The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-26
HUklUN IUU OLI.
Bank Swindler Worked Two
Schemes at Once.
Consulted the Ex-Chief Justice
About Partnership.
BUNGLED HIS WORK.
Judge Horton Threw Him Off
His Guard.
Has a 81, 400 Certified Check in
His Safe.
Swindler Never Called to Have
Check Cashed.
BUNGLED HIS WORK.

sively in the State Journal last even
ing of the manner IN which the Bank
OF Topeka was swindled out of $500,
further developments reveal the fact
that the operator was working on d
large scale
Edwin Ross. the name given by the
man who passed the forged check at
the Bank of Topeka, was at the same
time working on another and larger
scheme that miscarF1ed.
The proof of this is the check for
81, 400 from the National Bank of St
Joseph, certified by George NJ Teaie,
the paying teller. and signed by Alice
Royce Curtis, that is now in the safe
OF Judge Albert Horton, uncalled for.
The scheme which Ed Royce, the
name he used to introduce himself to
Judge Horton, was varied slightly from
that he used to SWlndle the BANK OF
Topeka The outline Of the scheme Is
essentially the same. however.
He entered the law office Of Horton,
Wagner & Orr and called for D. II.
Martin. Upon being informed that Mr..
Martin was absent from the city he
inquired of Judge Horton if he would
take a case. Royce sat down to go
over the case with Judge Horton, and
began his story by saying he felt a lit
tie hesitancy IN coming to him with
the matter, but he said he was de-
termined to get a settlement of the
affairs Of the partnership of his brother
and himself.
They had conducted a mercantile
store at Pardee, a few miles south OF
AtchisOn, he said His brother was
married and he himself he claimed was
single He explained that his broth
er's wife had a sister living at Pardee
with whom ne had become involved.
He was forced to leave, he said on
account of his sistef-in-laW making
things hot for him" He wanted to
make his brother buy out his share of
the business, and had come to place the
matter in an attorneys hands.
Judge Horton at hnCaT
picious of the man and asked him sew
eral point-blank questions, that quite
disconnected him.
why do you not write to your
brother yourself2" he asked. 1T seems
you would be able to make the settle
ment yourself"
Il thought of that" the man said.
but I thought if an attorney was to
take the matter up it would facilitate
the settlement"
Judge Horton responded that he
would take the case, of course, but he
nevertheless felt suspicious
Judge Horton wrote to the brother at
Pardee on the subject, and as it was
afterwards learned. the man, Ed Royce,
went to Atchison Immediately and Sc
cured a livery rig to drive out to Par
dee for the letter. Pardee is a little
station on the rural free delivery route.
He secured the letter and did not send
an answer.
Ross returned to Topeka, came into
Mr.. Horizons Office and inquired what
news. Judge Horton explained that he
had had no answer from the brother
and that he thought the brother was
probably thinking the matter over.
No answer came and considerable
time passed. Judge Horton wrote a
second letter to the brother at Pardee,
of which the swindler had no 1nforma-
ton No answer came to that, either
Later the man Ross came into the
law office with the information that he
had had a letter from his brother in
he fl1n~ had fo max
the amount of his, Ed Ross interest in
the business. He said he would go to
st. Joe to borrow the money from q sis
ter living there who was married to
man named Curtis and was considered
wealthy. The swfnd1er explained to Mr..
Horton that he anticipated the receipt
of a check in a few days. He then
went away.
Soon after the second letter that
Judge Horton wrote to Pardee was re-
turned to him with the stamp across
the face, '.uncalled for"
This aroused anew his sIumbering
suspicion and he wrote the postmaster
at Pardee for an explanation of the
reason for one letter being called for
and the other being returned. The post
mistress replied that the first letter had
been called for by a man who had
driven out from Atchison.
That confirmed Judge Horton in the
belief that something was wrong. A
few days later a check came to Judge
Horton through the mails for S1,400,
signed by the sister, (A1rs.) Alice Royce
Curtis of St. Joe and certified across
the face by George NJ Teale, paying
teller of the bank A rubber stamp
gave the information also across the
face of the check that it was not good
for any sum over 81. 500. Another stamp
said that the check would be paid upon
presentation at the st. Joseph bank.
This check was sent to Judge Horton
by Attorney Bale WaggOner of Atchi-
son. Attorney Waggoner had no pre-
vious knowledge of the case Royce
came into Waggoner's office represent
ing himself as the brother at that end
Of the line and said that the check
Judge Horton would understand it. The
check was sent to Topeka accordingly 1
The check lay in Judge Horizons safe
for several days and no one came to
claim it. Soon the first reports of the
swindHng game Of the Bank of Topeka
came to light and an investigation re-
vealed all the facts Of another plot to
swiudle another bank.
The mans cunning is apparent He is
working one of the cIeVereSt and easiest
schemes to defraud banks ever before
devised He was careful to select law
yers whose offices were in buildings Oc-
cupied by banks. SO that it would be
only a step to the bank to have the
checks cashed. He was also careful to
select Offices far enough from each 9th
er to preclude the possibility of having
both checks presented at the same bank
in case he had been able to work both
games successfully
Lawyers and bankers everywhere are
discussing the new scheme for swim
ding and it is the unanimous opinion
that it is the cleverest ever yet at
tempted