The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-04-08

iC Iidll d CoIlSluCI dpIC HutIlD tE Oh Shall
obligations to meet and he desired to
buy bank drafts on New York. He
bought a number, most of them for less
han twenty dollars in amount. Some
weeks later this bank began to receive
these drafts, and discovered that the
amounts upon them did not agree with
their books. Not the slightest indica-
ton of change was apparent to the eye.
Chemical treatment revealed no alter
alton, and yet it was certain that the
criminal, being skilled in chemistry,
had altered the figures. 1t was his
method not to increase the amount
very greatly. A sixteen-dollar draft
he made one hundred and sixty dollars.
Small amounts like these would not
tend to cause suspicion, and such drafts
could be easily negotiated. As the
bank could not prove forgery or altera-
ton it was compelled to pay the drafts.
More than one case Of this kind has
occurred within the last year, but,
bank officers being extremely sensi-
tive, they have paid the losses, which
have not aggregated very large
amounts, and kept quiet.
Within a few weeks the power of
chemistry to aid criminals has been
made manifest in the case of a Buffalo
bank. This bank believed that it was
amply protected against fraud. by
what is called the advice system. It's
habit has been at the close of each
days business to notify its New York
correspondent of all the drafts it has
issued that day, and the numbers and
amounts of each of them. This it was
supposed would prevent the payment
of any altered draft when it reached
the New York bank. But this advice
cost the bank $4,000. A well-dressed
man, well introduced apparently, with
the manner of an active business man.
bought two drafts of this bank, one
for $4,000 and for SI20. This trans
action was reported Immediately to
the New York correspondent. A day
or two later a draft for ST., 900 was
received by the New York correspon-
dent. Its number correspondent with
that indicated in the letter of informa-
ton sent from the Buffalo bank. and
it was therefore paid. But when a
few days after that another draft for
$4,000 of the same Der was re-
ceived it was evident that fraud had
been practiced. The last draft was
genuine. 1t had been negotiated in a
distant city. The first draft had been
altered SO hat its number corresponded
with nat of the genuine draft for s12,-
900, and it had been raised from S120 to
$4,000. Yet the alterations were so
perfect that it was almost impossible
for Mr.. Slice to detect them. AS the
New York correspondent had paid the
forged draft it was, of course, COM
PEELED to pay the genuine one, and the
Buffalo bank lost it's money.
1t has been supposed that the use of
the punch was a perfect preventive Of
raising checks. But that depends upon
what kind of punch is used. One
check issued for S39 was raised to So, 900
and paid. although the figures 80 had
been punched in the check. 1t is proba-
BILE, however, that perfect punches will
be invented which will prevent the
raising of the amount. But this will
not prevent forgery.
One of the greatest banks of New
York has used for some years a patent
paper for its checks, for which it has
been claimed that alterations are i'm
possible without immediate revelation
upon the paper itself. A depositor in
this bank desiring to test this claim
gave a check to Mr.. Slice, saying to him
that he would pay him 500 if he would
alter the writing upon hat check and
substitute something else for it so as
to defy discovery. Mr.. Slice declared
that recent advances in chemistry
would make such alterations possible,
aud a day or two later he took the
check to this man with every trace of
the original writing except the sigma
ture removed and new writing substi-
tuted in such a as to defy dis
covery either by the naked eve. the
microscope or by che mistry.
There are several kinds of safety
paper in use and when they were first
made they detied alteration, but chem
istry has beaten them. Mr.. Slice has
made experiments with all of them
and finds that it is possible to bleach
writing from them in such a manner
as to make discovery impossible.
Business men who make many checks
are now being made aware of these
dangers, and, understanding that the
tendency Of the courts is to protect
banks where the sign a is unques-
toned and the appearance of the check
is such as to defy detection, are now
adopting all sorts of devices for their
security. Some of them have made
private arrangements with their banks
not TO pay any checks which do not
have a secret mark upon them. But
this does not prevent other forgeries.
The Connecticut cas- shows that it is
possible for a scoundrel to take a let