The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-08-13
WANZER'S WIcKEDNEsS.
How He Worked the Pennington
Bank Officials.
The Town in a State of Great
Excitement.
Especial to the Press. I

FARMINGToN, Aug. 12.-This village is in
a state of great excitement occasioned by the
bold swindling operation perpetrated by
Walter w. Wanzer, Jr., upon the cashier of
the bank here, which was reported in the
PRESS this morning.
Wanzer arrived in Pennington Friday on
Conductor Lockes noon train He is a tall,
slim, sandy c0mplexioned man, about forty
years of age apparently. He was made rath-
er conspicuous by pair of blue glasses and
the fact that one shoulder was higher than
the other.
He registered at the Stoddard House as
Walter B. Wanzer, Jr.. of Portland, and
paid for his board week in advance During
his stay in town he was seen but little at the
hotel or on the streets. He represented him.
self as engaged in extensive real estate
transactions at Liyermore Falls.
1t appears that last Friday Wanzer entered
the bank and handed the cashier, Mr.. L. f.
Belcher, letter, written upon sheet of
paper bearing the letter heading of the Ex-
change National bank of Boston. This let
ter was dated August 9th and stated in sub
stance that Wanzer had deposited. in the
Boston bank $500, for which he had been
given a certificate of deposit; that he was go
ing to Pennington and wanted to use the
money there; and the Boston bank would
consider it great favor if the Pennington
bank would pay Wanzer that amountIin bills
The letter also stated that Wanzer was per-
feet stranger in Pennington and therefore it
would be impossible for anybody there to
ifx-h Io4
written as guaranty of good faith. This
letter was signed by the cashier of the Bos-
ton bank-an exact fac simile of his sigma
ture. The Exchange National bank is the
Boston correspondent of the Sandy River
National bank, and everything seemed so
perfectly straight that Cashier Belcher paid
him the $500 at once. This transaction is
supposed to be all right, though it is not yet
certainly known to be by your reporter.
Yesterday morning Mr. Belcher was in the
bank as is his usual custom, about eight
o'clock though banking hours do not begin
till nine. In few moments the telegraph
operator came into the bank with a dispatch
which he said he had received all straight
from Boston. 1t read somewhat like this:
>, :, Boston, August H.
To Il. Il. BetcIlef, Cashier, dc.
Walter WanZer, Jr., has deposited in this bank
fifty hundred dollars. He wants to use the money
in Pennington Please do us the favor to pay him
that amount.
(Signed) j. j. EDDY.
Cashier Exchange National Bank
Not long after the despatch was received
Wanzer casually dropped into the bank. Af-
ter passing the time of day he asked Mr.
Belcher if he had had any word from Bos-
ton, and the latter spoke of the telegram he
had just received. Wanzer asked if every
thing was all right and received an atfirma-
tive reply. Then Wanzer asked if he could
get the money now as he wished to use it.
Mr.. Belcher replied that it was impossible
he could not spare that amount in bills, but
would give him cashiers check for the
amount Wanzer said that would do just as
well. The check was then made out, which
after properly receipting for, Wanzer took
went out, Immediately boarded the $50 a, m
train and left town.
After Wanzer had left the bank the cash
ier thought it might be good idea to notify
Boston of the transaction and did so, wheI
he received despatch right back saying the
whole thing was a swindle.
Hon. j. w. Fairbanks, a director of the
bank left for Boston this morning to consult
with their Boston correspondents and the
bank officials have in the meantime takeI
every precaution to warn people against cash
| ing the check by notifying banking institu
| tons far and near.