The San Francisco call., 1899-12-27
Clever Crime of E. E.
Grimnnell.
WEALTH IN A BOLD THEFT
BIS RAID ON THE FEDERAL
TREASURY.
Major ]. D. Halls Safe Rifed and
-Four Hundred Blank Checks on
the Local Sub-Treasury
Stolen.

T. J.. Grmmeu began "a raid last Satur-
day night on the United States treasury.
lie succeeded admirably and is now
fugitive, with four local detectives search
ing for him and charges of forgery hang
ing over him. He has in his possession "A
blank check ca au assistant Federal
rreasurers the discretion t0 nn in what
amounts he pleases and the official stamps
and perforaung machines OF the medical
supply department of the United States
army stationed ln this city. Grimmen is
naturally looked upon. therefore, as a
man too dangerous 10 be ~ large
lnul very recently he was clerk en-
llOND4 iu The oiilCe OF Major J. u. Han,
who Ia .n charge of the Federal medical
ing as clerk Gnmmel had an opportunity
To- discover THAI the written directions 10
Tho combination ot The Office safe were in
au envelope IN certain desk. When the
clerk was transferred - the warehouse
department DE determined 10 put the H.
formation already gained 70 dishonest
advantage. on Saturday afternoon ne en-
tered Major HAIRS office after the other
employees had left Tor the DAY. he had
az least two days and half in which 10
operate hls scheme
he secured Tie combination. opened the
safe aLC ahstracted "a check book con-
tanning 800 blank checks on the Assistant
Treasurer OF the United States. lie stole
also the perforaULg stamp which MAJOR
hall alone is supposed 60 use. and which
10 a vast majority Of tradesmcn is per
feet guarantee ~ the gcnuineness OF a
check. Armed with these ana the rubber
stamp Indicating Major aall military
authority. Grimmell started 10 work.
There was no limit tO the amount De could
steal ~ DE worked quickly enough. but de-
lection sooner or later DE knew was lnesi-
table. lie worked therefore very quickly,
and there is good reason % believe that
he was assisted hy confederate.
He nrst forged check for SluJ payable
30 himself iu his own name. Major Han
signature is forged cleyerly enough 10 de-
c,lFe some 81 pis clerks, but not the
officers of the ~ub-trc-surN. his cheek
for 500. properly stamped and perforated,
was passed upon Max Harris, stockton
street uaWubroker. This was early on
saturday might. and Grimmen received
diamond ring and So in cash. he next
went 10 the Mlrket-strCet establishment
oi SChoelt.ldt ANA passed forged check
Cor $50, receiving aD Outut and change.
hlt Il- Ime he made "A double changc.
Iic was dressed AS soldier and the
check was made payable go a myth
named Peters. Tie made his way through
tle business district and the tcndcrloin,
Offering forged checks wherever he went,
hut nO trace ~ further success has been
found. lie had decided evidently 10 make
"a clean-uu. While the description OF the
merchant answers that Of Grimmel. the
detectives suspect that the forger had
confederate 10 assist him in making big
haul before the discovery which newt
ably had 10 come yesterday
when the checks were presented at the
sub-trcasury they were Immediately pro-
. nounccd fOrgerics Detectives Dinan.
Wren. Reynolds and Mcmahon were
placed on The case. and it was not long
before they found GTimmelfs trail II
showed the marks of a familiar story.
Orimmcll wanted 90 eat French dinners
drink champagne. wear fine clothes and
3owclry and play the races. He wanted
a. be good fellow on the line and ne
succeeded. lie was frequently in the pool
rooms and lt the racetrack Detectives
Dinan and Wren followed his trail In this
city and Reynolds and McMahon sought
90 get some trace OF him az the racetrack
They have not succeeded and il is eN-
pected that he has escaped out Of the
State But he stlll has the blank check
book and tho stamps and a very marked
ability as "a fOreer. lie is "a man Of me-
dium height. light complexion. clean
EhaVen and slightly built