Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-01-27
THIS SCHEME WORKED.
4 Swindler's Slick Way of Getting
Money on a Draft.

AAOu0t ou u Ora1ts
A novel fraud by which a Minnesota
bank was induced innocently to abet
the robbing Of a Montana bank has
perplexed recently one Of the detective
agencies. Inquiries made recently at
a st. Paul hotel as to a possible guest
who wore a silk hat, a Prince Albert
coat and gray mutton chop whiskers
revealed the nature Of the criminal
scheme. But the inquiring detective
would not repeat names.
A few weeks ago, said the detective,
the very respectable gentleman with
the silk hat bought of a country bank
not far from this city a draft on New
York for $1,000, paying for 1t In cur
rency. He explained he was going to a
small town In Montana and that he did
not care to take so large a sum with
him In cash. Would the cashier kindly
notify the only bank in that Montana
town that he had sold the New York
draft to Mr.. Hat, and that Mr.. Hat
would cash the draft at the Montana
town? Certainly the cashier would
write. He did write. And when the
owner Of the draft appeared a few
days later at the Montana bank he
found not the slightest difficulty in
cashing a forged copy Of the draft.
you're Mr.. Hat of Philadelphia. OF
course" said the exchange clerk In
Montana. "We received a letter from
the bank that sold you the draft. Let's
see? Tall, gray side whiskers, very
subdued manner. Oh, yes! That's all
right. Description a matter Of form.
you know. Your signature? Exact, Of
course"
So, with apologies for taking the
usual precautions, the clerk, upon COM
pairing the signatures of Mr.. Hat, &C.
cepted his receipt and gave him all in
gold, as became a banker of the mining
~state-$1,600. As the new customer
went out he made a particularly good
Joke about the Montana weather.
The old gentleman with the subdued
manner had copied the original draft
upon a blank that he had somehow
secured from the Minnesota bank. The
letter from the bank would naturally
have quieted any suspicion in Mon
tana, for the letter gave, as usual, the
number Of the draft and other details,
which were fully corroborated In the
forged copy. Inasmuch as the letter
proved to the Montana bank that Mr..
Hat must possess an original draft for
the amount required, the bank would
never entertain the thought that a
forged copy would be presented by the
holder Of that original. Thus the cash.
ing Of the forgery was easy.
At once the gentle defrauder took the
next train for Minnesota. He reappear-
ed before the cashier of the Minnesota
bank, and smiled through an unctuous
apology.
"I'm extremely sorry to trouble you
again." said the urbane gentleman,
''but, you see, I've decided not to make
that Montana trip this month. I have
found a little real estate deal up in st.
Paul where I can invest the money to
better advantage, at least for the pres
ent. Now, will you be good enough to
cancel your draft Notwithstanding the
bona ide original-'and let me have
the $1,000"
The Minnesota cashier was as agree
able as had been the Montana clerk.
The agreeable Philadelphia received
his second $1,000. He smiled. The
cashier smiled. The Montana clerk
kept smiling whenever he thought of
the afable stranger who made so
pleasant a little joke about the wealth
er. Everybody continued to smile IN
til the Montana bank drew upon the
Minnesota bank for $1,000 advanced
upon a draft. Then there was but one
smiler left-the polished, the respecta-
bic, the witty Mr.. Hat Of Philadelphia.
st. Paul Pioneer Press.