Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-20
ANOTHER CHECK swlNDLnR.
This One Came. But Went Away
Empty Handed.

Every once i'm awhile there turns up
I'm Richmond check swindier who at
tempts to mulct merchants out of money
which he obtains on bogus paper For
some time the local tradesmen nibhled
nicely at the bait but they have cut
their wisdom teeth now. ana instead OF
accommodating every seeker for imam
cial assistance with money on his drait.
as was formerly the case. they refuse
all Corners and while good men have
10 suffer. the merchants don't lose.
About ten days ago what Is believed 10
have been one OF these check manipula-
tors visited Richmond. He called az the
furniture establishment Of Sydnor ~
Hundley. on Broad street. and asked
both Mr. Sydnor and Mr. Hund'oy 80
different times 10 cash check for $40
for him. The man represented himself
as being "A salesman for a New YORK
furniture house, and whilo the Rich
mond firm believed his statements true,
they preferred not 90 take chances. and
so informed the stranger
The man hadn't been gone long ere
copy OF the American cabinet Maker
and Upholstoror reached the Richmond
firm and In Il was picture of their VS.
itOr of the previous day. Along with tho
picture was the following story. under
the caption. Look out for Him:
An Old-time furniture salesman but
now very slick rascal va shrcNd
forger-one of the smoothest IN the
land-was In Memphis recently. and loft
evidences OF that fact I'm the nature Of
two worthless drafts. The drafts cost
two firms SIS each. and the f0rgor was
enriched TO that extent lie loft that
| city escaping arrest. and subsequently,
] Gam. Ia, rtHt Ha
| again disposed OF "a piece OF worthless
paper for the full amount Of its pre-
! tended value This fOrger Is known az
| -. ID. Durham alias r. B. Durham alias
| A. q. Davis Durham works In one llno
eXClusively-tha So among the furniture
dealers He never swindles any other
kind OF merchant lie Is An old furni-
ture man and is familiar with every de-
tail of that line OF business. Dwham's
system is simple. yet safe. lie goes into
"A city. represents himself 20 be a furui-
ture salesman. always manages 10 land
one or two good orders, and tho next
thing i'm order is to get hts victim 10
cash a draft on the house which Ia
claims to represent That is tho last
time that dealer ever sees Durham, UNI
less the officers detain him
Recently Durham struck Memphia. He
at once began TO circulate among the
furniture men. and had soon sold lots
Of goods. He claimed TO be represeut'
Ing the Globe Furniture Company, or ~.
Louis lie yiciimized the Armstrong
Furniture Company and the Rhodes Fur
niture Company and tried 70 increase he
number or his victims but failed. HG
sold O. w Fisher & co. a bill Of goods
and then produced the usual draft on his
house. but Mr. Fisher declined 10 cash
dealings with that firm. Durham pre-
sumably left Memphis Immediately. The
furniture dealers who lost by his coming
did not discover for several days that
they had been dupcd. Durham was then
FAR away and probably had vlctimized
others before the Memphis men found
out their loss.
The Armstrong Company put itself IN
communication with W H. Messenger.
q furniture dealer OF indianapolis, who
had also felt the keen porsuaslveness OF
Durham's tongue, and they became bet
ter informed as 10 the smooth forgcr.
Ia "a letter to tie Armstrong Company
Messenger gives tho names Of "a few of
those who have been swindled BY Dur
ham. and the Est is numerous one.
Among those mentioned were the Com
stock Company, Of 81. Louis, Adam
Glass. OF Mobile. Ala. a. Dirkson &c
Son. Springfield, n. Edhonson 81 Per-
rine, Pittsburg Pa; Irish * English,
Buffalo. ~ " The letter states thar
others could be named. Durham has
served a term in the New York state
prison. having been sent from Syracuse,
in that state Mr.. Messenger has "A cir
cuar letter. bearing a likeness OF Dur
ham. a description Of him. and other III
formation. which he always sends ouc
when he hears that Durham has worked
some furniture man. He probably had
these letters prepared as "a convenient
means Of giving the desired Information,
as the cases are entirely too numerous
for him 20 write out fun particulars
every time he has "a letter OF inquiry.
After leaving Memphis Durham went
West He was next heard OF Ia Paris,
Tex. where he managed 60 fleece an
other furniture man The Armstrong
Company received a letter dated Juno
oh. from n. r. Rsglsna Of Paris. Tx,
making some inquiries about Durham.
Ragland states in his letter that %
cashed draft for Durham for 500 and
earnestly desires to meet the gQrtlemaa
once more
When VIII businessmen learn 70 re-
fuse 20 cash drafts for all Strangers