Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-02-10
THE SHARPEST TRICK YET.
How a Texas Bank was SWindled
Out Of $l0,0O0-The Game
Three Telegraph Oper-
atOrs Played.

Jefferson City Tribune: Mr.. Phil.
E. Chappal, who has just returned
from a business trip to Texas, related
to US, yesterday, an instance Of sharp
practice on the part of trio of thiey-
es. which we think is entitled to pre-
eminence in the line. Immediately
over one of the banks in Dallas is the
telegraph Office, and few days ago
two Of the operators applied for their
discharge, received it and left town
On the day following, welldressed,
business-appearing man, appeared at
the bank with check for $40, 900 on
a well-known New Y ork banking house,
nd desired it cashed. He brought
with him numerous letters of reco-
mendation from parties with whom the
banks had business transactions, and,
so far as surface indications went,
every thing was all right. But $10,-
600 was considerable sum to pay out,
even on the very best documents of
recommendation, and the bank officers
hesitated. wavered, and finally declin-
ed to cash the check. But the stran-
ger was importunate. "Gentlemen, "
said he, Il came to Texas to invest
this money in cotton. It is very nee
essary that this cheek should be cashed
or | will be greatly inconvinced. Sup
pose you telegraph to New York to
this clearinghouse ? Ask them about
me; I will pay the expense"
Nothing could be more plausible
than this; nothing sounded more hon
est. So dispatch was sent, asking
about the stranger and the check, and
in short time came the answer, to
the effect that it was all right, and
the Dallas Bank would confer fav-
or on the New York firm By accommo-
dating their cotton-speculating friend
and cashing the check. Still the bank
officers were not satisfied, and the dis
patch to New York was duplicated
Again the answer was of similar
tenor, only probably little more EN-.
phasis was added to it. This was sat
isfactory and the check was duly CASH
ed.
1t seems to be the practice Of oper-
ators to 90 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 Of the New
York operator whether dispatches 13
and IA had been received, a negative
answer was returned No such dis
patches had come to hand, and conse-
quently no answer could have been
sent. It 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 wherefrom could
not be known The cotton-speculator
had disappeared with the funds, and
the bank officials were at their wits
ends. In day or two the mystery
was solved. The two telegraph op-
srators, referred to above, had gone a
few miles out of Dallas, taken pos
session of an old shanty by the road
side, attached battery to the wires,
and taken the dispatches intended for
New York of. They had then sent
pre-arranged answers. The three
were confederates, and the operator
knew about the time the bogus specu-
lators would enter the bank, and when
to attach their instruments. 1t was
an adriot scheme, and successfully
carried out. The bank has no clew to
the swindlers, but has learned a valu-
able lesson and paid high price for
tuition.