The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-16
Crook Raises Figures In United
States Money Orders.
C0lORS REMAIN UNDISTURBED.
His SwlniIIng Operations Extend All Over
The Country His Most Recent Perform.
ancas Were In Vicinity Of New York.

New York. Nov. l6--Using an acid the
composition of which f. known only 20
himself. Adolf Cohen. who has several
aliases aud who is said 20 1--we in Phlla-
delphia. has been raising the face values
!, OF United States postotrIce money orders
and defreuding merchants al over the
country for the last two months.
So persistent has he been IN his opera
tions that the whole detective bureau Of
the postal department has been searching
for him and notices OF his operations
have been sent to every town and hamlet
in the country
lie is still az large. however, and is
now gaining his livelihood by the same
kind OF fraud In and about this city. The
local postoffice inspectors last heard Of
Cohen, who is also known by the names
OF Henry Galef and Charles Knox, about
swo weeks ago IN New Rochelle.
lie went TO the postoffice at that place
and asked Charles Graham, the clerk. for
four money orders for twenty-five cents
each. Graham asked him why he did not
send the orders on one sheet, as IT would
simplify matters both for the postofrice
and himself. Cohen replied that he de-
sired 10 get some premiums and must
send the orders separately. Graham grew
suspicious and when he drew the orders
disngured them as much as he could, 50
that they could not be tampered with Co
hen took the orders and departed.
few days later one or them reached
The postoffice at Troy. -. y. but IL had
been raised from twenty-five cents 10 $i6.
Immediately the matter was laid before
Theodore w. Swift, chief inspector OF this
city, and he traced the order 10 New Ro-
Chelle, where he learned how Cohen oper-
sted. When seen yesterday Mr.. Swift
said: Cohen is very clever thief and a
very dangerous one. lie is not taking any
money from the postoffice because we are
protected. but he Is and has been robbing
merchants all over tho country.
I'VE would like TO catch him because
he uses some kind OF an acid 10 erase the
ink marks from money orders that does
the work so thoroughly that no trace OF
81 can be seen even under powerful
maRnifying glass. lie gets a number OF
money orders for sums under 81, and then
uses his acid and changes the face of,
these orders, writing IN whatever sums
ne pleases. When the government began
using the paper on which money orders
are now printed, two years ago. it was
believed that II was protected, because IL
had been shown that any attempt TO erase
writing on the paper with acid would
cause the colors In the paper TO run. Co
hen has something that leaves the paper
ehsolu tely 'unnjured.
After Cohen has changed his money
orders he presents them TO merchants in
payment for some small article purchased
and receives the difference in money"
Cohen is said to have secured n supply
az money orders at West New Brighton,
s l.. November q He was convicted Of
A,, Dit fNes.1 -.
q term In prison. He Is described as twen-
ty-one years OF age. FIVE feet two inches
tall, brown mustache. party blind in left
eve. weighs l2s pounds and speaks with
p strong foreign accent. The notice sent
90 postnasters IN and about .,ew York
follows:
Should application be made for orders
for sums under 81 or should any altered
money orders be presented for payment
by person answering TO above descrip-
tion he should he detained and the in
Epectors office notified by telephone"