The Hickman courier., 1881-09-23
CHECK RAISFRS.
Devices Used for Removing Ink ana
for COnceaIing FOrgeries.


"Check raising is getting to be one OF
the lost arts, said an old detective,
oand as checks are prepared nowadays
they are pretty safe. There are some OF
the crooked men, however, who know
all the tricks of removing ink. was
once curious enough to learn how 1t was
that thew could SO successfully alter
check. Different forgers used different
methods. One successful stock forger
used equal quantities of iQpiS cdtdDti-
,,ayis. common salt, and rock alum,
which he boiled for half an hour IN white
wine in a new pipkin, or he used n fine
sponge shaped like pencil, which he
dipped IL equal quantities OF nltre and
vitriol distilled. As he passed this point
over the ink it came right out Some
times equal quantities OF sulphur and
powdered saltpeter, both distilled, We're
used. For long time the police did not
understand what use was made of lit
tie ball that now and then was iound IN
the possession of a prisoner. This turned
ont to be made ot alsali and sulphur and
was used for removing ink. 1t II hard
to find an ink that will not disappear
under one plan of treatment or another.
/ knew check raiser who had a small
laboratory. He kept bottles of acids of
all sorts aud case ut cam l's-hair
brushes. With small quantity OF OK
allie or muriatic acid somewhat diluted,
and camel s-bair Q CT he could paint
out any number of ink spots. One or
two applications, followed by the use OF
IA blotting pad, would restore the paper
to primitive purity. 1t requires skill
and an accurate knowledge OF chemicals
TO use any of these plans so as not to il,-
lure the texture of the paper or discolor
il. If the paper Is injured it Is not so
easy to write upon 1t again, but by the
use of fincly-powdered pounce, rubbed
IN lightly with the finger and FURNISHED
with an ivory folder, the paper can be
repaired. Common writing ink, how
ever. is best removed 10y the use of oxy-
genated muriatic acid.
"But the new styles of check, with
the amount cut through the paper with
a die, are hard to alter. Here is a check
with revenue stamp in old gold color
In the center, and broad lines of red ink
are drawn close up to the amount writ
ten in. There Is another broad line of
red ink after the name of the payee. Up
IN the left-hand corner, where the
amount is IN figures, you will see that
the figures are also cut through the pa
iust over these figures, is pasted pink
strip which brings the cut figures ont
in such relief that they cannot be al
tered without detection. The only way
to alter that check Is to take ont the
first written word III the amount in the
BODY Of the check and the amount IN the
corner, and, after replacing them with
the raised sum, To inlay piece Of check
paper in the place of the cut figures.
This Inlaylng process requires great
care, and only one or two men IN tins
country are able to do 1t. The cut hg-
ures must be carefully cut out by q
sharp. razor-like tool, and cut in such Q
way that the edges of the opening will
be beveled. Then II fresh bit of check
paper must be shaped to the size of the
opening and fitted IN, with its edges
also beveled. The edges must be held
together with paste made of -four anC
strained resin, and carefully pressed
+ Some pounce rubbed over the lines vii
conceal the patch, unless there is
b strong light, ald then, with the sam,
die that the bankers use, raised tigurei
can be inserted. The work Is delicate
and is not often attempted, as it involves
the risk OF running the check for TIA,
amount for which it Is good. BY tn,
way. the cutting of figures into the checl
had n curious origin. After big forger,
caused by raised check, some on
wrote "A letter to the SUn, suggestin,
that the amount for which checks ar
drawns should be cut through the paper
The Suggestion was at once adopted b.
a man who, we understand, made fort
une from II.