The morning call., 1894-03-24
EIGHT BANKS ARE FLEECED.
Use of a System Never Before
Equaled.
BOLD RUSES OF THE RASCALS.
So Neatly Is Their Work Done That
St. Louis TelIers Were Easily
Swindled.

ST. LOUIS. March pa series of for
geries of the most remarkable kind has
been unearthed in this city and detectives
are at work on the matter At least eight
banks have suffered, probably more.
The aggregate of the forged paper will
reach $4,000. all Of which sum has gone
into the pockets OF gang professionals,
who have succeeded by the use of system
never before equaled, the principal feature
of which was the securing of genuine
blanks and full knowledge of the serial
numbers, by which knowledge they were
able not only to minimize the danger in
utteriDg, but also delay detection. the
Continental Bank, Bank of the Republic
and Citizens Bank admit suffering losses,
but individually state that no one bank
will lose large sum.
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 versatility Of
their autograph artist are adm mttedly
ample. Their preparations were elaborate
and consumed some time, but when ready
their haul was made with astonishing
rapidly. AS only few of their checks
have been passed upon by their alleged
drawers it is impossible to say how much
the forgers took, but it is not less than
$4,000. The forgers first took account of
the fact that checks drawn by business
houses are written usually upon the firms
own autographed heading. protected by
numbers on the check aud Stub
The forgers, therefore. not only counter
feited the Dlank-check forms of their vic
tins, but numbered their checks close to
the numbers of the checks hen running
with each victimiZed firm. To get this lat
ter opportunity to see the genuine check
books was accom- plished in various ways.
In one case, that of the Charles W. Melcher
Machine Company, whose signature was
forged to a 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 the
| books alleged to have been badly litho-
| graphed. The ruse succeeded, and was
| probably used in other cases. In this in
stance the Continental Bank lost $500. AS
there were eight or more other banks vic
tim Zed and no one knows how many
firms. there is no way to tell the total loss.
Moreover, the police will not communicate.
AS near as can be learned all the
| forgeries were committed last Friday and
Saturday. The only banks which acknowl-
edged suffering are those named, bur prae-
tic al assent was given to inquiries made
at five other banks and it Is possible that
more were visited. OF the alleged drawers
of the forged checks the signatures of f.
Z. Little & Co.. feather-dealers, and Julius
Labsap, wholesale clothier, are known TO
have BEEN forged in addition to that of
the C. w. Mecher Machine Company.
As one in stance of the work of the gang
10 less than an hour after the call of the
alleged printng-house representative upon
MIR. Melcher $500 check, bearing c. W.
Melcher's signature and being an exact
duplicate in its engraving and printing of
the green checks of the firm, was pre-
| senled 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 th G
way by the time the forger reached the
purpose of the swindlers.
In the case of Julius Labsap, another of
the victims of the gang, not only was the
signature OF Mr.. Labsap cleverly forged.
but the forger was very familiar with his
business. The forged check was hon ored
promptly. Wood q Co. printed the checks
for the Mecher Machine Company, and T.
Z. Little d Co. are very much in terested
| in having The guilty parties run down.