The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-29
BIG CROP OF A CHECKS.
ARREST OF THE SUPPOSED FoRGER
OF TIE LAST BATCH.

Ills Name IL Petersen ana incline Uttered the
Observation-Disclosures Obtained fer Initation
BY stealing Cancelled Checks-Raid on Let
ter Boxes TO Procure ChecEs Expected.
John A. Peterson. formerly an elevator mai
in one Of the downtown of1co buildings. was ar
rested yesterday morning by a Central Office
detective and representatives Of the Pinkerton
Detective Agency. charged with having forged
a number of checks on local banks.
According to Superintendent George Bangs
OF the Pinkerton agency, which 10 employed
by the American Bankers Association to
run down bank swindlers Of all kinds. Potter
son has been working with Charles Me-
line, who was arrested on Monday for
attempting to cash at the Bank Of tho State Of
New York O check bearing the forged signature
Of Henry c. Mortimer. . broker. Peterson Is al
leeed to have forged the checks and Meline to
have cashed them.
The Pinkertons have been working on this
case for nearly 4 month. The work Of the forgers
was very clever, and showed great familiarity
with the signatures Of the persons whose names
were used.
The first case reported came from the Phoenix
Bank. Two checks were presented there q little
over three weeks ago. They purported to be
drawn on one of tho banks customers, and ag-
gregated In amount about $500. The money
was paid.
The name Of the man whose name was forged
to these two checks is not revealed by the Pink
erton superintendent. 1t was through him,
however, that trace of Peterson was obtained.
Peterson wrote him a letter concerning the pur-
chase of some property.
This made necessary an answer from the pro-
posed victim. and in this way the signature was
| secured. The handwriting in the letter CORE.
| sponded with that on the check. The dctec-
tives located Peterson and watched him. In
the meantime the ~forgeries continued:
signed by !Abram f. Hamburger, who, has an
Office in the Cotton Exchange building, was
amount was si4s.75. Il was paid. D""N'
Two days later q man m to pass an,
9 9th 9cf forged sis snseE for r. $ e Sr at this ss Sans' co 1T Sore
whose office Is in the Cotton Exchange building.
Condor had closed his account with the bank
paying teller's suspicion. Before he could have
the man apprehended, however. the latter had
The arrest Of Meline made it safe from the
detectives standpoint to arrest Peterson. The
handwriting on all the forged pepper Is said 70
passed all the checks. although the teller of the
Phoenix Bank failed to identify Meline.
The signatures OF Condor and Bamberger were
obtained; It is thought. by rifing their desks OF
of old checks from both of them and Peterson Is
suspected of having been the man.
The following warnings to banks was sent
out by tho Pinkerton agency last week.:
"A lock was broken of and stolen from &
street mail box tho other evening, indicating
that letter-box thieves and forRers are prepar
ing to swindle banks in this city with checks
stolen from the mail. From this lock keys car
be be o msas w ana l ghtgh s anE street fPem le witch De e6e sis
are distracted, and with acids the .payee',
name and amounts taken out. Cusually
cash or bearer" 10 substituted for payee'.
name and the amount of check increased
Banks are warned against paying checks t.
Signatures OF drawees are liable to DO forged
as identification Of payee. When a suspicious
tin ze presenter sharply, and II UNKNOWN ash
some pointed questions. consult cashier. or as
sist ant cashier, delaying party while. this in
gerry, as q rule the presenter will attempt t.
leave the bank Parties attempting to leave un
der these circumstances should be detained
II check is a forgery, party presenting SAM
should BIO handed over 10 the authorities"