Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-10-13
CHEATING BANKERS
A nswIsyst.a 81 sxiadIlas N
E esvsrst
Dr.fs. esrsssd i tis tsas sf.ssls1lnt
( Eirn, and Dtawa ~ Ns4, tssk !
L { Baak-ilsw II Was
MANY SMALL BANKS Mcnnlzsp.

Nxw YeaK, october IL. - An
unusual kind OF swfndline was ds-
covered yesterday BY an onicer Of the Net
ropolitan Nat;ons, Bank OF this city. A
few days sso draft was received By the
Chsse National Bank from its correspon-
dents at Cente,vi vile, Mich, Hsssrs A. c.
Wolf & Brothers, payable TO Charles Bur.
ton or order" and s,sned BY "W. Brown d
Son, Cashier." The singular fact that
firm should write cashier uudsr their
name, or that q cashier should sign the
name OF his frm without adding his own
initials, did not strike any one until alter
the piece Of paper was found to b worth
less, The draft vas written on Q special
engraved blank, with the style "W. Brown
a Son" at he head, and In the left hand
corner the address: ITO the Msseepolitan
Estional Bapk, New foek. TIE date was
Utica 0cteber 81 and The smopns wn
rss Rirss ItAssssaeas
was the following:
Pay 70 A. La o. order; CHARLES nURTUNs
Under this was written, "a Lcs." ~
None OF the hank efiicsrs who saw the
draft seem 70 have taken note Of tho undie
guised fact that it, face and it, hrst In.
dor, ement are In exactly the sime hand.
writing, which the signature IA. Lee" also
very closely resembles. The person calling
himself by that name evidently Was the
one who presented the draft for payment at
Centeryille, for the Endorsement OF A. Q.
Wolf & Brothers follows his own. when
the draft rcs ,hed New York the Chase Ma
tional Bank prematurely
stamped 10 "Raia"
and sent Il TO the Clearing House, 20 that
In due course Il mighE reach their oorrcs.
pondents, to ssrye them - Q voucher.
From the clearing House twas rece.ved by
the Metropolitan National Eank Ia pay
ment OF Balance. The cashier OF the latter
immed'ately consulted the chief book.
keeper and found that no such banking
tous o. that Of W. Brown & Son hsi
credit there. A telegram Of inquiry brought
from Utica the in nforns.'on that IL had no
existence there either. The draft was Inn.
mediately returned 10 the Chase National
Bauk. The President Of the latter, In order
TO rave Its correspondents at Centrsvtils
from lo-s, u possible, caused the draft 70 %
protested as Il might be that Messrs. WOLF
4 Brothers did not ca'h II, but only
Accepted it Fer CsIlectiss.
The bogus draft had In one corner, iu
very fine letters, what Is technically known
As the signature" OF the eugreycr, well
known printer and stationcr OF Matdsnkane
In this city. Mr.. Thompson, the President
of the Chase National Hank, was scephca!
as to the existence Of any such man, and
supposed that the name was q part OF the
fraud. A reporter found the cnsravsr,
however. and was told by him how he came
to execute the blanks. His business Is an
extensive one, and he engravcs Largely for
many OF the country banks In New YORK,
Pennsylvania and Ohio: He frequently
receives orders from wealthy, retired farm'
ers who engage In the banking business In
small towns. On the 6th OF August last Q
man OF rustic appearance, between hfty
and sixty years OF age, came into his atore
and asked him to
Engrave and Print oso Blank Dssnss
lie wanted the name OF wv. Brown q
Son" at the top and the word Utica on
the date line. They we're 70 be Gcnt 10 him
at that place by express. He was about 70
start limited banking business there, he
said, and might want other work done OF
similar nature. He paid for the drafts In
advance. On the 18th Of August the en-:
grayer received telegram from him, dated
at Utica. 1t said:
'Is my book ready! Answer 70 Clinton
House w. bRoWH.
The book OF drafts was despatched the
same day. Nothing further has been re-
ceived from Mr.. Brown by the sngraver: IL
is probable that the present is not the hfst
use that he has made OF the blank drafts,
and that other inst,nces may DO heard Of IN
q few days.