The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-27
New York. was swlndled out of $50 by a

of New York, was swindled out of $50 by similar forgery.
 ''Brush, who had been released from the New York state prison at Sing Sing only In March preceding the passing of these cneeks' because of the free hand method used In them, was at once suspected by us or being the forger, and was put under inVestigation' in course of which 1t developed that prior to his release he had declared his intention or reforming, and on his release had entered legitimate employment. But 1t subsequently transpired that this was to cover up as we'll as aid him in his criminal acts, for while so employed he collected and preserved the sig natures and handwriting forged by him.
 'our investigation did not develop that he was assocIating with any one answering the descriptions of the men to whom tho banks referred to had paid the money nor of the perpetrators of swindles by forgeries Of the same character-December 1901. on the Fourth National bank. $362; on the Citizens bank. $780, November, 1902. on the Lincoln National bank, S72O; and December, 1902. on the Pacific bank, $200-and with an attempt on the Ger" man Exchange bank. all of New York City
 ''The Lincoln National bank honored sev- eral checks for a presenter pretending 10 pc 8 coachman of the depositor, whose checks were afterward used. So that his face would become familiar to the teller he called at the bank several times for change of large Dills for his alleged employer, consequently his sub seuuent appearance with checks purporting to be drawn by hIs employer did not excite sus- picion. Meanwhile through our continuous surveillance of Brush we determined that George Ross alias Melbourne, was acting as his middleman, but as the forged checks were sent through the mails and the instructions generally by telephone 1t was q difficult mat ter to secure the evidence against Brush. the Gorger. or to connect the middleman with the one who was to present forgery.
 ''Finally we found the middleman meet ing with one Alexander Stone, and on Dec. T, -1g02 followed Stone to the New Amsterdam National bank where he presented check TOT sl52 50, which purported to be signed and in- dorsed by a depositor, but as the time was not Tipe for an arrest the teller of the bank was requested to retain the check and refuse pay ment on the grounds that 1t was irregular.
 Tools Used by Experts.
 ''Iater by continuing the surveillance Ross. alias Melbourne, found meeting with an- other of the presenters, Albert Hearst. and, on Dec 20 with the assistance or the New York City police detectives, we arrested Brush Melbourne Stone and Hearst. In the rooms of Brush we found check perforating machine a numbering machine, various makes of pens inks tracing paper. erasing acids rubber stamps, etc.-a complete IorBery out at-and about 500 checks on banks Of New York Philadelphia, Boston. and other cities, many of them for large amounts, with forged s,pnatures and Endorsements, ready for utter ing. Through our efforts and by careful watch of the prosecution of each of these forsers' the results were as follows
 Holm S. Brush pleaded guilty on Jan. D' 1904 and was sentenced to five years impris- onuIent in the New York states prison at Dannemora.
 Alexander Stone was identified for the at- tempt to swindle the New Amsterdam Ma ttonaI bank with one of Brush's forged checks, pleaded guilty to forgery in the third degree and on Jan i9 1908. was sentenced to the Ei- mira (N. Y.) reformatory.
 Albert Hearst, who was identified as the person who swtndled the Pacific and Lincoln National hanks. as related, pleaded guilty to forgery in the second degree and on Feb. 5. 1903. was sentenced to i've years in the New York states prison at Sing Sing.
 Hearst had previously been house and store burglar and thief. and had served three sentsnces-twelve and six months in the House of Correction. Boston. Mass, and six months in the House of Correction at Philadelphia Pa
 "C;eorxe Ross alias Melbourne was re- Ieaaed for materially aiding the state in the prosecution of Brush, Stone and Hearst.
 Al tbe time of Brush's captuSe he inquired of our representative If his arrest had been brought about by the American Bankers as- socIatIon. and on being informed that 1t had Ststad that because of this association the days of inc professional in his line were ended"