The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-25
ACTED DUAL ROLE
Man Who Fleeced Bank of To-
peka a Clever Schemer.
Played Two Parts and Used
Lawyers For Tools.
MADE QUICK CHANGES.
Was Himself in Topeka and
Brother in AtchisOn.
"BrOther" Sent Check For
5000 to Topeka.
MADE QUICK CHANGES.

Pinkerton detectives are still looking
for the man who forged certified
check on the National bank of st.
Joseph with the signature of George
NJ. Teale, paying teller, across the face
and passed the same at the Bank Of To-
peka.
The story of the manner in which the
forged check was passed has leaked
out, and for originality and daring, the
scheme surpasses anything ever before
brought to the attention of police Off
cials anywhere
The forger, whose name is being kept
secret, and whose identity is unknown
to all except those with whom he had
dealings in passing his forged check,
first began operations by coming to To-
peka to engage a lawyer to represent
him in getting a settlement from a
brother, with whom he claimed to the
attorney he had formerly held partner
ship The business was dissolved and
the client sought redress from the
brother, who he claimed defrauded him
of his just share of the money of the
company by various Vaccinations. He
used every eplthet known that is bad
in describing his brother to the Topeka.
lawyer He advised the lawyer to get
into communica ton with his brothers 5
attorney at Atchison.
To make his scheme work right it was
necessary that he be represented by a
lawyer of recognized standing as will be
hereafter seen Consequently he sought
out one of the most prominent in To-
pelxa, and the imposition was made
upon the member of a firm, whose in
tegrity and high standing has never
been questioned.
After starting the ball rolling in To-
peka, the swindler went to Atchison
where he went to the attorney he had
mentioned as his brothers counsel to
the Topeka lawyer, and represented
himself as the brother of the man who
was giving him trouble over at Topeka.
The Atchison lawyer is also a man of
unquestiOned ability and standing, but
his name is being carefully guarded.
To the Atchison lawyer, he poured
out the same string Of oaths about his
brother in Topeka who was trying to
prosecute him and get his money. He
wanted to be defended. The lawyers
had considerab BILE correspondence over
the matter, the man running back and
forth between Topeka and Atchison,
acting the dual role of both the broth
ers, to keep up the game. The deaIngs
covered a period of about three weeks
and put to shame Rudolph Rassendyl
of the Prisoner Of Zenda.
In the meantime the swindler secured
the signature of George M Teale, the
paying teller of the National &ank Of
St. Joseph. He filed out a check for
$500 with his name signed, and certified
across the face by the forged signature
of Mr.. Teale.
He next drew up a note for another
sum, payable to his brother, and TAX
ing both documents went to the Atchi-
son lawyer with a long face and a
story that rather than have any liti-
cation he had decided to try and settle
the matter with his brother at Topeka,
and asked to have the check for 5000
and the note forwarded to the Topeka
lawyer to ascertain if the brother would
settle for that amount.
He next got on a train and came to
Topeka and went to his lawyer who
greeted him with the news that settle
ment was in sight. and listened to the
story he had told the Atchison lawyer
to write to the Topeka lawyer.
The swindler did not know whether TO
accept. He wanted to know if he would
be shut out from further prosecution of
the case should he accept the sum of
fered. He was assured that would have
to end the matter. He a1esitated but fin
ally ended by deciding to accept the
terms offered, and together the lawyer
and the swindler stepped around the
corner and into the Bank of Topeka
when the lawyer introduced his client
who had a check to cash
The amount was not so very large,
only $9O0-nothing extraordinary in
that; and the man was introduced by
one of the most reputable lawyers in