The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-21
BIG CHECK STOLEN
VALUABLE PIECE OF PAPER is
TAKEN FROM THE SECOND
NATIONAL BANK.
ITS SIZE CAUSED SUSPICION,
AND WHEN PRESENTED To A MIN
NEAPOLIS MERCHANT HE MADE
INQUIRIES.
POLICE WERE SOON SUMMONED.
Two Seemingly InOffensive Callers
at the ST. Paul Bank Are Now
in the City Jail

Delos A. Monfort, the urbane presi-
dent of the Second National bank, has
made up his mind that strangers who
seem to have no business with the
bank, will in the future not be allowed
to enter his office. He made this reso-
luton yesterday, when 1t was brought
to his attention that the bank came
within a narrow margin Of losing the
neat sum of $2,145.
Thursday afternoon shortly before 3
o'clock two men entered the rooms of
the bank in the New York Life build
ing. There were long lines of deposit
ors in front Of the windows, as there
usually are just before the close of
banking hours. The two strangers
looked about for a moment and then
walked around the cages in which the
tellers and clerks are enclosed to the
private office of the president Mr. Mon
fort had just ordered brought to his
office cashiers check for $2,145 when
the two strangers walked in. Mr. Mon
fort noticed at the time that they did
not look like men who had ready
money, but one of the men had a
bank bill in his hand and rendering 1t
to Mr.. Monfort asked if it was a good
bill. Mr.. Monfort took the mutilated
bill in his hand and half turning to the
window to his right examined it care
fully. The bill purported to be a 81
note issued by the Washington & AL
bany railroad some twenty years ago as
an advertisement and was worthless.
Mr.. Monfort so advised the strangers
and politely bowed them out
A customer of the bank entered as
soon as the men went out and engaged
in conversation with Mr. Monfort
While busy talking the bank messenger
stepped to the Office door and asked
for the check which Mr. Monfort had
called for. Turning to his desk, Mr.
Monfort was surprised to find the
check missing. A careful search was
made Of the papers lying On the desk.
but no trace Of the check could be
found. Mr.. Monfort remembered seeing
the paper but couldn't tell for the life
OF him what he had done with 1t.
Thomas S. Tompkins, a lawyer in the
New York Life building, who had di-
rected the issuance of the check, was
waiting for the bit of paper, and as 1t
did not APPEAR to be at hand another
check was made out and turned over to
the attorney. There were several the
cries as tc what had become of the
check, one of the employees of the bank
being Of the opinion that one of the
two men who had visited the office had
taken it with him. This theory, how
ever, did not meet with much favor.
and careful but unsuccessful search
was made yesterday for the missing
check.
1t was o'clock yesterday afternoon
when telephone message was re-
ceived at the Second National bank
from the Columbia bank of Minneap-
oils. The bank officials at Mime
apolis stated that a cashiers check
for S2,l45, drawn to the order of Thomas
.. Tompkins, had been presented for
payment and wanted to know if it was
all right. The Second National people
informed them that it was all wrong
and asked that the check be held as
well as the party or parties who pre-
sented it. Fifteen minutes afterward
Mr. Monfort received a telephone mes
sage that the check had been retained
by the Columbia bank officers, and the
men who presented it were being held
Ny ChC NAll1IcdpOllS pOllc0.
The credit of the arrest Of the two
men is due to e. S. Friedman, proprie-
tor of the Hub Clothing house, Nicol-
let avenue and Second street. Schultz
and Lyons strolled into the Hub Cloth
ing house some little time in advance
OF o'clock and lost no time in pro-
ductng the check They were generous
In their dealing with Mr. Friedman
and without any suggestions on his
pratt agreed to accept two overcoats
and $500 in cash at that time and leave
the check with the clothier, the under
standing being that they should call
this morning and get the balance due.
MI. FRIEDMAN, however, decided that it
would be as well to ascertain the gen
u1neness of the check, which bore the
endorsement of Mr.. Thompkins, to
whom 1T had been made payable. 1t
developed the Endorsement was a. for
gerry.
Mr.. Friedman asked the man to wait
while he went to his banker to eet
the check cashed. They readily con
sented, thinking that things were com
Ing their way, and they both left the
store, saying that they would return
shortly. Mr.. Friedman went immedi-
ately to the Columbia National bank.
his suspicious thoroughly aroused he
cause Of the large amount which the
checked called for. He showed it to
Cashier Joseph Bobleter, who imme-
diately communicated with the ST PAM
bank and and learned that the check
had been stolen. A messenger was dis
patched for the police and Mr. Fried
man returned to the store where he
stood the two men off until the Of
ficers arrived.
Detectives Daily and Sweeney. of st
Paul, happened to be at the city hall
in Minneapolis on entirely different
business and when they learned the
nature Of the case they accompanied
| Inspector Howard across the street to
the clothing house. Schultz and LYONS
We're Immediately placed under arrest
and were later searched and locked I'M
in the central station. They vera
afterwards brought to st. Paul by the
detectives. The men were cIoseted
with Lieut.. Boerner for a few minutes
and were then taken to a cell without
being booked.
Lyons, whose name the st. PauI
police says is John Lynch, and Schultz
had session with Chief of Detectives
Schweitzer and President Monfort. of
the bank, last evening. The men were
examined separately and according to
Chief Schweitzer, gave very conflict
ing statements Of how they obtained
possession of the check Mr.. Monfort
recognized them as the two men who