The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-05-31
A NOVICE IN CRIME
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.

Sioux CITY, Iowa. May 27.--Alfred w.
Seymour, the bank swIndler, who Is
credited with having defrauded banks
in the northwest out of $4,000 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 IL of the present
year. His work has been so well dore
as to defy detection except by CORES
pondence with the banks from which it
appeared his draft was purchased. His
pan is to visit city and ascertain who
Itse correspondents of the banks are in
other places. He then goes to the
smaller places, buys drafts, generally
of the denomination of $14, SIS and S1s
against the banks he intends to victim
lie and raises them to 81 400, 81 500 and
81 800, and so successful has he been
that as yet none of his drafts have been
refused payment and In not one in
stance were the forgerles discovered
until days after when corresponds nee
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 flied the perforation
<~n xl,te ii II
check perforator and make them with
the raised figures, alter the writing
and present the draft at the bank
against which 1t was drawn for pay
ment. 1t was only by the aid of mi
croscope that the work was detected.
Seymour commenced operations in
Des Molnes in April and victimized
banks there to the extent of So, 900.
He next called on the bankers of Allan
tic and secured about $4,000 there.
Kansas City banks, four in number,
were victimized for about $40, 900.
Omaha bankerscontribute about 81, ZOO
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 5000, and drafts on Sioux
City banks that Increased his plumber
by $1,000 Four banks were caught
here and each on 81, 800 drafts. Cedar
Rapids banks were touched up next,
and early this week Seymour turned ur
In Milwaukee, where he succeeded In
clearing up $5,4 400 in two or three DAYS
Since that time he has not been heard
from.
In 1880 Seymour was business mar
at Alta, In Buena Vista county, Iowa
He was elected member of the county
board of that county and then came hi.
downfall. Transactions of his In con
nectlon 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 L
settle up his business affairs there ant
until April II was engaged for one firm
or another at Minneapolis as a book
keeper. Previous to that he worked
for Osborne & Clark, lumber dealers
He worked that firm TO his own prof
by endorsing checks that came to /
through the malls and appropriatin,
the money. When his forgeries wer,
discovered he managed to evade the 20
lice and was next heard from April 25
when he bought drafts against De
Moines banks at Atlantic.
The police are inclined to believ
that Seymour has a confederate VIII,
does the check-raising and that he 1
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 II
his operations.