The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-21


the book, ''nor 10 any such man, and
With that he handed the check-book over
Tor Mr. Mediary's scrutlny. The light broke
IN upon them OF once. and Mr. Middendorf,
accompanying Mr.. Mediary back 10 the
bank, picked out both the forged checks
instantly. They are certainly excellent
limitations, and could not be distinguished
from the real article until compared to-
eether. Then the printing Of the coun-
terfeit blank looked like badly struck
OIL copy, differing. however, In no
essential. The Government stsmp in
the Eccentric, the l1rm-nane on the mar.
gin, ana on the place where the figures
designating the amount are usually put,
the little diamond grains OF the erasing
stamp-whieh prevent the "rsisng" OF
the check-the name OF "A. H0en, lith."-
all was perfect; and the forged signature
even was close enough to deceive any ordi-
nary observer when compsred closely The
body OK the check was not In forged hand.
Here was the whole story. The parties had
counterfcited Messrs. Middendori & oil.
ver's check blank, and having obtained the
current numbers OF the checks for the day
by selling the bonds, the forgery was beau
tifully accomplished. The detectives were
at once put on the track; but they said they
had little hopes OF arresting the men, as
they must have left town. The next day
the operations OF the swindlers were turned
TO the Merchants Bank, showing only too
forcibly that they had not left town.
WHERE THE SwINDLgRs WE'RE FOILED.
II was on Saturday that an attempt was
al,o made TO swinde the Western National
bank In the same manner through the I'M
whiting medium Of ID. Fahnestock a. Co.,
bankers and brokers, on South street, but
was frustrated by the unusual caution OF
Mr.. Charles Noting, the paying.teIler OF the
bank. On June 18th man went 10 this
firm and sold $50 per cent. bond, for
which he received s54 In check drawn TO
Samuel T.. Hunt, this being the name he
presented. On July 9Th the same man,
giving his name rs Henry Nelson, came
and sold another bond and received check
by his own request.
On Saturday last a man with reddish
side-whiskers came into Fahnestock's and
sold q 500 bond, for which be received
greenbsck>. After getting the money he
laid $50 on the counter and asked for a
check for that amount, and giving his name
as Henry Waterman. He received the
check aud left.
A little later the same man entered the
Western Bank and handed to Mr.. Noting,
the psying-teller, a check on Messrs
FahnestOck 4 Co. for g, 720. Mr.. NotiHg
refused TO cash il unless the bearer was
identified, and persisted in his refusal even
after the man went out and returned
with what appeared 10 be the sigma
ture OF Mr.. FahneStock. The man then left,
and never appeared again. IL is TO be pre-
sumed that he then turned his attention TO
| Fisher. The fact that the check was q
forgery was only discovered after Mr.. Nolt-
| ing had called on Mr.. FshDestock to express
| his regret that he had refused 10 recognize
his signature. and wss rei0ced 10 hear that
Mr.. Fahnes,ock had never drawn up any
such check. There may be other banks
who have suffered in the same way, but
minute inquiries fail TO disclose any facts.
D." II may be-" As one banker remarked yes.
terday, THAT some OF the banks have been
yIctimZeG, and are smart enough just 20
tear up the checks and say nothing OF it,"
The general opinion among the men who
have been taken in is that the swindlers arc
n well.orgsnizcd gang OF Englishmen, or,
at least, that a couple OF them are English
men, for the accent Of the man with the
reddish beard leans decidedly in that direc-
ti0p. As far as is known, they have
hauled in something over $4,000; but it Is
extremely probable that when they found
tina. the brokers were SO free with their
checks that they went into the business to
much larger extent than Is yet known.
What will be done about it remains TO be
seen. The fact that all three brokers'
Fisher, Fahnestock, and Middendorf Il
Oliyer-bought bonds OF the swindlers and
gave checks for them so long ago as June,
indicates that the forgers took their time
about getting the bogus blanks autographed
and picked out their victims carefIliy in
advance.
Major Douglass II. Carter, the cashier OF
the Merchants National Bank, wishes 1t to
be understood that be did not see the forged
checks until after they had been honored
and the party had left.