The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-05-05
The Tactics Of Two Bogus Mule
Buyers Who swindle
Banks Extensively.
Opened Accounts With Banks, De-
posted Worthless Checks
S5 and Took Out Cash.
Fhe 4Checks Drawn ON the Chase National
Bank, OF New York-Caught by
Byrnes' Men.

men have run down a couple OF sWlnulers
who have been defrauding banks all over
the country. from the far west to Texas
and the New England states. They have
travelled from town to town as mule buy
ara. and their tracks we're found now here,
now there. almost every day, but always too
late. II was not until they came to New
York at last, as all thieves do sooner or
later with the I instinct that attracts the
moth to the candle and, to its death, that
thew were caught. Their names stand re-
corded upon the blotter in the detective
Office 40 James Hall, alias James or Albert
Huntley, and Andrew j. Conovsr. The
latter proclaims his innocence, but he an
swers exactly the description of one of the
swindlers for whom the west yearns.
Some little time ego news OF the depreda-
lions Of the pair began to reach Inspector
,Byrnes' Office from the south and west.
The first complaint came from Wsxahachie.
Tex, in the form of q demand for the arrest
Of ono II. L. Lanster, who has been buying
mules in the neighborhood, evidently as q
pretext for defraudinR the banks. His
method was simple. Having wormed him
self into the confidence of farmers who had
mules to sell he opened an account at the
City National Bank, depositing a number
Of checks but no cash. The next day or
the day after he would return, and, repre-
ssnting that he needed money for imme-
diate suse, would draw against his account
Here the Identification of his m%ule-owning
friends would come in handy. Lanster
drew once, twice or three times, as long
as it was safe, and disappeared in time, be-
- AL~ ~nkrr~ frAno kho oootarn hanks
came in and exposed the frauds. The
checks were drawn on New York banks in
most cases, frequently upon the Chase Ma
tionel bank. II was President Cannon of
Of this hank that broughb Inspector Byrnes
news Of the swindlsr's next movements.
While he was yet burning over in his min
che description of Lanster, forwarded from
Texas, and trying to pick out some Of his
1caRaintapces whom it would tit, Mr.. Can
nolYSold the inspector that several CORE
spondents of his bank in western cities had
forwasdedthis worthless checks for Gollec-
tiop. Inquiry had brought out always the
s ss9ssd sss1 When 1 IL .t nalsIG 81. Paul aad Mi hssn
RECENTLY hi was either very hard up
or SUCCESS had made him very bold.
lie threw caution to the winds
and opened accounts in no less than
three, Rationel banks, depositing checks
ofthssailegeasfsee value al $l,5eo in each.
OAuUA w w dxo"A ny GA0 L. III III
er's Bank OF Fremont, O., to the order of H.
l.. Lanster,sand we're made payable at the
Chase National bank in New York. In
each of the three banks he then p%atronized,
Mr.. Lanster drew against his deposit to the
amount of $500 within twenty-four hours,
and then was heard of NO more until the
cheeks came back from the New York bank
stamped as worthless.
1t n Sshep. Mr.. Cannon went to see In.
spector Byrnes. That stamp was getting
altogether too much exercise of late. He
had not returned all the checks. Upon one
of them he laid Before the chief of detec-
tives was found the imprint of Warner d
Co., engravers and photographers at No. 81
John street. Detectives who were sent there
learned a book of such checks had been made
to fill an order from Fremont, O., and sent
there. The firm expected another call from
lily to advise Inspector Byrnes when it
came. None came unexpected, but Satur-
day a stranger called and, representing him
self as a member of the banking firm of
Clinton. Backus Il Co., of Union Springs.
N. Y. ordered a boo of blank drafts,
promising to cal. on April % to examine the
proofs. Something about the transaction
excited the suspicion of the firm, and word
wes sent to police headquarters. Inspector
Byrpes teiearaphed to Union Springs, and
word came back that no such order had been
given. Itj3was a fraud. Then Detectives
John street office to watch for the return
of the man who had ordered the
drafts. He came back Thursday, and
after he had transacted his business under
the name of James Hall, of Detroit. and
While,in conference with his pal the detec.
tives closed in and arrested them both. A
very brief comparison then between Hal
and the Waxahachie description of Lans
ter, alias Huntley, served to convince
Byrnes that the two were identical, ant
caught. lie had registered as a hoteIksepe
froN Detroit. His companion, who Gale,
himself Andrew j. Conover, likewise
hotelkseper, but from across the Canadial
border, fitted into the western fraud toe
The pair had a bank directory in their pos
sAGsinn hasidas other mercantile ruides.