The Washington times., 1902-04-07
EXPERT FORGER A
SCARCE COHAODITY
Seems to Have Succumbed to
Advent of Check Passing.
RARELY SEEN WITH THIEVES
Latter Occupation Is Followed Almost
Entirely by Young Men Now-Veteran
Sleuth Tells Of Tricks Turned by
Well-Dressed Gentry-Come to Grief.

Although. comparatively speaking
Washington is troubled but little by mem
hers of the gentry who ignore the laws
relating to 'meum ct tuun,s those who
give us the mcst trouble are the forger
or bum check passer, said an old de-
tective in discussing the interesting sub
ject of crooks" in enc OF the squad
rooms at Headquarters the other day.
There are" he continued, ANY num-
nnen are in class to themselves. They
work by themselves and rarely associate
With thieves of other work.
AT present there are but few good
forgers in this country, while on the
other hand there are any number of
bum check passers who are classcd in
the same rank with the forger, although
not altogether as olever. Washington
has any number of bad checks passed,
especially during the time Congress is in
session. ..
Into the city comes a, member of the
well l-dressed gentry. who registers at one
or more of the swellest hotels. The clerk,
although he is experienced, seeing the
good clothes Of the individual and his
suave manners, does not think for a mo-
ment that there is the slightest inclina-
tion in his guest to be trifie crooked.
1T is then that the check passer begins
his graft He floats around among the
ether guests at the hostelry and makes
acquaintances. He is generally seen iii
the best Of company, men Of influence and
Of good standing He drinks, smokes and
cats the best and is q regular connois-
saur.
Finally after having, as he believes and
almost knows. established his identity he
proceeds to issue his bum paper. He
goes up against the hotel on one or two
occasions and the checks are cashed. He
next tackles some prominent merchants,
and they having seen him in the best of
company. OF course do not refuse his
paper and he is soon loaded with the
goods
Quickly Skips Out.
by this time he knows he must move
and soon disappears. One by one the
bad checks come back from the banl:s,
there is general howl from the hotels
and merchants to the police. a man is
sent from headquarters on the case but
the bird has flown, and the only recourse
for the police is. to secure a good de-
scription Of the cbeckman and have his
photograph sent all over the country in
the shape of little circulars. As a rule
in a short time he invariably comes to
grief.
THE checkmen that visit Washington
nowadays are not like the ones of old
Their checks are for small amounts and
they are all known to the detectives.
'One of the best men in this coun-
try. one who is perhaps more familiar
with bad checkmen than any other in
dividual," continued the old sleuth, re-
moving his corncob pipe from his lips
for a brief spell of rest, lis Thomas
Byrnes the old chief of New York de-
tectiyes. He is in every way genius.
In his book entitled Professional
Criminals of America the old ex-chief
gives some interesting stories regarding
the work Of checkmen, more especially
the forger.
An Easy Vocation.
THE only reason that ever could give
for the number of checkmen in this ccun-
try is that il is an easy vocation. There
are no great amount Of dangers to avoid,
as in other crooked ways, save to be
shrewd enough to keep from being cap
tured. 1t is said to be fascinating to
many persons, especially young men who
have no inclination to work.
II remember one young fellow that I
ca light at that game some years ago. He
was .naEnficently attired, OF good family
and standing, but was too lazy TO work
after his finances we're gone. He soon
drifted into fast company, and then
again-the old story of another good man
gone wrong'-he was soon passing bad
checks He told me that it was fascinat
ing for him. and that he would surely go
back to it even after he had served the
fve-year sentence l secured for him.
THE check passers of today are, ac-
cording to many of the different sleuths
in other cities. generally quite young.
The old distinguished-lo locking personages
so familiar to our fathers have passed
their footsteps.
But is there really big money now
adays in the game" the old detective
was asked After slowly drawing at his
pipe and gazing about the room, the man
O! cunning ana soft shoes replied that in
his mind there was not. Although, said
he Il have known young fellows who
managed TO clean Up in the neghbor-
hood of 81 600 day. This, however, is a
rarity
Few Women Engaged.
One of the peculiar features OF this
class OF thieves. he said, was the fact
that there are but few women engaged
in passing bad checks why this is" he
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