Evening journal., 1889-05-25
PRETTYW0MEN FoRGERs
supposed to Be the Tools of an
Organized Gang.
MASY sH0PKEEPERs MULcTEp.

signatures Counterfeitcd So cIeverlv That
IL Required a Microscope to show That
They We're Bogus-Inspector Byrnes,
Belief.
NEw YosK, May 25-Durins the past
month Inspector Byrnes has been in receipt
OF numerous complaints from various biz
dry goods and iewelry firms on sixth avenue.
Grand, Fourteenth and Twenty-third streets
10 the effect that they had been swindled by
TWO women who had rendered forged checks
an payment for goods purchased. Detectives
Aloncle and Cottrell were detailed on the
case, and after several days investigation
obtained good description OF the women
and notified other houses that, ia the event
OF women answering this description calling
on them, word should be Immediately sent to
police headquarters
His Suspicious Aroused.
Yesterday two stylishly dressed women
entered Tiffany & Co jewelry store on
Union square and after an hours scrutiny
purchased Sl6S worth of goods, for which
they paid check for Sl60 drawn on the
Second National bank and signed by Seth
Barton French, the well known banker at
No II Broad street. and IS in cash. The
goods were ordered TO be sent to the Grand
Central depot and the two women started
uptown.
The clerk had a suspicion that all was not
right, but before notifying the police, he
took the check TO the bank and found il 10
be forgery. Soon after word was sent TO
inspector Byrnes, and the two detectives
went directly 70 the depot, where they found
he 81 a.. t4l..
and appearing very anxious.
Placed Under Arrest
The officers placed them under arrest. much
TO their surprise and indignation and brought
them TO the central office On the way down.
and while in aFourth avenue ear one Of the
women opened her pocketbqok and ATTEMPTED
70 destroy some bits Of paper that were folded
therein Aloncle saw the movement and
wrested d the pocketbook from her just In time
70 prevent her from destroying number Of
forged checks. When brought before the in
spector they maintained a stoical indiffer-
ence, and refused TO make any statement
whatever. They assumed an injured air, and
refused TO be questioned concerning the mat
Ger On one of the slips of paper in the pocket
book was foand the number Of their board
ing house ON Madison avenue where they
were stopping, and inquiry at this place re-
TNNN Nato ANtA i4AbAt1kTslilttl names OF In0
swindlers The elder one is Mrs, Bech. and
her partner in crime is known as Dolly YER
peF. Boib are xery pretty, aad the former
as tFi6e lame.
-ss~ They bid Thriving business.
On May IA these two females purchased
goods to the amount Of s25 at Lord 4 Tay-
lor's Grand street store, and tend5red In pay
ment check on the Second National bank
'-ror soo, drawn by ?, B. French. They re
csiYed $50 in change, ana Subsequently the
~check was pronounced a forgery Tie sai60 !
day they bought pair Yf shoqs at Brooks
Bros store on the corner Of Twenty ninth
street and Broadway, for St, rendering a
similar check for S25, and Received the
~Thange. Arnold, Constable 4 Co.. were also
swindled out Of large amount Of money and
goods by their crooked operations. Three Of
the checks found on the women were on the
Fifth Avenue hank and purported to DO
signed by Esther r. Moore, the widow Of d
deceased wealthy banker Two were for S1oJ
each and one for S27 Three checks were
made payable TO the order of Mrs Liyings-
ton and alleged TO have been drawn by Mrs
Moore One OF them was for $3.50, one for
&25 and one for SS5. There were also five
checks on the Second National bank, drawn
payable 10 Mrs. A. Edison and signed by Seth
brench. Two OF them were for $3.50, one for
S25, one for 1925 and one for S175.
After the women had been in the cells for
an hour or so they asked TO have a lawyer !
sent for, and at their request one was called |
Refused TO BE Questioned.
Several coaches drove rapidly up TO the |
door Of police headquarters, and several very |
stylishly dressed men were ushered into the |
detective bureau. 1t was evident from their
demeanor that they were very anxious over |
the arrest, but all Of them refused to be |
questioned.
The inspector believes that these women |
are tools in the hands Of a clever and danger
ous band Of forgers who are hard at work. |
Rigid examination and strict court discipline !
viii perhaps force the women to inform on
their male friends and then the whole gang
can be run down. The forgeries of the sig
natures are said to be excellent copies Of the
genuine ones, and only distinguishabe under
amicroscope. ~
One Killed and Six Terribly NIangled.