St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-03
HUGE STEAL BALKED,,
Premature Flight Of a Chica-
go Paying Teller Saves
Five Banks.
Seventy Thousand Dollars Se-
cured, but Afterward
Made Good.
A Go-Between Lays Bare a
Scheme That Is Unique {
in It's Way.
Unexpected Protest of the
Paper Foil the Plans Of
the Conspirators.

CHICAGO, Aug. 2. - The flight OF
George Bartels, paying teller of the
Central Trust and Savings bank, with
the comparatively small sum of $4,000
of the banks cash, has unearthed what
seems to have been an extensive con-
spiracy to defraud five Chicago banks.
The scheme was partly successful, and
over $4,000 was secured from Bartel's
former employers, but has since been
made good. Another bank is said to
have lost $4,000, which amount was
also made good. Three men formerly
connected with the Chicago Bank Note
company have been arrested charged
with conspiracy to defraud and the issu-
ance of fraudulent paper. These are
William A. Forbes, N. w. Burnside
and Charles M. Anson. Bartels was
the fourth man wanted. The prelim-
mary hearing is set for Thursday.
Charles Nichols, go-between, has
made affidavit which purports to expose
the whole scheme. A bill in chancery
asking for the appointment of re-
ceiver for the bank note concern, filed
by John e. Gribles, former president of
the company, also throws light upon
The Methods Used
Forbes was manager of the Chicago
Bank Note company: Burnside, son
of a we'll known physician. was as
sociated with Forbes; Anson was but an
employe of the firm. These young men
were vouched for by Gen. Allen c. Full
Ter and numerous men of wealth and
influence, who appear to have trusted
them fully owing to their connection
with young Burnside. They opened
accounts with the Central Trust and
Savings bank, the Globe National bank,
the State Bank of Chicago, the First
National bank, and the Milwaukee Ave
nue. State bank. Immediately they
deposited checks, drafts, etc., which it
is claimed have since been found to be
fraudulent, and later drew out the cash.
BY colluslon with Bartels the great
bulk OF the paper was dumped on the
Central Trust Savings bank. The tel
Ter. i'll the absence of the cashier, certi-
fed all paper and the forged drafts,
checks. ETC., were only deposited when
the higher officials of the bank were
out. 1t is said that the plotterS intend
ed to pull all the banks they had de-
posted money with into their net and
then break up and clear out. but the
paper Cdilie W pTOCeSt TOO soon.
According to Nicho's affidavit, the
eonspirators Systematically wined,
dined and clothed Bartels, besides paw
ing the expenses of the teller and his
friends nightly at houses of illfame.
Bartels disarmed suspicion by ingen-
louSly warning the bank officials that
he was suspicious that the note com-
pany was "kiting" and suggesting that
general guaratee of all transactiOns
be secured from wealthy DR.. Burnside.
Allen Z. Fuller, who is reported to be
worth over $10,000,000 and DR.. Burn-
side, his brother-in-law, bo til of whom
had implicit confidence in the young
men, paid all the shortage and none OF
the banks are out one cent.
what Nichols ,EelIs.
Nichols confession shows that Burn
side and Forbes employed him for the
specific purpose of acting as go-be-
tween between the banks and bank note
company; Nichols was given money with
which to dine, wine, ciOthe and pay any
other bill that Mr.. Bartles desired as
compensation for keeping him posted on
the amounts to meet their clearings
daily, for certifying checks in the alb
sence of the cashier, for making deposits
for them, with fictitious names, when
required.
a number of messenger boys were
constantly employed to watch the bank
for momentary absences of the cashier
i'll order to give opportunities for pre-
senting these fraudulent checks to
Bartles in order that they might be
passed to the credit of the company and
go through before the cashier could
learn OF them. Bartles was also ready
with certified check to exchange for
the deposit as soon as 1t came IN. These
certified checks were taken as fast as
cabs could carry them to the Globe,
First National or other banks in order
to protect them. In the same way certi-
fed checks from other banks were
given the Central Trust and Savings
banks-always for some display for eff
feet. Various sums of money were on
deposit, as has since been learned, for
effect