The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-08-11
CHECK WORKERS
Are the Busiest Of All the Nuner
Gus crafters--Trlck Of the
Minister

"The check workers" said q vet
eran detective, "are the busiest of all
the 'grafters' and the hardest to keep
track of. They are at 1t the whole
year around and cause the police a
lot of bother because they vary their
methods so much. Nearly all other
classes of criminals have certain lit-
tie pecullarlties about their work by
which they become known, but these
fellows get up a new scheme every
day.
Some OF them are really men OF
genius, who could make a good liv-
ing with their brains and tongues in
almost any other line If they only
cared to do so. They all have degen-
crate tendencies, however, which
drive them to the commission OF
crime The most of them would not
reform If they could.
THE most interesting OF this class,
perhaps, are not really check work.
ers at all. allude to the men who
make 1t their business to get genuine
signatures to bona flde checks un-
known to the signers.
"They are the modern development
OF the now almost extinct class of
swindlers who used to drive through
the country getting responsible farm
ers TO sign machinery contracts, light
ming rod agreements, or anything in
fact, which might be torn in two and
become promissory note which
could be negotiated at a bank. Now
and then modification OF this Old
game still crops up in the backwoods
districts, and. In spite of the fact
that every farmer nowadays takes a
paper OF some kind in which these
frauds are exposed, victims are all
ways found TO illustrate the graf
ter's axiom that a new sucker is born
every minute.
"The modern idea IL different. Not
long since new game was sprung
with ingenuity enough in 1t to have
been born of the devil.
THE chief factor in the little fnan-
cial comedy drove up TO the house of
prosperous farmer. He was dressed
In a suit of sober black, and repre-
sented himself to be a circuit riding
minister of the Gospel. He request
ed shelter for the night, and was
Hospitality received. He proved a
good talker, and the two sat up un-
til bedtime engaged in pleasant con-
versation. Just about retiring time
a couple hurriedly dro~e up and ask
ed the farmer where a minister could
be found to marry them, and. OF
course, the circuit rider got the job
"The farmer was an. interested
spectator of the happy affair, and al
| the conclusion OF the solemn words
that made the supposed elopers mar
and wife was benevolently delighted
; to sign his name as witness to an
| elaborate marriage certificate which
| the minister fished up from his little
| black grip as present to the bride
and groom. In the morning tha
signature appeared at bank in the
neighboring town, at the foot of
check for large amount, and wal
| cashed without question.
Nearly all the papers in the coun
try printed the incident at the time
| but none of them had the story o
how the trick was done. That did no
become known until later. The Ger
tifcate Of marriage was printed OF
heavy cardboard, and, wherever tn,
| pon,.o m Jatao mara To no uTfttap In
the cardboard was cut away with ;
1 beveled edge and the writing wa
done on smooth paper pasted on tn
back of the certificate and showing
through the beveled holes. The effec
vas ornamental and nothing wron
about It could possibly be suspected
Between the two sheets of paste
hoard, however, "a bank check ha
been inserted, so that its signatur
line came right under the opening
consequence the farmer was actual
signing q check on his own ban
when he good-naturedly witnessed
the fake marriage.
"Of n similar nature was a NOR
elaborate operation performed i
| Washington. A pretty and extreme
ly vivacious young woman appeare
one day with a handsome morocco
bound and gold mounted album
slung in an alligator carrying cast
The outfit was just about the neates
trihe, with the exception of the youn
lady herself. that ever came to tow
and both made a decided impression
She had the autograph mania an
! wouldn't the dear senator just fave
her with his name there below h
portrait or below the place whel
she was going to insert his portra
when he gave it to her? In min
, cases out of ten the dear senate
, would, no matter what his usu
= sentiments regarding the autograE
hunters.
: The name was signed through Q
opening in the card. just as in Il
2 marriage certificate, and in ever
{ case n check was signed. Not oI
, of these checks was offered for pa
g ment until the persuasive young W
= man had secured all that could
handled in safety, when they we
. | ooohaH nm tho oanna daV nj the var