The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-03-29
LATEST ART IN FORGERY
ST. LOUIS BANKS VICTIMIZED BY
A NEW SYSTEM.
The Artists First Secure a Duplicate of a
Firms Autographed Check, Properly
Numbered, and Then a Skillful
Penman Has Easy Sailing.


ST, LOUIS, March ga series of
forgerias of the most remarkable kind
has been unearthed in this city and
detectives are now at work upon the
case At least eight banks have suf
f red aud probably more. The aggre-
gate of the forged paper will reach
$50 900, all of which sum has gone into
the pockets of a gang Of professionals
who have succeeded by the use of
system never before equalled, the prin-
cipal feature of which was the secur-
ing of genuine check blanks and full
knowledge of the serial numbers, by
which knowledge they we've able not
only to systematic the work, but also
DELAY detection. The Continental,
Bank of the Republic aud Citizens
bank admit suffering losses, but state
that no one bank will lose a large sum.
The number of persons in the gang
of toTgers is supposed to be noC eX-
ceeding three, but their knowledge of
banking and business methods and
the versatility of their autograph
artists, are admittedly ample. The
forgers first took account of the fact
that checks drawn by business houses
are written usually upon the firms
own Autographed heading, protected
10y serial numbers on check and stub.
The forgers therefore not only coun~
terleited The blank check form of
their victims, but numbered their
checks close to the numbers
of the checks then running with
each victimized firm. To do this lat
ter, opportunity to see the genuine
check books was accomplished in va
riOus ways. IN one case, that of the
Charles w. Melcher Machine com
pnny, whose signature was forged to q
check for $500, u young man stating
that he represented the printing house
which Autographed the ficm's checks,
asked permission to see their check
book, as he was sent out to trace up
books alleged to have been badly
Autographed. The Tuse succeeded,
and was probably used in other cases.
In this instance the Continental bank
lost $500. AS there were eight or more
banks victimiZe3 and no one yet
Knows how many firms, there is no
way to tell the total loss. Moreover,
the police are nonplussed.
AS nearly as can be learned &ll the
forgeries were uttered last Friday and
Saturday. The only banks which ac-
knowledge suffering are those named,
but practical assent WAS given to in
quiIies made at other banks and it is
possible that even more were victim
lied. o. the alleged drawers of the
forged checks the signatures OF e. +.
Little d Co, feather dealers, and
julius Labsap, wholesale clothier, are
known to have been forged, in add.
ton to that of the &. w. Melcher Ma
chine company.
AS All instance of the work of the
gang, in less than an hour after tie
call OF the alleged printing house Iep-
resentative upon Mr.. Melchel, $500
check bearing Mr.. G. w. Melcher's
signature and being an exact dupIi-
cate in Its engraving and printing of
the genuine 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 IL
happened to be four numbers out Of
of the way by the time the forgery
reached the bank, hut this was close
enough for the purpose OF the swind-
lers.
In the case Of julius Labsap,
another of the victims of the gang,
not only was Mr.. Labsap's signature
forged, but the man who did this was
evidently thoroughly conversant with
the clothier's affairs The latter as a.
rule in drawing checks puts in par
enthesis the purpose for which the,
money is paid out, Immediately fol-.
lowing the amount. In the forged
check this popularity was observed
and served to disarm suspicion at the
back.
Wood ward & Tiernan printed the
checks for the Melcher Machine COM
pany and +. r.. Little & Co., and are
very much interested in having the
guilty parties run down and have of
fered reward to the police for their
capture. The corps of detectives and
police who have boon set to work on
these cases acknowledge that they
are completely at sea yet as to the
men who are working the banks and
obtaining the information neces
sary to make these successful
forgeries. And they, desiring to make
their work more sure, decline to give
any additional names nf banks or
victimized check drawers. The ad-
mission of the police, however, are
sufficient to confirm the opening
statement of this item that fully eight
banks have been victimized to the
amount of $4,000 Another theory
adv anced is that the forgeries were
the work of the men who recently got
into the Texas banks by means Of
raised drafts.