The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-06
HOW BANKS ARE sw1SpLED.
The Trick by Which a Bankrupt Merchant
Stole Fifteen Thousand Dollars.

The Trick by Which a Bankrupt Merchant
Stole Fifteen Thousand Dollars.
New York Sun.
Banks are constantly being imposed upon,
said the cashier of one OF the largest national
banks in this city the other day, land the public
you that the son of one of the largest dry goods
merchants of New York had presented two
forged checks to this bank within the past
month, got money on both, and escaped arrest
and publicity, you would hardly believe it; but
1t Is so. His father made good the amount.
Almost every week some one manages to defraud
us some way, and it is only once in six months
we ever report the case to the anthori-
banks reputation to get caught too often; but
the principal reason for our silence is it
wouldn't pay us to complain. In nearly every
case the culprit is friend relative of some
influential customer. That is the way he man
ages to secure his credit, and the customer near
ly always talks turkey when we 60 to him
about the matter.
Use as much pro caution as we can, we have
to trust some people. OF course we can. as
rule, protect ourselves against professional
sharpers and strangers by requiring Identified
ton, but there is no way of preventing our Gus
toners from defrauding us by too-elose scru-
tiny of their checks. That might drive away
good business, and we have to take our chances
as to the paper being all right.
Some years ago" continued the cashier, L
was the paying teller of bank in large West
ern city. Among our customers was wholesale
merchant named Henderson, who did very
large business with our bank He was in the
habit Of drawing large sums to meet his bills,
which were heavy. and all these passed through
my hands. Among Mr. Hendersons business
associates was man named Hirtz, who had
lately come to that city from the East. He was
commission broker and sold Mr.. Henderson
great many goods, for which he received Mr..
Hendersons check on our bank. One day Mr..
Hirtz brought to the bank check for $l5, 600.
1t was the largest check he had ever presented.
l hesitated moment about paying it. exam
ined the writing carefully. 1t was evidently
Mr.. Henderson's signature, and there was
question about the bearer being Mr.. HirtZ. l
asked the book-keeper how much money Mr.. Hen
derson had to his credit. He had $4,000 So l
paid it. Mr.. Hirtz took thirty $500 bills, and
left the building with the money carefully con-
cealed in his inside vest pocket This was on
Saturday, just before the bank closed. Monday
afternoon Mr.. Henderson sent check for So 600
to the bank. | sent back word that his account
not large enough to cover that amount. In
q few minutes Mr.. Henderson appeared at the
bank himself. He was evidently very angry.
What do you mean, said he, by sending
such word to meP
II mean," said I, that you only have So 600 to
your credit"
'''That is not So said he; Il have S18 900 here,
and if those figures are not correct, | shall make
this bank some trouble
"'You did have $18. 900 last Saturday, but Mr..
dlfIZ QreW OUT plO,UUU--
"'Mr. Hirtz did nothing of the sort inter
rupted the merchant hotly. Mr.. Hirtz did not
draw one cent on Saturday.
lis this your writingp asked. producing the
check Mr. Hirtz had given to me.
''Mr. Henderson was amazed as / laid down
the paper before him.
"'That certainly does look like my check, he
said: it certainly does. But it is forgery
"Now it was my turn to be amazed If I had
paid forged check of that size could count my
Af hn11 ~ ,vxton
We took the check to the cashier and examined
it together, and tnen we compared it with his
other signatures. 1t was SO nearly like them
that cond hardly tell them apart. The only
difference was that it was not written in the ink
Mr. Henderson usually wrote with. We sent
down town to Mr. Hirtz's office. but it was
closed and his clerk did not know where he had
gone, but believed he had left for New York.
He had made his escape. This strengthened
Mr.. Henderson's statement and after a few
days we made good the amount, and my
resignation was demanded. | told our Presi-
dent that l thought there was some mystery
about the matter. and [ had the check litho
graphed for my own use. Az month later Mr..
Henderson surprised the business community by
failing, and after the settlement with his credit
ors he came out bankrupt l determined to
ferret out the mystery, and for considerable
time | searched the country for any news of
Mr.. HirtZ, but all to no avail. Finally [ came
back to New York and secured employment in
the bank where am now.
About a year ago, while was sitting in my
private Office, was surprised to see Mr.. Hirtz.
/ recognized him before he did me-
'''How do you do, Mr., HirtzP said.
80 The man blushed, stammered, and finally,
recognizing me, turned and tried to escape, but
I caught him by the coat collar and held him
fast. He made no struggle, but sat down
What are you going to dog he asked.
"'Have you sent to the penitentiary.'
IF you will let me go / will confess the
whole thing
What good will that do mep
"'You won't help Justice any by convicting
me- he replied. 4 didn't forge that check
''Who did. thenF
" Mr.. Henderson,
"'Mr Henderson,
"'Yes. | was poor broker in that town when
l first met Henderson. He gave me a good
many orders, and finally asked me how / would
like to make 81, 600. l told him / would like it.
"'All right said he. You present my check
for SIS, 900 at the bank draw the money, bring
it to me, and L will give you $1,000 Then you
go to Europe for six months There will be no
trouble, no worry no risk, and you will be ST. GOO
better off,
81 did as he suggested, gave him the money,
and left that night"
What did you do with the MANI" we asked.
Nothing. He had papers in his pocket which
proved that he had told the truth Mr.. Hender-
son was dead and Hirtz was bankrupt, and as
he really didn't mean to do wrong let him go.
Henderson had beaten the bank out of that
much money, just like robbing it. I have no
DOUBT other similar crimes have been com
mitted, but never heard of them"
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