New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-03

Of professonsl fcrgsrs m the United ststss is very
small All told there are not more than two dozen
expert peninen and engravers who prostitute their
talents ey initiating the handwriting and workman-
ally they suddenly launch forth gigantic scheme
flooding the principal cities with their spurious and
not by any mesus confined to this country and Can
ada. The bankers of Europe have been aeeced by
them and couspracies Matched here have almost
caused financial pennies In England aud on the Con-
tinent
common. yet dangerous scheme, which has been
carried out many times with by check raisers
Is like this; member Of the gang Is FIRST sent TO
purchase two drafts payable at q bank in another
city One is made out tor a small amount and the
other for considerable sd sum In few day. the Pur,
he was unable to use n rs be had intended. The
amount It calls is refnded to him and the redeemed
check In most instances destroyed Them having .
clear field before him. the forger forwards the small
draft raised TO correspond in number to the erge
to distant city for collection. As the genuine
draft has in the meantime been torn up, there u
rarely any diculty in getting the raised cashed,
and sometimes the deceit is not discovered at the
bank of issue. Many cashiers have spent hours in
going their books account of a shortage, and
all the trouble and annoyance was due to raised
check.
The photothogrsphsc process of check counterfeit
ing first TO light in this city few years The
checks presented by smart lad wEe invariably
succeeded In cashing them. He was caught At last
laying down OF the worthless notes, and had IL not
been for an accident he might have then escaped
The cashier to whom 1t presented while eIsmin-
ing the draft, noticed that it blurred and sub
hitting It TO experts his suspicious were confirmed.
II had been prepared with such accuracy that the
stamp IL could not be distinguished ron the
authentic one. The forger. however had not been
satisfied with his work, and essayed Improvement
by tue use OF chemicals, which in the warmth of the
carriers hand had blurred and discolored the paper
The lad when cornered made clean breast OF it, and
said that his brother-in-laR bad employed HIM TO
procure genuine checks and carry forged paper to the
bank.
THIEVES WHO HAUNT THE BIG RoIELs.
Here food for thought for the travelling public
that puts its trust in bolts and locks and chsnsr
The class OF thieves devotng themselves to robbng
hotels and in fashionable boarding houses
operate according to circumstances and always have
their wits about them tor any unexpected emergency
The successful ones are of respectable appear
auce good address, and cool and daring fellows.
Until he has accomplished his purpose the hotel
thief pursues his prey from ore establis hment 70
another with persistency that knows no fateriug.
lie makes it speciality to the newspapers care
fully and keeps himself posted OF the latest arrivals
the rooms they occupy and other data OF interest
The coming and going professionals. particularly
female theatrical stars statesmen, banker. and bridal
parties and all persons likely 10 carry valuable Jew
elry and trinkets n large amount OF money In this
way noted and objects OF special importance
and sOhcitude.
When the unsuspecting prey fatiaued by travel
gives proof of his Inconsistencies by deep steI to rous
breathing the hotel thief steals silently irOnl his ND
ing place slight push may let him enter the apart
ment. 1t may be necessary 10 a gmlet and
small piece of crooked wire to slide back the bolt
HAlRNA'
in tue lock- from the corridor. Some times as many
as dozen rooms in the same hotel have been plum
dered in one night aud none OF the wstchmen
beard tho thiaf. The Old style Of climbing through
transOms unkeyed windows is at present not much
in vogue The hotel thief carry his entire outfit
in his pocket and laugh IN his sleeve az tie
common bolts and bars The much boosted Of chain
bolt can now be drawn back from the outside with
only piece OF silk thread having match tied to one
end of il.
The shooting back of the od-tashiOned slids-bolt
from the outside of the apartment Tor many years
bewildering mystery. As there we're no marks TO be
found on the door in most cases when robbery was
reported the hotel proprietor would trown and the
clerk leer both facial conortiOns being meant TO ex
press suspicion and ncredulity. Many times the un-
fortunate victim has been turned away cheat and
n fraud who wanted to swindle the hotel out OF his
board bill or else to bring suit Tor damages on
trumped-up charge.
HOW THE PICKPOCKETs WERE FOIIED.
Prevention is better than Thus the Inspector
tells bow ghis excellent principle put practice
4 year ago members Of the light-fngered fraternity
focked from all parts of the country to NewYork
City. expecting TO reap rich harvest among the i'm
mense gathering at the funeral OF ex-President
Ulysses ). Grant The perfect police arrangen ents,
however. frustrated the plans of these rogues and
the fact that there were hundreds
OF thousands of people that day along tho ronte OF
the funeral procession, single watch or pocket
book was stolen. Never before IN the history OF tue
Police Department had there been such clean
record. The day before the funeral all the profess
sona pckpockets then in the city were arrested upon
suspicion }nd the police magistrates. when the pre-
cautonary scheme explained TO them, concurred
in the flank against the rogues and held the
prisoners The alarm then raised and just as
soon the had been spread beyond the limits OF
the city, the hundreds OF criminals on their way 10
New York gave up the project, lett tho trains aud
scattered IN another direction. few however, who
reckless enough TO attempt to reach the metropo-
lis. found detectives awaiting them at the several
depots TLey were taken IN charge and were kept
safely housed at the Police Central Office the various
precinct station houses and the Tombs Prison until tho
funeral and all the strangers had departed
for their homes. When there one 10 prey upon
the disgusted rogues were Liberated. The effort made
to thwart the many bands OF pcEpockets upon that
occasion was truly bold one but the end certainly
justified the means.