum
ingfort. AT the office of the latter he saw
a small boy, who was totally ignorant of
their business and whereabouts. AT the
| Office of the former he met an elderly
man, who observed that the parties had
already swindled merchants in Baltimore;
and this was subsequently cOrroborated
by the police, who stated that the swind-
lers had been stealing jewellery.
Captain Kclso is on the hunt after the
two men, and has issued hand-bills de-
scribing the bonds they fraudulcnily OBJ
tanned, and also
| DESCRIPTION OF THE SwINDLERs.
James Cumingfort represents himself as
a native of Ireland, and apparently So to
sc years of age; slender figure, fair COM
plexion, and pleasing manners. John
Mitchell pretends to be an Englishman,
and is probably about 30 years of age.
He is of portly, burly figure, and dark
complexion.
| TIE CHEMISTRY OF FORGERY
appears from these revelations to have
made a surprising advance. The opera
tions of these men have been more widely
spread than the victims are willing to
make known. Still it may be stated that
even railroad collaterals have been altered
by means of solution which removes
writing from checks, bonds, etc., SO clear
" and neatly that they can be altered at
will. Even ground of pink, buff. or
green is no safeguard, for the solution
does not in the least affect these tints.
The solution is well known TO photograph
ers, and has been an article of sale, but
this is the first time, so far as is known,
that it has been used in financiering. The
general impression in Wall street is that