Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-12
FORGERY TOO PERFECT.
Reed Fooled the Man whose Name
He Wrote, but Got His Dates Mixed.

Chicago Times-HeraldD
Ivan Ivanoff, one of the most skilful
of Russian forgers, when sentenced to
twenty years Imprisonment in the mines
of Siberia, nonchaiantly remarked:
IL am the victim of poor technique. /
know my business better than most men,
but / am human. and to err is human
Had my forgery been perfect, L could
not have been convicted. / am the VIC
tim of poor technique and careless
stroke of the PEN"
Strange as it may seem. an event Eas
taken place recently in the United states
which proves that Ivan Ivanoff was mis-
taken in his theory, and that the absolute
perfection of forgery may prove the
cause of a conviction. The story which
contains the proof of this assertion Is
not a long one. and Is as follows:
About twenty years ago a young man
named Richard Robinson, who lived in
the city of New York. bought 16O acres OF
land near Kansas City. The land was
worth only SO or 81 an acre at that time,
and Robinson, getting into trouble. decided
the land to his lawyer in payment OF MS
fee The lawyer gave no attention 10
the property and it was sold for taxes
and his title was good against all claim
ants. except infant heirs. When Inc
land became valuable. owing to the
growth of Kansas City. an unscrupu-
lous real estate dealer of st. Louis induced
n young woman of that city to imperso-
mate a daughter Of Robinson and to bring
suit TO recover the property. Inc slfl
was proved 10 be an imposter ana Inc
suit decided against her.
The case attracted wide attention. and
AZ. 1t 10 fpf
somewhat In doubt caused disbarred
LAWYER named Reed. once resident OF
Chicago. TO look into the matter care
fully and finally to conceive a plan 10
obtain possession of the land through
forgery. When everything had been pre-
pared. Reed brought suit of ejectment
against the man who had possession OF
the property claiming that he had
deed to IL from Robinson dated prior 10
the one given by Robinson 10 his lawyer
thus invalidating not only that title, but
all subsequent titles which had peeh
given.
The only way to break this claim was
TO prove that the deed alleged 10 De
signed by Robinson was forgery. Al
ter a long search Robinson was discov-
erad nv the attorney for the de-
fence. living in an obscure town In Texas'
He had passed through many Wild kx-
neriences on the frontier and in per
sonal encounter had received pistol
hall In his right arm. which made ampu-
tatiop necessary. Subsequently he nad
served as County Clerk in missouri. ana
his signature was thus readily accessi-
HE TO the forger. Robinson was BROUGHT
10 Kansas City by the defence. ana MS
testimony was relied on TO prove that
the signature attached to the deed was
forgery.
deed had been offered in evidence, ROBIN
son was placed on the stand. He ex-
amined the signature with the greatest
care and to the astonishment and
chaerin of the defence, he testified that
the writing was his, not line or dot In
the signature differing In the slightest
degree from his usage. IL seemed as
though the willy Mr.. Reed had gained
his case. when the attorney for the de-
fence taking up the deed, glanced at II
moment then dropping 1t upon the table
he suddenly asked:
"Mr Robinson, when did you lose your
right arm?'
about fifteen years ago." was the re-
ply. u,,.o
rs your signature to this deed written
with your right or left hand?
with my left hand.
"Did YOU ever employ your LETT hand IN
writing before you lost your right ARM
Never" .
"That is ALL" said the attorney. "Cali
Mr. Reed to the stand"
The plaintiff took the stand and the
attorney handed him the deed. You
swear that this deed was made to you by
MIR. Robinson"
II do. and he has Identified his sigma
ture." replied Reed triumphantly.
"On what date was that paper gwen
ut is dated April 10, 1876"
"That was six years before he lost his
right arm, and yet this deed Is signed
with his left hand. How do you account
for that?"
The witness was silent; he turned pale,
and then attempted TO escape from the
courtroom. He was arrested and held
on charge OF forgery His technique
had been perfect--so perfect. indeed, as
10 deceive the man whose signature he
had forged-but he had made the mis-
| take of initiating the left-hand writing
| of Robinson. and had dated the deed six
wears prior to his loss OF the right ara
or course, the suit was decided in favor
| OF the defendant and at present Reed
| Is serving a twenty-year sentence In the
penitentiary for forgery; his fate parallel
| ing that OF Ivan Ivanoff, not through lack
| of Technique" but rather because or
| ~ In, 40 mai