Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-05-26


said 60 havo no parallel in the criminal
history OF America. On Dec. 2, 1895, a
businesslike looking man of refined and
gentlcmanly appearance, perhaps IS years
old and feet inches tall, with abundant
dark hair, DARK eyes and smooth face,
rented an Office IL Tho Chronicle building,
San Francisco. Shortly after taking pos
session OF the Office he had lettered ON the
door, "A. II. Dean, Merchandise Broker
a few days after Dean opened his Office he
told the superintendent Of tho building
that he wished to open an account with
reputable bank. The superintendent told
him that he would he glad to introduce
Dean ut the Nevada bank and did so. The
bank officials were captivated by Deans
manner. He was SD clearly man of
marked business ability that they consid-
cred themselves fortunate in obtaining
such u customer.
Deans first deposit was So, 500 in cash.
On Dec. Dean drew against tho deposit
for $500. a few days later he drew out
500 more. On Dec. Is he deposited $500
I'm cash and n draft on tho Anglo. Califor-
mia bank for eos. This SOS draft was tho
next step in the swindle. 1t was here that
tho middle man, Cregan, got in his fine
work. 1t was he who purchased the draft
from the Anglo-California bank. On Dec.
Cregan bought another draft on the
Bank Of Woodland, Woodland, Cal, fer
tl2, drawn on the Crockcr- " oolworth Ma
tional hank of San Francisco, and payable
to the order OF a. II. Dean.
This draft was drawn on safety paper,
filled out by the cashier in q heavy hand,
and perforated on each end with u check
punch were the figures and 2, with the
dollar sign before them. The Bank of
Woodland keeps two accounts subject to
check In San Francisco and on tho day
the draft was drawn they were drawing on
their correspondent other than the Crockcr-
Woolworth bank. InasInuch as the draft
OF sl3 was to a stranger, they decided to
Issue the draft on the Crockcr-woolwor.h
bank, because tho drafts on that bank
were printed on safety paper. The per-
foration on each end was out of the regu-
lar course and was dono rs an additional
safeguard.
Eight days later, on Dec. II, this draft,
with the date changed from Dec. o to Dec.
10 and the amount raised from sl2 Ia So,
600, was deposited by Dean to his credit
In the Nevada bank. At the time Dean
deposited the draft he drew out 81, 200 in
currency. This was So more than his bal
and left his account balance in the bank
e2l, 995, SO that from that time, if the
fraud should prove abortive, the forgers
had none of their own money Mt stake
On the day that Dean deposited the draft
no took n young man into his employment
as n clerk in his Office. Tho next day
Dean drew check to his own order for
$40, 0O0 Then. accompanied by his clerk.
no went to livery stable, hired horse
and buggy for three hours, drove to the
bank and presented the check, requesting
that 1t he paid in currency. The paying
teller asked Dean IL he would mind ro-
ceiving the money in gold, and he said he
would not. Thereupon four sacks, cacl,
containing Is, 600 in gold, were handed to
him.
The gold was put in n satchel, and, with
tho help of the new clerk, was lifted into
the buggy that was waiting i'm front of the
bank, and then the two drove to house
| In Valencia street, where Dean got out,
telling the office boy that he lived there.
The satchel was carried into tho house,