New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-26
Il. 4. HlRTEY,S FORGERIES.
HOW HE GOES ABOUT HIS OPERATIONS.
Run Down AGAIN N LANSING. Mci.-swIN-
DIED BANKS ~ THIS CITY.

Run powH AGAIN ~ LANSING. MICH.-sWIN-
DIED BANKS ~ THIS CITY.
Frank A. Harvey. alias Horace b. Baker. alias
George 7. Sage etc. the forger was arrested yes
te-lay at Lansing. Mich. by a Philadelphia repre-
sentative OF P.nkerton's National Detective Agency
Re had been posing as the Rev. Charles o. Gibson
and preparing 70 swini.e baa mat city On
July - last Harvey was arrestei ~ Nnelan1, ~ d..
where n. had been living under The alias Of Horace
u. Baker with his wifi and child He was taken
on requlsltiou to Hlrfor! County. Nd, where he
hal been indicted under tn alias % George p Sage
e. swindlinT the Hartford National Bank. OF Bel
Air Nj by means Of iJrsel checks. He escaped
from tae Hartford County Jai! 81 he nsht OK Octo-
Der g. b, INK > led by Two fellow prisoners.
on Apr. Is las; Harvey. under the alias Of George
p Sage claiming to b. from Waterbury, Conn.,.
arrived al Bel Air and, representing himself as ac-
qualnteI wiki Maryland people well known In Bel
Air and prohbitionst. obtained the aid Ok WELL
known prohiotonists TO post him about lands In
that region. on the same day he deposited in the
Hartford National Bank for collection draft drawn
by A bank in Waterbury, Conn, on a New-fork
bank for $50. On April 26 he deposited a similar
draft on a New-York bank for $1,000. These were
genuine drafts From time to time he drew checks
against these deposits. Meanwhile he continued at
Bel Air looking 4, farms. showing great knowledge
Of the dairy and creamery business. and made many
acqulintances He also made brilliant addresses at
church and Christian r.ndeavOr meetings. on May
II he deroslt.d two drafts on New-York banks as-
gregatlng $500 which afterward proved 10 be for
geries. but before the forgeres were discovered he
drew S.ic) In cash. ard his request received two
drafts one Cor $l0p Phl.G Gelpha and another for
81 so on Baltimore. the latter made payable 10
well-known resident OF Baltimore, from whom he
was about buying a farm. they having been together
IN the Bel Air Bank that morning He left Bel Air
Immediately. went TO Baltimore. and by trick Sc
cured the Endorsement Of the Baltlmorean 10 whose
e. la Iraf u-ocr hon Vsn IL
ade. pha and secured the money the $1,000 draft.
Pinkerton's National Detective Agency, OF this
city. which keeps a very full record OF professional
forgers says that Robert \. Harvey il his correct
name. He is said to have been born in Virginia
and to have moved with his parents to Philadelphia
when a boy. His father reputable business
man OF Philadelphia AMI die! some years ago His
mother still lives in Philadelphia. He has two
brothers In business in this city. His criminal
career t. have begun In California. where in
1851. when twenty-three years OF age. he was con-
v.cted in Santa Clara County OF embezzlement and
sentenced 10 the state Prison At san quentin for
two years. After serving his sentence he wen, 70
Montana and from there To Topeka, Kan where,
under the name of Robert H. Alexander ne claimed
to De engaged by the publishing house OF Rand.
SET with order of Cool Tempars, Young Mems
Christian Association and other religious and chart.
table organizations ana married the daughter or
very respectable parents His criminal record in the
WASN'T neton' j. g: where, unier me alas OF Rod
EFT +. Han. on November "a OF that year ne was
a
men checks Tor small amounts. ON his arrest II
developed that the was wanted n Montana ana
Colorado for forseres there. ani an effort was
made 10 extralite him. but he was tried on March
Il. 1891. for the Washington offences found guilty
and sentenced to three years In the Albany Pen-
Tertiary, from which he was discharged In August
1872
In October succeeding his release. while confined
in the Arnot Ogden Hospital. OF Elm.ra, ~ y he
planned forgery, which he successfully executed
Immediately on his release; From ElmiTa he went
to Cleveland. Ohio. where he swindlei Wardwell Il
Co with forged draft FOR SAP 20. purporting to be
Issued by the Merchants Bank. OF Binghamton. y:
Y, on New-York City bank. He also succeeded
in swindling banks at Chicago. Ill., on March q,
1893. al Mount Vernon " Y, on June q. 1898; at
Bel Air Nd on May II. 1894: at Worcester. Mass.
Oh June 90 1894, and many others.
He usually prepares FOR his forgeries by entering
into correspondence with some minister or officer
OF some religious organzation IN the city where he
proposes operate lie then follows up this cor
respondence with visit. He is well verssd in the
ritual OF the order of Good Temp.ars. understands
the Bible thoroughly is well acquainted with Chris.
tan Endeavor work. cOnversant with books and
authors and the apparent sincerity OF MS addresses
and prayers AT religious meetings always brings him
IA host OF friends. from whom he soon picks out
some one TO introduce him at the bank he pro-
poses to swndle He then deposits small amount
and for shor, time keeps a running account; ana
finally deposits forged draft against which he
draws and disappears.