The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-25
"A Device to Prevent the
Raising Of Checks.
ills a Woman's Invention and
Is Said TO Be Perfect.
A Gang Of Check Forgers Came to
Grief in Providence.

II Is rot fror, the inventive genius OF
woman that one would expect the pro-
duction OF a perfect device for the protec-
tion OF banks and other monetary insti-
tutions from the depredations of clever
yorgers and skilful check raisers. Yet tho
unexpected has come TO pass, and to Miss
Jennie Wertheimer OF CINCINNATI belongs
the credit of inventing the only abso-
luteIy reliable process for preventing the
raising OF checks. When the perforating
machine was introduced bankers gene
rally supposed th&y had a device that
would prove safeg uard against the skill
full rasoaIs who raise checks, but they
soon found themselves mistaken, for the
fertile crook soon discovered q means not
only of filing up the original pcrfora-
tions on a check, but OF making new
ones of any desired combination Of fig
ures BY Miss Werthemier's plan the
cryptogram is used. The bank has code
which Is susceptible OF about million
changes. each variation giving a different
character or set OF characters, for any
given sum. The bank has its code mount
ed on q series OF wheels which permit OF
as many combinations as IL has custom
ers. 7 he customer, instead of writing. or
perforGting in one corner OF the check
the amount drawn, writes the numb Der OF
the combination and the code signal he
employs. Bankers say this device cannot
be beaten.
1t was Charles or Carl Becker, as he is
sometimes called, who showed tho in
effectiveness OF the perforating machine.
He niled up the little holes and then
punched new ones 80 cleverly that he de-
ceived the cashier of Brooklyn bank
and obtained q large sum OF money. La
ter the trick was discovered aud Becker
was hunted down, convicted and is now
serving q long term for his rascaIity.
Becker was at one time in the Brock way
gang OF forgers and cheek raisers. This
Brockway was not the one who was before
the courts a few weeks ago in New York,
but Charles Brockway, who came TO
grief in. this town while trying to obtain
money from two banks on checks that
had been forged. lie is the same Brock
way, who, after serving eight years at
Cranston, made such serious charges OF
1nhuman and cruel treatment against
Warden Wall and his assistants that a
long legislative investigation was subse-
Quently made, but without the result that
Brockway had hoped for.
In June, 1850, Brockway, with his gang,
had planned an extensive raid on the
banks OF Baltimore. In this Brockway
was the moving and controlling spirit,
and had everything worked well he would
have made a big haul. AS IT was the gang
secured something over $40, 600 but they
struck q snag before they had half finish
ed their work and were forced 20 fly.
Several of them we're su ubsequently arrest
cd. convicted and sentenced. Brockway,
however. escaped and turned up in this
city In August of the same year. He had
planned to make a haul here, and had as
confederates Charles Ogle and Charles
Bomers. Operations were begun at
the banking houses OF Henry G. Crang-
ton and of Chase -Mstsen
Il Butts. Two government bonds each
for 500 were sold, one at each place,
and in payment q check was asked for,
~ II was stated 1T was to be used for
melting purposes. Mr.. Cranston's check
was drawn on the Old National and that
OF Chacc. Watson X Butts on the Fourth
National Bank.
Prior to this tima Brockway had en-