Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1885-12-31
now BANKS ARE swINpLEp.
The Trick by which Bankrupt Merchant
Stole Fifteen Thousand Dollars,

AHc lNtVk ny NnlNu "
Stole Fifteen Thousand Dollars.
Blanks are constantly being impos-
ed upon said the cash'e Of one Of tho
largest national banks IN this city the
other day, 'and the public knows
nothing about II, Why, IL was to
tell You that the son OF one OF tho
largest dry-goods merchants in New
York had presented two forged checks
To this bank within tho past mouth,
got money on both, and escaped arrest
ana publicity, you would hardly be-
love il; but II Is SO. His father made
good the amount Almost every week
someone manages TO delraud MS some
way, and il is ouly once In six months
that We over report the case to the
authorities, In tho first place, IL hurts
n banks reputation to get caught too
often; but The primo pal reason for our
silence Is, 1t wouldn't pay us TO com.
PLAIN. IN nearly oycry case the cul-
prlt is a friend or relative OF some in
iluentlRl customer. That Is tho way
he manages 10 secure his credit, aud
tho customer nearly always talks
turkey when we 20 TO him about the
matter,
Use as much prooautlon as we can,
we have 10 trust some people OF
course wo can. Ms o rule, protect our
selves against professional sharpors
and strangers by requiring identtion.
lion, but there Is no way of prevent
ing our customers from defraudlng us
by too close scrutiny 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, IL was the paying teller Of u
bank In u large western city, Among our
customers was Wholesale merchant
named Henderson, who did u very
large business with our bank, Ho was
In the habit Of drawing large sums to
meet his bills, which wore heavy, and
all these passed through my hands,
Among MIR. Heuderson's business
associates was man named Hirtz,
who had lately como to that city from
the east. He was II commission broker,
and sold MIR Henderson great many
goods, for which no received Mr.. Hen
dcrson's check on our bank. Ono day
Mr.. llirtz brought TO the bank check
for $4,000. II was the largest check
he had over presented. hesitated
about paying II. IL waseyidently Mr..
Hendcrson's signature, aud there was
no question about tho bearer being
Mr., HirtZ. / asked the bookkeeper
how much money Mr. Henderson had
to his credit. He had $4,000, So |
paid IL. Mr.. Hirt2 took thirty $500
bills, and left tho building with the
money carefully concealed In his In
side vest pocket. This was on Satur-
day, just before bank closed. Monday
afternoon Mr. Henderson sent check
for So, 900 to tho bank. | sent back
word that his account was not large
enough 10 cover that amount. In u
few minutes Mr.. Henderson appear.
cd Mt tho bank himself. He was
evidently very angry.
"'What do you mean said no, by
sending such word to meP
- i mean, said ], that you only
havo $3, 600 TO your credit
"'That Is not so, said he; Il have
SIS, 1000 here, and II those figures are
not correct ! shall make this bank
some trouble
"'You did have $4,000 last Satur-
day, but Mr.. hjrtz drew out
Sl5, 000-----
"'Mr. Hrtz did nothing Of the sort,
interrupted tho merchant holly. Mr..
Hirtz did not draw cent on Satur.
day
t" rs this your writingP / asked,
producing tho 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. II certainly does.
But IL is forgery.
"Now II was my turn TO DO amazed.
II | had paid u forged check OF that
size l could count my chances Of hold.
ing my position with n cipher. We
took tho cheek TO the cashier aud OK
nmined II together, and then We com
pared II with his other signatures. IL
was no nearly like Thorn that we could
hardly tell them apart. The only
difference was that IL was not written
in tho ink Mr.. Henderson usually
wrote with. We sent down to Mr..
liirtz' office, but IL was closed, aud
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.. Hendorsons state.
ment, and after few days we made
good the amount and my resignation
was demanded. | told our president
that thought there was some mys-
terry about the matter, and had the
check Autographed for my own use.
A month later Mr.. Henderson SUR
prised the business community by
failing, and after the settlement with
his creditors no came out bankrupt.
determined 10 ferret out the mystery,
and for considerable fine searched
the country for any news OF Mr.. Hrtz,
but all to know avail Finally came
TO New York and secured employment
in the bank where am now.
"About year ago, while | was sit
ting In my private office, | was sur
prised TO see Mr.. Hirtz. recognized
him before he did me.
GLOW do you do, Mr.. HirtzP /
said.
I" The man blushed, stammered,
and finally, recognizing me, turned
and tried TO escape, but ] caught him
by the coat collar and held him fast.
He made no struggle, but sat down. 4
"What arc you going LQMMa2
asked. -