Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-08
RAISED THE CHECKS.
AN. EXPERT DOES SOME NICE WORK
~ RICHMOND.
Papsrs Rsprssentiss s~aii Anossss y
Changed ~ 20 Call for Hundrsds Of
Deliars--No Clue whstevsr.

Another skillful forgcr has been at
work in this city and as . consequences
nearly $I.0 900 has been lost by his trick
cry, while there 10 but little chance Of
bringing the offender to justice.
This time il is case Of check-raising,
and the manner in which the work was
dono is almost marvellous, and would
battle tho closest observer. On the l2th
of April q stranger went to the office oi
Messrs. Davis & Gregory, proprietors OF
\ loose-tobacco warehouse, and said DC
wished 10 get their check for $40 to send
Off letter. He offered a like amount OF
money for the paper, and as the request
vas a very natural one. Mr.. w. O. Nolt-
ing. Jr.. the cashier OF the establish
ment. wrote out the check as asked by
the visitor. 1t was mado payable to
John Z. Thomas, and the man. upon
receiving il, gave Mr.. Noting $40 bil
in return and departed.
MADE FIVE HUNDRED.
In looking over their accounts will
the National Bank OF Virginia about two
weeks ago Messrs Davis a. Gregory
discovered that check for $500, dated
April 18th, had been cashed. There
was no stub in the check. book for such
a check. and the gentlemen knew that
they bad issued no paper for such az
amount. The matter was investigated,
and it was ascertained that the check
given TO the stranger and made payable
10 the order Of John Z. Thomas for the
sum of $40 had been raised to $500.
The alteration was made in very
clever manner. and any one who is vel
acquainted with paper upon which
checks are usually made will at once see
that the change OF amount was not an
easy task when tits known that this check
was upon ruled paper.
ANOTHER TRANSACTION OF THE KIND.
On the same day that this check was
obtained from Davis x Gregory
stranger (and there is no doubt that ht
is the same one referred toy went into
the Office OF Samuel Cottrell's Sons aDC
secured their check for $40 in exchange
for ten-dollar note. 1t was drawn upor
the Planters National Bank and made
PAYABLE to the order Of Thomas An
Grews. .
The man, shortly after leaving the Of
flee with the check, returned and asked
one OF the firm to endorse it. His re
quest was granted, and on yesterday the
Nessrs. Cottrell learned that the papcl
had been raised to $500 and cashed 10y
the bank. Tho teller at the Planters
Bank says that he remembers when the
check was cashed, and that as he was IN
acquainted with the man who presented
il he asked him to bring some one who
could identify him. The man left. anc
returning in few minutes with the en-
dorsement of Messrs. Cottrell secured
the money. It is the supposition OF the
banking officials that the forger, or
taking the check back to Messrs. Cot
trell for their endorsement, folded 1t SC
that they could not notice that it had
been raised. This could have been
done in such q manner as not to at
tract attention, but would certainly
have been daring act. The bank
claims that the endorsement OF MessIs.
Cottrell makes them liable for the
money lost, and there will probably be
some litigation regarding the matter. In
the case of the check cashed by the Ma
tional Bank OF Virginia the paper had
been made payable to bearer and there
fore the forger escaped the trouble
which he met at the Planters Bank.
NO CLUE TO WORK ON.
This is one Of the cleverest games
oror ,,I.ved in Richmond and there IA
not the slightest clue to the person who
is guilty Of the crime. The gentlemen
who issued the checks do not now re-
member what sort of looking man he
was. :,
The cases have been placed In the
hands of Sergeant Tomlinson, but up to
this time he has absolutely nothing tc
work upon. If the check-raiser is ever
caught it will be remarkable thing un-
Iar tho cirrumstapppl