New-York tribune., 1902-07-02
TRIES TO CASH BAD CHECK
ALLEGED FORGER BRAZENIY VISITS
MAN WHOSE NAME WAS USED.


FIFTH AVENUE BANK NARROWLY ESCAPES
PAYING ON SPURIOUS SIGNATURE OF
DIR. CHARLES Fl. GARDNER.
An American District messenger boy yester-
day presented check for 500 at the Fifth
Avenue Bank of New-York, Forty-fourth-st.
and Fifth-ave, bearing a signature of the Rev.
Dr. Charles II. Gardner which the doctor says
is forged. DIR. Gardner conducts a seminary for
Southern young women at No. 60I Fifth-ave.
Had it not been that similar attempt to defraud
the bank made less than year ago the
check would have been cashed B. II. Fancher,
the assistant cashier of the bank, to whom the
check was presented became suspicious, know
ing it to be unusual thing for Dr. Gardner to
transact any business with the bank through
messenger 1t has been his habit to go to the
bank in person to draw money
The signature was a fair imitation of DR..
Gardners signature. AS result Of Mr..
Fancher's suspicious, man who described him
self Frank w. Cross forty years old, an
agent, of No. 1J2 West Sixty-fourth-st was
arrested and locked up in the East Fifty-frst-
st. station, charged with forgery From the
time he accosted by John Carr the special
officer of the bank, who traced him to the Hotel
Imperial. he displayed the most remarkable
was not a forgery. even going far to visit
DR.. Gardner in company with Carr at the doc
tors home, where. the police say, he boldly as
serted the genuineness of the check.
About 2:3O p m. the messenger entered the
bank and walked to the window of the assistant
cashier, to whom he handed an envelope ad-
dressed to the bank. On opening it Fancher
found check for 500 made payable To Cur
rency" There was also in the envelope an un-
Imperial" ON the back of the check was writ
ten, 20. X, =. II. Gardner"
THE FORGERY DISCOVERED.
DR.. Gardner is one of the oldest depositors in
the Fifth Avenue Bank and had never sent a
messenger Tor money. After the check was care
fully examined and pronounced a forgery by the
bank officials. Special Officer Carr was instruct
ed 10 follow the messenger. The lad was given
the enveOped addressed 10 20. H. Gardner HO-
tel Imepiral,' after Mr.. Fancher had placed in 1t
roll of paper and then sealed it. At Forty
third-st. and Fifth-ave. the lad jumped on a
truck and was carried rapidly down Fifth-ave-
Carr kept MIN in sight. and saw him enter the
Hotel Imperial through i side door, and then
walk through to the main entrance.
As the lad approached the front Of the hotel
he met by Cross, who took the envelope
from him and thrust it into his pocket. Cross
just signing the messengers receipt when
Carr approached him and asked him his name
Cross appeared 10 be Disconnected. and after
looking Carr over. asked him why he wanted
10 know Carr inquired whether Cross had ever
used the name of DR. Charles ii. Gardner.
Yes" Cross is said to have replied. Il have
often done business for DIR. Gardner. Why. it
is only to-day that 1 transacted some business
for him at the Fifth Avenue Bank"
Carr took from his pocket the check which
had been presented by the messenger, and,
showing it 10 Cross, asked him if he had ever
seen it before.
That is the check DIR. Gardner wanted me
TO cash for him. Cross is alleged to have re-
piled.
viii you come TO Dr. Gardeners house with
me?" asked Carr
Why certainly replied Cross. Il will be
only too glad to straighten out this matter"
When the two reached DIR. Gardner's home
Cross walked hurredIy up the steps and rang
the bell When servant asked him whom he
wished TO see, Cross inquired il Or. or Mrs.
Gardner was at home. the servant ushered
the two men into "A reception room. When DIR.
Gardner came down stairs Cross rose from his
chair walked toward the doctor and extended
his hand.
DIR. GARDNER DID NOT KNOW HIM
You have the advantage of me" Dr, Gard
ner said: Il don't know who you are"
At this gloom settled over Crosss face but
he drew himself together and sat down again.
Carr then took the check from his pocket and
landed it TO DR. Gardner, AT the same time ask
ing him if it We're his signature written the
bottom of it, DR.. Gardner pronounced the sig
nature a forgery. and Cross then placed |
under arrest by Carr.
The three men first went 10 the bank where
Dr. Gardner again declared the signature a
forgery. Policeman Clark was called and the
prisoner was turned 10 him.
When Cross was searched bank book of the
Colonial Bank was found on him and also a
number of pawn tickets. He will be arraigned
in the Yorkville Court to-day
At the address Cross gave. No. 152 West
Sfxtv-fourth-st. DR.. Gardner says there is a
Mrs Cross who conducts an advertising agency, !
and with whom he has placed advertisements
for his school The prisoner said this woman
vas his mother DR.. Gardner said he had often
maid Mrs Cross with checks. but generally in
small amounts The last check he sent her was
ma lied 70 her three weeks ago.
THE DOlce say that Cross went 10 the Ameri- |
can district Telegraph office in Broadway near
1rhirt1-second-s ST. and after directing that the
how 90 TO the bank gave instructions that he |
sbouid he sent to the Imperial Hotel with the
answer.
Ttnnroved service via Rutland Railroad Four
+rsIns Safv to Vermont. Three 10 Montreal Across
tha Islands OF Lake ChampIan." Descriptiye +,
namphlet four cents. S59 broadway. New York |
Advt
s25 20 To MINNEAPOLIS AND RHVURN