The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-02
Alfred w. Seymour Credited With
Defrauding Many Banks. @
GOT AWAY WITH OVER $4,000
His Work Has Been So smooth as to Defy
Detection Except by Correspondence
With the Banks.


credited with having defrauded banks
in the northwest out of $50, 900 or more
in the past couple of months, although
an old criminal, is novice at this par
ticular branch OF crime in which he is
now alleged to be working. Seymour
commenced operating against the
banks about April II of the present
year. His work has been 50 well done
as to defy detection except by cores
pondence with the banks from which it
appeared his draft was purchased. His
plan is to visit city and ascertain who
the correspondents of the banks are in
other places. He then goes to the
smaller places, buys drafts, generally
of the denomination of Sl4, SIS and $lS
against the banks he intends to victim
ize and raises them to 81, 400, 81, 500 and
ST 800, and so successful has he been
that as vet none of his drafts have been
refused payment and in not one in
stance were the forgeries discovered
until days after when correspondence
between the banks involved disclosed
the forgery. The drafts were all per
forated, but this was no obstacle to
Seymour. He covered the perforated
parts with fine pulp and submitted it
to pressure that filled the perforatlon
completely. He would then take a
check perforator and make them with
the raised figures, alter the writing
and present the draft at the bank
against which it was drawn for pay.
men:. 1t was only by the aid of mi
croscope that the work was detected.
Seymour commenced operations in
l)es Moines in April and victimized
banks there to the extent of $1,000.
He next called on the bankers of Allan
tic and secured about $1,000 there.
Kansas City banks, four in number,
were victimized for about $4,000.
Omaha bankers contributed about SIS, OOO
to his collection and Council Bluffs
banks were caught for as much more
He next went to Mitchell, S. d., and
bought drafts on Sioux Falls banks that
realized him s., 900, and drafts on Sioux
City banks that increased his plunde1
by $1,000. Four banks were caught
here and each on ST. 800 drafts. Ceda,
Rapids banks were touched up next
and early this week Seymour turned ur
in Milwaukee, where he succeeded II
clearing up S., 400 in two or three days
Since that time he has not been heari
from.
In 1880 Seymour was business maj
at Alta, in Buena Vista county, Iowa
He was elected a member of the count,
board of that county and then came hi
downfall. Transactions of his in con
nection with bills against the count,
were shady. He was indicted for for
gerry, convicted and sent to the peni
Tertiary at Anamosa. He served hi
time, was released, returned to Alta t,
settle up his business affairs there ant
until April II was engaged for one flrn
or another at Minneapolis as a book
keeper. Previous to that he worke'
for Osborne & Clark, lumber dealers
He worked that firm to his own prof
by endorsing checks that came to
through the mails and APPROPRIATE,
the money. When his forgeries wer
discovered he managed to evade the pc
lice and was next heard from April Is
when he bought drafts against De
Moines banks at Atlantic.
The police are inclined to believ
that Seymour has confederate VIII
does the check-raising and that he i
one of the gang to which Joe Hayward
recently arrested in New York, be
longs. He uses the names R. L. Good
win, G. D. Hamilton and G.. D. Haley il
his operations.