Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-01
DAVIDSON THE SVlNDLER.
Additional Details of His Boz
gus Check Operations.
WAS HERE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
Had Confederates to Aid Him
i'm His Work.


1872 evil
Deceived People by Pretending to be the
Secretary of Young Mems Christian As
sociation-aade some Purchases and Gave
Worthless Paper in Payment.
"W. Davidson or .tWimau David
son" or NV. Davidson, secretary OF
the Young MEMS Christian Associa-,
tion,n whnsa check operations we're
limited at in these columns last week had
been an active individual for the pre-
yious few weeks. The evidence OF this
is the number of letters concerning
articles bought by "W. Davidson. y
which letters have been received by
William Davidson, the marble dealer Of
Ninth aud King streets, this city.
When reporter called on Mr.. David
son yesterday week he produced a roll
of the letters.
First. however, Mr. Davidson him
self had an interesting experience SEEM
ipgly with one OF the Nv. Davidson"
crowd in which there are evidently two
or three persons. About the first of
March man called on the marble
dealer and said be wanted to buy a
tombstone for Philip Lefkowitz. who,
according to card the stranger left. ia
wholesale dealer in second hand
clothing. No. So Chrystio street, New
York. There was some Hebrew on The
card but Mr.. Davidson could not read
that. Another card presented by tha
stranger bore the uame OF Shapiro,
Rose g. Hahn, hoyH' and cbildren's
clothing, 1858 East Broadway, New
York, and in the corner, the name Of
II. Hahn" 1t was ~. Hahn who
vas there to buy the tombstone for
Lefkowitz. A tombstone was selacted
and it was to cost 500. For this
amount Hahn presented check of
Philip Lefkowitz on the Nassau
National Bank OF Brooklyn. in favor OF
Isaac Hahn or order, and asked Mr.
Davidson to give him per centago on
the sale. Mr.. Davidson refused to do
that, but said whehe got the checkn
csshed he would send Hahn what com
mission he could, Hahn went away
aud Mr.. Davidson put the check 10
bank. A few days later he received
notice that the check mad been pro-
tested, there being no account in LET
koWitz's name at the Nassau Bank.
MIR. Davidson still had the tombstone
but the protest OF the check cost him
Si.3n. Mr. Davidson thereupon wrote
TO Mr.. Lefkowitz about Mr.. Hahn and
tine 500 check. Iefkowitz replied that
Hahn bought lot of clothing from
him, but tho check Hahn gave in full
was refused, the bank not knowing
such man. Lefkowitz stopped the
goods. He requested Mr.. Davidson to
send on the check that he might see
the signature. Mr.. Davidson also
received a postal card signed ADRIAN
Shapiro" saying that zone Mr. ID.
Leon on his way West via B. & o. rail.
road will stop off at your city and calf
upon you in reference to Mr.. Hahn
who formerly worked for me and settle
the matter up at no expense to you. ("
But Mr.. M. Leon has nor yet appeared
although that card was dated March
9th.
Mr. Davidson did not become
acquainted with the fact that the name
"W. Davidson was being signed to
checks dated Wilmington, Del, and
drawn on the First National Bank, until
some days later. But about March 10th
he began to receive some interesting
communications Thomas W. Jones OF
40 Front street, New York, sent him
bill of 81 for packing and boxing a
weather vane. Mr.. Jones also sent the
following letter addressed "Mr. Wine.
man Davidson
"iIr. Morris Kohn to-day called and
laft an order for weather vane, pre-.
seuting your check for $50 in payment.
We enclose hill of 81 for boxing, which
Mr.. Kohn signed. Please lot US know
by which line you prefer this sent. y
All this was news to Mr. DAVIDSON.
1t was also news for HIM TO hear from
the Navarro Ledger that his "represen
tative" had ordered papers for him
and had offered check for $40 which
was refused because the Newark Ledger
had not ''done business with Mr..
Davidson. He was asked, however, to
remit, which be did not do. 1t was
also surprise to MIR. davidson to hear
from the publishers of Bulipger'a
Monitor Guide, New York, that Mr..
NJ. kohn had bought and paid for a
copy OF the Guide. cost Sc, which Mr..
l'ullineer took pleasure in sending by
Adams Express, prepaid. +"
The romance began 10 grow very in
teresting indeed when on March 18th
or 18th, Mr.. Davidson received notice
from the Central Bank of this city that
a check made by him in favor OF II.
Hum" and by him endorsed, dated
March 9th, 1897, for s23, had been pro.
tested. Mr.. Davidson had drawn no
such check.
A day or so later he received letter
from the Shoeiiler Pharmacal Co. of
Jersey City, which seemed to throw
much light on the swindiing scheme.
1t appeared that some one ordered s27
worth OF the company's nroduct and
gave a check for that amount and
siGned "Wm. Davidson. " The man
who gave the order received 50. OG per.
cenTage from the company in cash and
directed the goods to be shipped. The
check was enclosed in the letter with
the request that Mir. Davidson have the
person in whose favor it was drawn en-
dorse it, detail which the purchaser
had perhans intentionally failed 10 do.
The check, of course. is worthless.
The shrewdness of tho scheme is an.
parent from three checks which were
seen Wednesday, afternoon, one that re
turned 10 Mr.. Davidson for the endorse.
ment, and tbs other two, which ara in
the possession OF the Farmers Bank of
delaware. These and all the dozen or
SO checks which came to thu First
National Bank for collection are on
special printed blanks bearing the
name Nv. Davidson" on the left hand
end. dated Wilmington. Del, and
drawn on the First National Bank of
Wilmington. Delaware, the word
Delaware being incorrectly printed.
Inc three checks seen were all drawn
IN favor OF one man. but different adj
tIre6g Was pivan in aach ,ooa lIa,-