The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-21
THE NEW FORGER.
A Nice=Looking Man With
a Scheme.
HOW HE FLEECES VICTIMS.
A Trail of Worthless Checks and Sor-
rowing .ndorsers From Massa-
chusetts to California.
HOW HE FLEECES VICTIMS.

Every detective agency on the Pacific
Coast is on the lookout for one of the
cleverest check swindlers that ever
worked the country. He has operated
in all of the principal cities of the East
end left trail Of worthless checks from
Massachusetts, to California upon which he
has realized thousands of dollars. Circu-
lars exhaustive in their description of the
criminal and his confidence game have pre-
ceeded him everywhere, but so far as re-
suits are concerned he does not seem to
have been seriously Inconvenience thereby
he made his first appearance in San
Diego, and after swindling two merchants
in one day cut of several hundred dollars
fitted to Los Angeles. He was equally
successful there, aud it seems in San Jose
he made few hundred dollars" and was
next heard from in Sacramento. He gave
San Francisco wide berth, and no more of
his checks were found this side of Portland,
Or, where he swindled a jpweler out of
500 and left for the sound cities. AS
expected, he scattered his spurious checks
there ard then came here for the winter.
His swn1le is of the boldest character
and its success apparently unvaryng, in
fact the forger's success is due to his bold
ness. and the business man who is ia ken in
on 1t is so disguised with his own stupidity
lOI permitting HlmSeII TO
to be heeced by such simple trick that he
feels certain degree of admiration for the
swindler. The 'check- u orkers" who have
been captured by the local police within
the past few days have been clever in their
own small way, but they were tyros COM
pared with the one uncaught.
A few days ago tall, mIddle-aged man of
imposing appearance, dressed in the height
Of fashion, walked into a Kearny- street
jewelry-Store and drawing Off his gloves
asked TO be shown a fiTSt-cass gold watch.
He explained that he desired TO make a
friend little birthday present and wanted
something good. He did not mind the cost
so long as he got frst-cass article of plain
appearance. Alter examining his stock he
picked out a fine $500 Howard movement
aud said he thought that would suit him.
lie drew checkbOok from his pocket aud
drew check on the Anglo California Bank.
AS he passed it over he said:
Il do not want the watch until tomorrow,
so will leave it with you. OF course, | do
not expect you to give me the watch on the
check, being stranger TO you. 1t might be
a forgery, you know, But you can indorSe
it. take 1t TO the bank, and get your money
this afternoon. ard will call for the watch
Tomorrow"
The jeweer Endorsed the check and put
it in his drawer. Just before the bank
closed he presented the check. After sean-
ming it closely, the cashier Informed him
that the drawer had no credit there.
well" said he to himself, II have the
watch and that fellow has made nothing
out Of me. He will not get it till he pays
for IT," and he took the check back to the
store.
The next morning his customer walked in
ana said: We'll, L guess will take my
could not let him have il. as the cashier had
told him the check was worthless.
"WorVhlessW exclaimed the customer,
my check worthless!" and he ragged up and
down the store. He deied any one to say
that his check was not good for ten times
that paltry sum. he had made large de-
post In the bank only a week before, and
he wanted to know why his check Was not
honored.
After storming about for several minutes
during which the jeweer was obdurate, the
fellow exclaimed: There is certainly some
mistake somewhere. Anybody is liable to
make a mistake, but l will teach that
cashier lesson that he will not forget
soon," and he flung $500 in gold upon the
counter and demanded his watch.
When 1t had been wrapped up, he said:
Just give me my check. Pll see why it
has not been cashed. That fellow is going
to hear from me-" The ieweler handed it
over
After banking hours the stranger walked
into another store, few doors distant, and
making small purchase rendered the 5000
check in payment. II don't know the
drawer OF this check" SAID the purchaser,
out tue lnuOrSer Just gave lt to me, and he is
all right" 1t bore the jewelers. familiar
signature, so was promptly cashed. The
next day II was taken to the bank, and the
cashier Immediately recognized it as the
one he had dishonored, but as it bore the
jewelers. Endorsement he took it When
the Jeweler found $500 charged against his
bank account he demanded an explanation
and was shown the check.
why" said he, that is the same one
refused TO take from that man who bought
watch from me-"
But you Endorsed il, didn't YOU" in
CURED the cashier. He admitted that he
had to stand the loss.
That is the game he worked everywhere.
and he has made thousands Of dollars on it.
That is not the worst feature of it. The
game has become popular among confidence
men, and others besides the originator have
be- n working 1t in the Eastern States 1t
promises to becpme as popular as the old
SO film fam, which has been worked for
years and is still new to many.
Following is the description given of the
swindler upon the circulars sent out: IAN
American, about 40 years of age. feet
high; weighs about 200 pounds; dark hair,
mustache and imperial; dark eyes and CON-
pleXion; tuli face; healthful and refined in
appearance and speech; dresses in height
OF fashion, but not ostentatiousIy: wears
black silk hat; dark blue overeoat; black
frock suit; carries q silver-he AIDED cane:
registers at the leading hotels under the
name OF Z. +. Beaumont, Buford Buchanan
and Beauvllle; draws checks with the sig
nature Charles f. Ellis, Thomas and
Francis"