The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-06-06
PAID BY CHECK
Holmes, Van Dyke & Co.
Took One on J. Pierpont
Morgan's Bank and
1t Came Back.
PRINTER FlLCHED BLANKS
Said He Wanted Piano, Took
the Change and Then
Skipped.
PRINTER FlLCHED BLANKS

James Van Beuren, who lived with mis-
wife's parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Ros-
sell, at No. 212 Warren street, until Sun
day last, left home accompanied by his
wife, Mary, Sunday and has not been seen
since. He is charged with swindling a
number of merchants out of various
sums of money by passing worthless
checks. A. complaint has been filed in the
First Criminal Court and warrant is
sued for his arrest. This warrant is now
IN the hands of the police who are seek
ing him. Holmes and Van Dyke, the
riano merchants of No. So Montgomery
street, are the complainants against Van
Beuren. They We're swindled, they say,
out of $50.
For long time Van Beuren was en-
ployed in the printing establishment oe
Vorcher & Wefer Liberty street, New
York City. He was discharged last week
but before going from the house, it is
stated he took a number of blank checks
which were printed for the J. Pierpont
Company by Van Beuren's employer
These checks, it is alleged, he filled out
and signed and then began a systematic
method of realizing on them.
His scheme was to buy a bill of goods
and offer in payment a check, the face
value of which was far in excess of the
amount of the goods bought. The change
would be handed over to him and thus he
profted. The checks always came back
marked N. G..
Saturday Van Beuren walked into
Holmes & Van Dykes store and ordered
a piano. He had been talking for some
time previous to an agent of the firm and
he was considered prospective customer
of the most promising kind On Saturday
when he went to the store he examined
number of pianos and finally selected one.
He decided to pay SIS down and the bal
anee in installments. Then he offered
check for $780, Mr. Holmes after some
talk prevailed on Van Beuren to agree to
pay $50 down. He was a little afraid of
the check and after some questioning he
learned where Van Beuren claimed to live.
Then Mr.. Holmes said he did not have
sufficient cash on hand to give the change
of the check and on the plea that he
would have to go out to get the check
cashed he was able to leave the store
without arousing Van Beuren's suspicious.
Mr.. Holmes went to Van Beuren's house
to investigate. lie found that Van Beuren
had lived there two years. He returned
to the store and passed over the $50
change. Van Beuren said he did not wish
the piano delivered until Tuesday. On
Tuesday when the piano reached the
house the driver of the wagon was met
by woman, who said
Another piano! We don't want any
more pianos"
The instrument was carted back to the
store, and later the check was returned,
marked IN G.''
The remark by some one in the house
that they did not want any more pianos
was probably due to the fact that Wiss-
ner piano had that day been taken away
by the manufacturers agent in this city.
The Wissner had been in the Rossell
home for some time, but Van Beuren was
in arrears in his instalments to the
amount of $40. The sum was demanded
last Saturday or the piano would be for
feited. The payment was not made and
the piano was taken away Tuesday.
Van Beuren married Miss Mary Rossell
a little over year a% He met her
in New York. He was not liked by her
parents and they have never been friendly
since the wedding A little sister of Mrs.
Van Beuren said today to News re-
porter that her family knew nothing of
Van Beuren's past.