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

A few years ago it would have been
possible to have proven such bleaching
and alteration. Prof Doremus, an ex-
pert authority, testified in court less
than "a year ago that where original
writing had been removed it could BIZ
reproduced by chemical reagents. But
if chemicals failed to restore any writ
ing, then it might be regarded as
established that the only writing upon
the paper was that which appeared to
the naked eye.
These two notes were submitted to
Frederick v. Slice, who is also an ex-
pert, and he subjected them 70 chem
zeal treatment. The paper upon which
the note for 81, 900 was written under
this reagent revealed earlier writing.
and in Mr.. Peckham's handwriting.
But no treatment of the paper upon
which the $S, 900 note had been written
brought to light any earlier writing.
As the first trial was upon this note,
and as the only evidence of forgery
was Mr.. Peckham's uncorroborated tes-
timony hat he had never made the
note, the case against the accused man
failed.
But the fact that Mr.. Slice was not
able to restore earlier writing is no
longer proof that no such writing was
ever made on that paper, and in this
advance in chemical knowledge lies
one OF the greatest dangers to business
men. A year or so ago a firm doing a
large insurance business in New York
signed three checks brought by the
cashier to them in the course of his
usual business. The checks were made
payable to another insurance company.
Some time after that this cashier dis
appeared and no trace of him has ever
been discovered. 1t was her found by
the officers of the company that he had
by use of chemicals Obliterated the
name OF the payee on these checks and
inserted his own, ard in that way was
able to draw the money, amounting to
several thousand dollars.
The company brought suit against
the bank, claiming that it had paid
forged checks, and Prof. Doremus was
called as ar expert for the bank. He
testified hat if there had been oblit-
GRAFTON of the name of the original
payee it would be established by chem
zeal treatment. The checks were sub
mitted to such chemical treatment, but
there was no revelation of alteration.
Mr.. Slee was called as an expert, and
he testified that while Prof. Doremus'
assertion would have been correct if
made some months before, yet that it
was now possible to obliterate the
names op commercial paper in such a
way as to defy chemical reagents; and
to prove his assertion Mr.. Slice, in the
presence of the jury, wrote upon slips
of paper, then oblitarated the names
by chemicals, and Prot. Doremus was
unable by any treatment to restore this
writing. SO that it was then proved
that chemical science had now taught
criminals how this thing might be
done, although such proof serves not to
help the company, since it could not be
proved that it was done in this case.
The company was compelledto pay the
checks.
This trial has caused very great
alarm and anxiety to business men,
and, followed up as it has been by de-
cisions in other cases, it reveals a new
tendency on the part of courts which
may cost business houses many thou
sands of dollars, since it puts the bur-
den of proof of forgery not upon the
banks but upon those who dispute com
mercial paper in ssses where there
have been alterations.
Mr.. Slee says that his Investigations
have taught him that the marrying of
ink to paper so as to produce negotia-
BILE bills or evidences of credit cannot
be done in such a way as to prevent
alterations or forgeries, with the
chance very greatly that the parties
whose names or paper are thus forged
will have to stand the loss instead of
banks.
These things have not made any pub
lie excitement, because forgeries of
this kind have not the dramatic and
sensatio nal elements which used to at
tend great bank burglaries. Yet this
advance in criminal knowledge is far
more dangerous than the old method of
crime. as some experiences of the last
few months will indicate.
A man with letters of introduction,
undoubtedly forged, went not long ago
to one of the largest banks in New
York city with s., 900 in one pile and
$50 in another. He said to the teller
that he wished to deposit this money
and to take out w certificates of de-
post. Having done SO, he chatted
with h teller awhile, who was i'm
pressed with his very greatly.
On the following day the mar returned
to the bank, saying that he had a
chance for business investment and
would therefore draw the S.. 900 depos-
it, handing in to the teller his certit-