The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
MAN WITH A CHECKBOOK.
His Fertile Brain Hatches New
Scheme Every Hour.

St Louis GlObe-DemOcrat
1T is to laugh when one learns the
method by which well-dreSsed man and
woman have been swindling St. Louis mer-
chants. Even the victims cannot repress
smile. For all the clOsely-guarded business
systems, there are thinkers and schemers,
crafty, SIN ewd men and women who have
plenty OF gray inside as we'll as outside
their heads, and who use it just to demon
strate 10 the satisfaction of their pocket
BOOKS that these safeguards can be over
come. a well-dressed lady and gentleman
enter a business house and look over the ar
ticles on sale. Perchance they go to a we'll
known taflOrS place of business and the
gentleman orders a suit. Very likely he
wants a high-priced suit; most clever men
do. lie asks what deposit is required and
writes check for the amount demanded.
Then he goes away with his lady compan-
ION. The check is rushed off To the bank
before work is commenced on the suit. 1t
is found 10 be a perfectly good check. In
the course OF time the gentleman returns 10
set his suit, and again his swell female
friend IS with him. The suit is properly
done up in a neat pasteboard box, as all
good tailOr-made suits should be, and the
gentleman remarks that II his memory
serves him right the balance due on the
suit is a certain amount. He draws forth
his CheCkbOOk and writes a check for this
balance. The check is the same bank on
which the first check was drawn. The first
paper was good and the tailor arguing that
this must be also and that he has probably
won a new customer, politely refrains from
calling up the bank by telephone until after
the customer has departed. When he does
send the check TO the bank he is informed
in the dive course of time that the second
paper was exactly like the first with one
exception. The first was good; the second
is not The man and the woman and the
suit have disappeared ana the tailor mas
lost his new customer, his goods. his work
and even the clothes brush which he threw
in. Then it is that he smiles a sickly smile
and tells his troubles 10 a policeman.
or. perhaps the man enters jewelry
store. He has an unique watchcase. He
says It is q family heirloom and the ap-
pearance of the thing bears out his state
ment There are all sorts of happy mem
cries wrapped up In that Watchcase and all
sorts of family history. The man wants
the very best works in the esta blishment
put i'm that case. He buys few trinkets
and then remembers that he is not known
in the jewelry store. He suggests paying
for the work in advance. The jeweler, Of
his checkbook and writes out a check COW
ering the bill. If the check is not large
enough he will pay the difference when he
returns for the watch. In the meantime he
expects to leave the city, but will be back
within ten or twelve days. He keeps his
promise, but the work has not been COM
pleted The clerk is glad he came in, how
ever for there is some little mistake about
the check which he gave in payment for his
bill The man does not understand this.
The check certainly must be good. He had
a whole lot of money in the bank when he
issued the check and he has not had occa-
sion to withdraw any OF 1t. When he thinks
the matter over Tor a lew minutes ne De-
comes real indignant. Would the clerk
mind permitting him to look a the check?
The clerk would not; he gets the worthless
piece Of paper. The man takes it; he looks
at it from all sides and his indignation
rises He notes the Endorsement of the
firm put on the check when they sent it to
the bank. That is what he wanted-that in
dOrsement. He will see about this and
rushes out "to see" He drops his hat, and
hurriedly enters a nearby store, where he
tells the proprietor that Mr.. - (the jewel
err would be much obliged If the check
were cashed for him. The proprietor notices
that the check mas been Endorsed by the
big jewelry firm and cashes it. The man
skips out. Then he invents a new swindling
scheme.
A game of this kind has come to the no.
tice of the police of late. a man and wOm-
played their little game on the Nj. Z.
Croaks Tailoring Company, Ninth and
Olive streets. where they passed a check
for SOS drawn the Merchants -Laclede
Bank. Werner Bros. We're defrauded out
of $25 in a similar manner by man and
woman answering the description of the
pair who called on the Croaks establish
ment other reports are coming In with
a regularity that is startling as well as
amusing.