The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-06
CALLED A FORGER
Son of a Rich Chicago Stock
Broker Goes Wrong.
Is New ssJim the Penman''
Eand q Clever Rogue.
CHUM OF PULLMANS.
He Succeeds i'm VictimiZing New
York Firms.
Elaborate Scheme to Defraud
is Spoiled.

New York, Jan. Crank A. Parker,
of Chicago, who, the police say, is
new Jim the Penman,' one OF the
cleverest forgers ever caught in this
country, was arrested In Liberty street,
near Trinity place, on last Thursday
afternoon and arraigned in Center
street court yesterday, charged with
forgery.
He is the son of rich Chicago stock
broker, and was the chum of the Pull
man twins, George NJ. and Sanger Pull
man. Parker's family moves in the
best social circles in Chicago.
He is charged with being the accom-
on December IL for attempting to pass
a forged check on Mrs. Lynch, the
jeweIer, at Broadway and Fourteenth
street. The police say Parker forged
the check, and that it was one of the
best pieces of work of that kind ever
offered in New York
Signature a Marvel.
Not only did the bank certify the
check, but the man whose name was
signed to it swore in court that he be-
lieved the signature to be his, and he
thought that the check had been raised
1t was shown that the check was an
entire forgery.
The most elaborate preparations were
weeks ago Parker went into the office
of Schinasi Brothers, a. Japanese firm,
at No. As Broad street, and asked for
blank check. The bookkeeper refused
to give him one, saying he had none but
the numbered ones in the checkbook.
The police believe Parker succeeded in
getting some other firm which does
business at the same bank as SchinaS1
Brothers to give a blank check to him.
Packer continued to go into Schinasi
Brothers store every day, until they
got to know him as a regular customer.
He then gave to them an order for
cigarettes to the value of $40, which he
ordered sent to a cigar dealer at No.
352 West Fifty-ninth street
Wanted 1t For a Friend.
After making this purchase Parker
said that he wanted to send S. to
friend in Chicago, and did not like to
send the money through the mails, and
asked Schinasi if he would give him a
check for that amount in exchange for
the cash. Schinasi, knowing the man
was regular customer and supposlng
him to be reliable, gave the check. That
was on December s.
Walter Dixon, well dressed and
prosperous looking, went to the store
of Mrs. Lynch on the following day and
arranged to buy diamond ring for
$50. The ring did not fit his finger,
and he left another ring as a sample
to have the new purchase altered to fit
him. The ring was ready on December,
u.
Dixon called for the ring, said he was
pleased with it, and bought other goods
to the value of $780, He offered a
check for $751 in payment, and asked
for the balance in cash.
Mrs. Lynch became suspicious. She
had been robbed of diamonds to the
value of SIS, 900 by a stranger not long
before, and did not want to take any
chances. So she said that she did not
have that amount in the store, but II
the customer would wait she would send
the check to the bank and have it cash
ed, and then give the change to him.
Played Into His Hands.
That was just what Dixon wanted,
and he readily agreed. He said he would
call again in an hour. He knew that
the check would pass in the bank, as
he had had it certified there. What he
needed was to have some person known
at the bank to get the money.
The police say that their investiga-
tions since Dixon's arrest have shown
that on December 1.-The day after Park
err got the check from Schinasi
Brothers. Parker and Dixon went
No. 1859 Maiden lane, and ask
ed for a sheet of paper ON which to do
some figuring. One of the clerks hand
ed them one of their billheads.
On this they wrote a note to the
cashier of the Standardization bank,
where Schinasf Brothers do business,
asking them if the inclosed check of
Schinasi Brothers was good. Then they
called a district messenger boy and
sent the note to the bank inc1osing the
forged check for $751;. The cashier GER
titled the check and returned it.
Coming as it seemed to come, from
another tobacco dealer, the cashier had
no suspicion, and the signature was ap-
parently perfect.
When the check was given to Mrs.
Lynch she handed it to the porter in her
store, John Cannavan, a stubborn, suspi-
cious Irishman. She told Cannavan to
find out "for sure if the check was good
Cannavan was suspicious of Dixon. He
said he did not like the mans looks. He
| took the check to the bank and asked if it
was good. The cashier said it was. It
| had already been certified and was all
| right.
Cannavan went of the bank rubbing his
| chin and thinking. He went down to
| Schinasf Brothers and asked the book
| keeper if the check was all right. The
| bookkeeper said it was.
Look it up and make sure" said Gamma
van.
| SchinaSi saw the check. He said the
| signature all right, but told the book
l kppDaT q look I'M the stub in the check