The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-17

That IS The Question TIA; Mr.. Sitterding Is
Now Askina


The recent forgeries on the Planters
National Bank and the First National
Bank by the use of the checks Of r. r.
Crusnp K Co., leaf tobacco dealers, and
Frederick Sitterding. the Well-knOWn con-
tractor are among the most remarkable
and most ingenious example Of bank
Hwindling that have occurred in this
city for many days, and mark the per-
petratOr as being one of the shrewdest
ana most dangerous crooks that ever
operated in Richmond.
The methods adopted We're entirely new
and come as a yeritable novelty in bank
swindling. and the fear exists among
bankers that further results from the
operations of this precious rascal VIII
turn UP.
Although detectives have been at work
on the case ever since the first forgery
was discovered 1t is feared that he has
made a clear escape.
The manner in which the forger Sc
cured the name Of Mr.. Sitterding shows
that no common bungler was engaged in
the business On March BIRD the contrac-
tor received a letter from Ashland. Va,
signed Or. G. Ii. Holmes, stating that
he wanted Mr. Sitterding TO bid on a
house he was about to build. and that
if he desired to make a bid he would
send him the plans next day.
GOT MONEY ORDER
on the same date or perhaps. the
next day. Mr. Stterling received let
ter from Ashland containing a money
order for $l4 without any other inclosure
indicating from whom it came. At the
same time he received a letter from Or.
Holmes stating that his son had sent Mr.
Sittordng a money order by mistake.
which he had instructed him 40 send TO
another man, and asked Mr.. Sitterding
in order to avoid the trouble OF having
the mistake corrected, to send his check
TO him at Ashland.
Mr.. Sitter1ng had his clerk to draw
the check for the amount from his book
OF elegant autographed checks. which
had been printed few weeks before by
a lithographing establishment OF this city.
and at once mailed 1T 10 DR.. Holmes.
This check was cashed at the First
National Bank March 18th, and on March
9th check exactly similar in character
for $50 was presented at the same bank
and without the slightest suspicion, that
one was also cashel.
on April 9th. when the contractor and
his clerk balanced up his bank account
they found 1t $4CO short. Then 1t was
found that a cancelled check was in the
pile that had never been drawn by Mr.
Sitterding. lie examined his check book
and found that although it was an exact
fac smile Of his checks and the writing
of his clerk in the body of the check,
and his own signature were perfect, that
he had never issued such a checkZin
short, that 1t was a perfect counterfeit
cleverly and consummately done. Every
check and stub in ...s book tailed and
showed that the check was not obtained
from his book. but from some other
source
wHFRE DIp HF GIT IT!
Mr. Sittcrding is not able TO account
for the way in which the swindler OBJ
tanned the check, and the photographers
who made the originals testify declined 10
make any statement concerning the mat
ter
In the case Of L. T. Crump q Co, I'm
which case the same party, il is supposed.
secured $40 from the Planters Bank In
the name of L. II. Hayes, a printed
check was employed of kind that
Messrs Crump & co. used two years ago.
Their check book Of that date also shows
that no check is missing.
DR.. G. II. Holmes rented pOstOilice box
No 12S at Ashland, Va, and It is said
there is now letter in the box to his
address. He called several times at the
Ashland pOstofice during the last week
in March, but has not been seen there
since. The great mystery In the case is
where did he get the blank checks.