The morning times., 1895-12-01
DONE BY 1 CHECK DODGE
Washington Firms victimized by
a Clever Young Rascal.
QUITE A NOVEL METHOD
Confidence Man Rushed HatIess ana
COatless Into n Store and Asked
That Check of NeighbOring Busi-
ness Man He Ca Cashed-ThOugh Under
Observation, He Yet Succeeded.

A clever though familiar check swindle
has been in operation in Washington our
Ing the past week, and thus fur Mayer bros.
& Co. aud the Bon Marche are the only
business nouses which have reported tuein-
selves as victimized, but the detective
corps is of the opinion that Others VIII
come to the front.
Yesterday a man came hurriedly into tue
establishment OF Mayer bros. Il Co. and
apparently IN great haste, asked OF the
manager. "CaD you casn Il check Tor SoO
IN paying OFF today?" The business house
of X. O. Holtzman is directly next door
The young man WHO rushed In had the
appearance OF being clerk for Holtz-
man. He was without his hat, was III ms
shirt sleeves, had a pen behind his ear and
did not have the check with him. In
answer TO iEis query, AR. Mayer said he
thought he coulu accommodate Mr.. Hoitz-
man.
CLERK RUSHED OUT.
Then the supposed clerk rushed out and
Into the office OF Mr.. Hoffman.
Mr.. Mayer stood at his front door and
watched tie young man go into Holtz-
out, again without hat or coat, but this
time with check flutteriug IN his hand
Tne lux of The signature Was fresh ana 1t
had been dated with a regular dating
machine and in red ink.
Mr.. Mayer saw all tnis and the realism
OF the performance was sufficient 20 cecelNe
even the able business man that Mr.. Mayer
is. He casned tue check and The young
man left.
That young man was always in Il hurry.
He moved with jump, just as though ne
really had been q real estate clerk. MIR.
Mayer deposited the check with The Lincoln
National Bank. Thence IL passed TO the
Clearing House, and thence to the Traders
National Bank, where IL WAS thrown out.
Mr.. Hoitznan not carrying an accoInt with
that bank. There was no effort IN the
part or Inc writer to Initiate :he signature
The same game was played on the Bon
Marche with "a check purporting TO have
been drawn by Mr.. Wash. Is. Williams.
also on the Traders National Bank. The
only difference in the game was that the
check winch the manager of The Bon Marcnc
paid was FOR S65. II was present I'll N the
same manner and under exactly BE same
conditions.
WATCHED THE swINDLER.
The manager OF the Bon Narchc stood
at his door and watched The cirrk-nke
looking young man as he FASTENED across 10
the street to the Office of Mr.. Williams and
u few minutes later emerged with check
in his hand. or course the irerchant
thought that everything was al right. 1t
looked tnat way.
The Bon Marcne deposited the check and
it passed on 10 the bank against which II
wasdrawn, but the drI w.r wa not officially
known there. and the check was re iected.
Then it was that the matter WIS brought
to the attent ion of the detective bureau.
The description OF the young man who
WORKED the 1iinl is: TWENTY-FIVE years
Old. light mustachc, light brown hair. five
feet ei-rf inches in height. The operator
must, OF necessity, have mad Il confederate
who held his coat and hat while he worked
his victims.
The same game was pla yed about three
or four months ago Oh Mr.. Yerk.s. of the
Independent Ice Company. with Il check
purportiug to have been dra WI 10y Dr. WHIT
HarDmett. The offices of these gentlemen
are nearly opposite each other on Pcnus VI
vania avenue, and they are well known
to each other. IL was also operated success
fully IN Baltimore. aud III. In!scrcantS wer,.
never appreilenled.
The case mas Leun turned over to De
tectives Carter aud Gala CHER