The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-02-03
PROTECTS THE
MERCHANTS
Business Men Appear to Advo-
cate Bill Against Dead Beats
and Swindlers.
RICHMOND, VA - ST.

X G II M o ID, VA - Special. -
Merchants from all parts of the
State were on hand yesterday after
noon to attend the hearing of the bills
offered by Colonel Sale regarding the
protection OF merchants from dead
beats and Sxvindlers OF all sorts. who
have been preying on merchants for
long time, and who have been able
10 escape prosecution by reason of the
imperfecuons OF the law and inability
to reach them.
The outline Of the bills was siyen
in The Evening Journal yesterday. and
are designed to ptu an end to the
worthless check business. the refusal
10 return or pay for goods when or
dered sent for examination, the decli-,
ration to pay for goods sent &C. o. D. ..
me parties who are guilty of such
transactions are to be charged with
larceny under the provisions OF the
bills The hearing was quite lengthy
and the committee deferred action
till a later date
Salient features and effects of the
proposed bad-check law were SUM
married as follows:
IN placing the maker OF a WORTH
less check. who refuses to make good
upon being notified of it's worthless
ness, in the same category at law
or a person who defrauds or commits
theft In any other manner, a boon will
be conferred on practically every mer-
chant in Virginia. for who has not
suffered by the sharp practices of tn "a
particular class OF gentry.
The advantages of such a law, az
stated, are: 1t would practically GER
tfy all checks 1t would thus enable
a merchant to take checks from par
ties with whose financial circum-
stances he may be unfamiliar without
the usual formaIities Of references.
etc., which often are not avai1ablo
without delay, even with parties en-
tirely responsible, thus enacting a mu-l
t1ai benefit to both parties TO the,
transaction.
1t would protect the credulous mer-
chant or confiding friend from loss
by knaves who give checks knowing
them to be worthless and intending
that they ever shall be-a form of
larceny or fraud never yet effectually
covered by any statute in this State
The proposed law in its workings
would not make it obligatory for a
victim to overwhelmingly possible
to do so for their recovery and pro-
lection. 1t will put the bad check
flasher on the same footing with
those indulging in the other forms of
theft or fraud-prosecution in those
cases being not obligatory.
Should a person unconsciously over
draw his bank account, which is fire.
quently the case with very worthy
individuals, they would merely have
10 make good upon application being
made for that purpose. The law
would be effective only as against
such persons who refused to make
proper provision for their checks
upon being notified of their dishonor
at bank.
NJ. Umstader, of Norfolk. president
Of the association, advocated the bills
from a standpoint of public honesty
and protection to business men.
Charles T. Norman, of Richmond,
showed that a civil suit will not al
ways remedy the case, and that max
ing certain offenses criminal would
result in making a check being prac-
tically certified when given.
Samuel Cohen, of Richmond, also
spoke or the necessity OF protection
for the merchant. John N. Sebrell
Jr., of Norfolk, representing the
Credit Mems Association and Confec-
toners and Jobbers' Association of
Norfolk, went into the bill at length,
and suggested many valuable changes
Edward Eigenbrun, of Petersburg; w.
II. Warner, OF Lynchburg; w. A
Clarke, Jr., of Richmond, and L. O.
Miller. of Richmond, also pointed out
defects that the law ought to remedy.
Police Commissioner Christopher Man
ming, Jr., pointed out that there are
many cases of larceny under the con-
ditions outlined by the merchants that
the law did not reach. Action will be
taken later by the committee on the
hills