The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-02-04
THE sHARPEsT TRICK VET.
How Texas Bank Was HwindIed Out
OF Ten Thousand Dollars.
LFrom the Iererson city rrIbunel

lHlOlu l'c dthtlnul NliJ ii'DN'V'l
Mr.. Phil. Il. Chappel, who has just
returned from a business trip to Texas,
relates an instance OF sharp practice on
the part of trio of thieves, which we
think is entitled TO pre-emlnence in
the line. immediately over one of the
banks in Dallas is the telegraph Office,
and few days ago two of the opera
tors applied for their discharge, receiv-
ed it, and left town. On the day fol-
lowing Well-dressed, .husiness-appear-
ing man, appeared at the bank with Il
check for ten thousand dollars on Il
well-known New York banking house,
and desired it cashed. He brought
with him numerous letters Of recon-
mendatlon from parties with whom
the bank had business transactions,
| and 80 far as surface indications Went,
everything was all right. But $40, 600
was u considerable sum 10 pay out even
on the very best documents OF recon-
mendation, and the bank officers hes
itated, wavered, and finally declined to
cash the check. But the stranger was
importunate. "Gentlemen,n said he,
~ came to Texas to invest this money
in cotton. 1t is very necessary that
this check should be cashed, or / will
be greatly Inconvenience. Suppose
you telegraph to New York TO this
banking house? Ask them about me :;
| will pay all expenses"
Nothing could be more plausible than
this; nothing sound more honest. So
u dispatch was sent, asking about the
stranger and the check, aud in short
time came the answer to the effect
that it was all right, and the Dallas
Bank would sconfera favor on the New
York firm by accommodating their
cotton specializing friend and cashing
the check. Still the bank officers We're
not satisfied, and The dispatch to New
York was duplicated. Again the an
swer was of the same tenor, only prob
ably little more emphasis was added
to it. This was satisfactory and the
check was duly cashed.
1t seems to be the practice of opera
tors to go over their days work at
night, briefly by asking the different
points to which dispatches have been
sent, whether they have been received
or not. On inquiring fthe New York
operator whether dispatches ID and II
had been received, negative answer
was returned. No such dispatches
had come to hand, and consequently
no answers could have been seht. 1t
was evident that the bank had been
swindled, but how? There was the
mystery. The dispatches had been
regularly received; they had come from
somewhere, but where from could not
be known. The cotton Spectator had
disappeared with the funds, and the
bank officials were at their wits end.
In day or two the mystery was
solved. The two telegraph operators,
referred to above, had gone few miles
out of Dallas, taken possession of an
old shanty by the roadside, attached n
battery to the wires, and taken the
dispatches intended for New York of.
They had then sent pre-arranged an
swers. The three were confederates,
and the operator knew about the time
the bogus SPECTATOR would enter the
bank, and when to attach their instru-
ments. 1t was an adroit scheme, and
successfully carried out. The bank has
no clew to the swindlers, but has
learned valuable lesson, and paid q
high price for tuition.