The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-03-09
THE sHARPEST TRICK YET.
How a Texas Bank waz 2windled out OF
SlO,O00-The game Three Telegraph
Operators Played. .r<z

Jefferson City Tribune: Ar. Phil. q.
| Chapal, who has just returned from
| business trip to Texas, related 10 US,
yesterday, 40 instance OK sharp practice
on the part OF Z trio OF thieves, which
we think is entitled TO preeminence Lii
the line. Immediately over one OF the
banks in Dallas is the telegraph ofi"e.
and q few days ago two OF the operators
| applied. for their discharge. received it
and left town. On the day following
well-dressed, business-appearing man,
appeared at the bank with check for
SO, 900 on a well known New YORK bank
ing house, and desired it cashei. He
| brought with him numerous letters OF
recommendation from parties with whom
he bank had business transactions; and,
so far as surface Indications went, every
thing was all right. But $4,000 was q
considerable sum to pay ont, even on
the very best documents of recon menda-
ton, and the bank officers hesitated,
wavered, and finally declined to cash
the cheek But the stranger was i'm
Fortunate. Gentlemen" said he, 81
came to Texas to invest this money in
cotton. It is very necessary that this
check should be cashed, or ] viii be
greatly Inconvenience. Suppose you
| telegraph to New York to this banking
house? Ask them about me: I viii pay the
expenses"
Nothing could be more plausible than
this; nothing sound more honest. So
q dispatch was sent, asking about the
stranger and the check, and in P short
time came tie answer, to the effect that
it was alright, and the Dallas Bank
would confer favor on the New York
firm By accommodating THEN. cotton
speclIating friend and cashing The check.
Still the bank officers were not satisfied,
and til dispatch to New York was dup
Heated. Again the answer was OF n
similar tenor, only probably a little
more emphasis. was added to it. This
was satisfactory and the check was duly
cashed.
! It 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, wheth-
er they have been received or not. On
inquiring of the New York operator
whether dispatches 13 and Il Ind been
| received, a negative answer was return
ed. No such dispatches had come to
| hand, and consequently no answers could
have been sent. IF was evident that the
| had been swindled, but how2 There
| dispatches had been regularly received;
| they had como from somewhere, but
wherefrom could not be known. The
cotton-speculator had disappeared with
the funds, and the bank officials were at
mystery was solved. Tho two telegraph
| operators, referred to above, had gone q
few miles out of Dallas, taken possession
Of an old shanty by the roadside, attach
ed q battery to tie wires, and taken the
dispatches intended for New York off
They had then pre-arranged answers.
The three were confederates, and the
operator knew about the time the bogus
Spectators would enter. the bank, AID
when to attach their instruments. II
VAS an adroit.. scheme. and successfully
carried ont. The bank has 10 clew to
the swindlers, bat has learned. a valuable
lesson and paid a high price for tuition.