The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-07
VERY CUTE SWINDLE.
Seattle Business Man Pers0-
mated by Confidence Man.
NEWCOMERS NEATLY TAKEN IN.
Il. c. Cheasty Finds He Was Cleveriy
Counterfeited by Sharper, Who
Makes 500 by His Wits.

E. C. Cheasty, Of the firm Of Dimock &
Cheasty. Of this caty, few days ago dis
covered that the fact that he is not person.
ally acquainted with firm with which he
does business in New York has caused
them 10 become the victim OF a clever
swindier and 10 innocently draw others
into the same position.
Two checks signed by E. C. Cheasty were
received few days ago from New York by
the First National bank, one for 800 hay-
ing been cashed by Miller Bros, hat man
ufacturers. and the other for $60I by Eos
ter 4 Co, jewellers. IS Mr.. Cheastv has
no account at the First National bank the
checks we're referred to Mr.. Cheasty, who
Immediately pronounced them forgeries,
and they were returned TO the New York
bank.
Mr.. Cheasty had before had canse to sus-
pect something wrong. and as soon as he
received the checks he understood the
game which had been played. lie tele-
graphed inquiries TO Miller Bros. and by
return mail received a letter from Edward
NJ. Miller. head OF the firm, telling the
whole story.
About January 10 n young man, with
dark hair and mustache and glasses,
ard introduced himself as Edward c.
Chcasty. Never having seen Mr.. Cheasty,
the Millers gave him a cordial welcome
and began To talk business. He wanted to
buy some hats, and entered into a dis
cussion of styles like an old hand at the
business For the next three days he
made his headquarters at Millers and
soon became tolerably familiar with them.
4. es.ff -,
Ter that ne wanted to buy some jewelry
for his wife ana asked him to recommend
good place. Mr.. Miller suggested Foster
& Co, firm with which he was well ac-
quainted, and the supposed Mr. Chesty
went around there. After a short
time he returned to MiIier's and
asked Mr.. Miller To so with him
aud see the selection he had made. The
latter readily consented, and after the sup
posed Cheasty had dashed off hurried
letter to Mrs. I'd c. Cheasty, 127 West
Ninth street, Seattle. on sheet OF Miller
Bros note paper and thrown it into the
FIRMS naiibox, he proposed 10 60. 1t sud
denly occurred TO him that he was short
OF cash. and lie asked Mr.. Miller 10 cash
check for 800. The latter, thrown off his
guard by the letter to Mrs. Cheasty,"
who las no existence, and by his custom
eris Establishments, cheerfully did SO.
Then they went 10 the jewelers., and to-
gether they. greatly admired diamond
ring. The pseudo Cheasty then paid tho
ieweler with a check for $G01 on the First
National bank of Seattle, telling Miller
eleefully how lac would surprise his wife,
the latter not knowing Mr.. Cheasty TO he
unmarried. Then he returned TO Miler's
store, and. after elusive adieux, lett with
Mr. Miller's cash and Mr.. Fosters
jewelry.
few days before the checks were re-
oeived in Seattle, Mr.. Cheasty found q
letter which had come by the morning
mail and which his partner. Mr.. Dimock,
had left unopened. Seeing the name
Cheasty on it he tore it open and was
astonished 10 see that it began my dear
wife" Sure of his celibacy, he thought
it must be meant for some other
person and looked ct the address. Then
he smclt q rat When the checks arrived
the swindlers game flashed on his mind.
lie had been personated by Il smooth
young man and his business friends had
paid for their ignorance of his personal APP
pearance. Mr.. Miiler's letter confirmed
his opinion.
1t is evident that the swinder was
man who knew Seattle, knew Dimock IL
Cheasty, knew with whom they did bust
ness in New York and knew that Mr.
Cheasty had never seen the Nlillers. lie
must also have known that Miller Bros
traveller, who knew Mr.. Cheasty personally,
was not in New York. but on his way 10
the Coast. Either this or he had n con-
federate here who knew all these things.
4
tion of the swindler's identity down to u
very few persons.
The same ingenious trick was played a
year or so ago by man who represented
himself TO be Mr.. Sanborn. of Sanborn
Vail & Co. art dealers. OF san Francisco.
LiSe Mr.. Cheasty, Mr.. Sanborn had done
considerable business with his New York
correspondents but had never seen any of
them. The game was worked tho same
way with equally successful results and
was similarly discovered