The herald., 1894-03-24
ST. LOUIS BANKS SWINDLED
A Series Of Exceedingly Clever
FOrgeries.
at Least Eight Banks Taken in and
Probably More.
Three Persons Thought to Be Implicated
in the Crime--Detsctivss Look
ing for a Olus-How II
Was Done.

BY the Associated Press.
ST.. LOUIS, March ga series OF
forgeriea of the most remarkable kind
has been unearthed in this city, and
detectives are now at work upon it. at
least eight banks have suffered and
probably more. The aggregate of the
forged paper will reach $4,000, all OF
which sum has gone into the pockets OF
q gang OF professionals, who have sue
ceeded by the use of Bystem never
before equalled, the principle Of which
was the securing of genuine blanks and
full knowledge OF the serial numbers,
by which knowledge they were not
only able to minimize the danger in
uttering, but also delay detection. The
Continental bank, the Bank OF the
Republic and Citizens bank admit
suffering losses. but individually state
that no one bank will lose large cum.
The number of persons in the gang OF
forgers is supposed to be not exceeding
three, but their knowledge OF banking
and business methods and the veraatil-
ity of their autograph artist are ad-
mittedly ample. Their preparations
were elaborate and consumed some time,
but when ready, their haul was made
with astonishing rRpidity. As only a
few of their checks have been passed
upon by the alleged drawers, it is i'm
possible to say how much the forgers
took, but not less than $780, 900.
The forgers first took account of the
fact that checks drawn by business
houses are written usually upon the
firms own Autographed heading, pro-
tected by numbers on check and stub.
They therefore not only countsrfeited
the blank check forms of their victims,
but numbered their checks close to the
numbers of checks then running with
each victimized firm. To get this latter
knowledge, an opportunity to zee the
genuine check book was necessary, and
was accomplished in various ways. In
enc case, that of the Charles W. Melcher
Machine company, whose signature was
forged to check for $500, young man
stating that he represented the printing
house which Autographed the firms
checks asked permission to see their
check book, as he was sent out to trace
up books alleged to have been badly
autographed. The ruse succeeded and
was probably used in other cases.
In this instance the Continental bank
lost 5000. As there were eight or more
other banks victimized, and no one
knows how many firms. there is no way
to tell the total loss. Moreover, the
police will not communicate.
AS near aa can be learned, all the
forgeries were committed last Friday
and Saturday. The only banks which
acknowledge suffering are those named,
but practical assent was given to in
Quiries made at FIVE other banks and it
is possible that more were visited.
OF the alleged drawers OF the forged
CHECKS, the signatures OF +. +. Little d
Co., feather dealers, and Julius Labsap,
Wholesale clothier, are known to have
neen forged, in addition to that OF the
;,.tano ax "Ai~s company. As
one inasHSSs - isSs 0 tntaAEe ntAe one hour Stsr tb
call Of the alleged printing house repre-
sentative upon Mr.. Melcher, q 5000
check, bearing @. w. Melcher's sigma
ture, and being an exact duplicate in its
engraving and printing of the green
checks OF the firm, was presented at the
Continental bank and paid. 1t had all
been previously prepared except the
serial number which was supplied at
the last moment for the reason stated.
1t happened to be four numbers out of
the way by the time the forger reached
the bank, but this was close enough for
the purpose Of the swindler.
In the case of julius Labsap, another
of the victims OF the gang, not only was
the signature of Mr.. Labsap cleverlv
forged, but the forgsr was very familiar
with his business. The forged check was
honored promptly. Wood & Co., who
printed the checks for the Melcher Ma.
chine company and F. E. Little & Co.,
are very much interested in having the
guilty parties run down.