The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-01-29
Ingenious Detection Of
a Rogue.
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BY Lawrence Leslie.

I1l E111V years, was p'IloiIhtu Wy
az v.nce. Of the New York detective
police force some years since.
hAbout that time the officers Of the
City Bank Of New York discovered
that they had been swindled out Of
$75, 900 by means Of forged check
for that amount, purp0rting TO have
been drawn by Commodore Wander
bllt. Nearly n month passed before the
fraud was discovered, ana In the mean.
time several other checks for large
amounts, drawn by the same party,
had been honored SO il was almost i'm
possible for any OF the employees to
remember with satisfactory distinct
ness any OF the circumstances con
nected with the payment OF the fraud
uent document. However, it was
placed in the hands Of n shrewd detec
tive, and he went 10 work TO find q
clew, and trace out the mystery.
The officers iirst suspicion was that
some of the clerks Of the banks had
been in collusion witt the forger. and
doubtless shared the profits Of his
crime. After two weeks scrutiny OF
the character, habits and associations
OF the various clerks, that theory was
abandoned, and IL only remained for
him TO gather from them. If possible
some clew, however slight Of the bold
operation. His first inquiry was il
any one, not in the habit Of presenting
checks. had been seen doing so within
the past month. Only two of the clerks
had any memory on the subject, and
theirs was o. the most shadowy and
unsatisfactory character. One Temem-
bered seeing stout, elderly man drive
n strikingly beautiful black horse and
fine carriage up 10 the bank, enter the
office, ana transact some business, he
knew not what and depart, since
which he had not seen him.
The other clerk, after n thorough eX-
animation ana numerous questions put
TO assist or quicken his memory, at
last concluded that hc did recollect n
strange man, who entered the bank one
day about the time the forged check
was presented, and had check cashed
for n large amount. A popularity in
the mans nccktic attracted his atten-
ton and he looked him fun i'm the face
and retained vivid recollection OF
every feature. He was an amateur
artist and especially expert in pen
drawing. Taking a sheet of paper and
an Ole pen which was lying upon the
desk, he quickly produced portrait,
which he declared 10 be an accurate
likeness OF the man he suspected.
The officer did not look upon these
clews, if such they might be called,
as promising much hope of success.
He first exhibited the drawing to the
clerk who had seen the suspected
rogue drive up with the fine black
horse. and he confidently identified II,
Here at last was some encourage
ment. The first attempt was TO trace
the horse and carriage, and discover
who owned or who had hired such q
rig. The effort was unsuccessful; the
officer, however. was convinced that
the man, whoever he might be, was an
admirer Of fast and stylish horses, and
he therefore commenced n search
among the establishments devoted TO
the stablng ana sale of such animals,
hoping that he would find some one
who could identify the party. After
going TO nearly all such establishments,
exhibiting the portrait, he came upon
n man who recognized in the drawing
one William Livingston. whom he had
known year or two but who had dis
appeared within the past month. after
paying up some old debts and buying
one or two fancy horses. Further in
quiry brought out the fact that Liv-
ingston was In very straitened circum
stances but few months previously,
and how he could honestly obtain the
means 20 pay his old debts and crafty
his love for hOrsedesh was not so clear
and gave fresh encouragement TO the
persevering detective. To follow Liv
ingston was necessary, but how could
he be traced2 lie had disappeared.
and no one knew when or whittier.
What, then. was TO be done? Should
the trail be abandoned and the case
given up as one Of the mysteries that
bafiled soution2
Never, said the indefatigable officer.
and he went TO work with desperate
energy TO unravel the tangled skein.
He finally reached the following con
illusions: The perpetrator of the forg-
cry was Livingston; he was a good
deal of q horse fancier, and would
doubtless spend q considerable portion
Of his dishonest gains in the purchase
of fine stock; and, further, that the
stock would be purchased in New
York, as that market promised n bet
fer selection. and the criminal con
sidered himself entirely safe from de-
lection.
The first step. therefore, was TO learn
II any one had recently made any ex-
tensive purchases OF such stock. and
if so, 10 run them down and see who
they were.
For weeks the search was without
reward. but at last the case bright
ened. A man was found OF whom sew.
eral horses has been purchased 10y n
man much resembling Livingston. but
here giving the name OF Peck. The
horses were shipped 10 Buffalo. whittier
"Mr. Peck" stated that he was going.
Here was the long-sought clew. and
the officer lost no time I'm visiting Buf.
falo, 20 learn further Mr.. Peck's pres.
ent abode. Another disappointment
met him here. The freight books
showed that the horses had been re.