The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-22
Sophie Lyons.

Sophie Lyons.
and presenter" Tho proceeds ara df.
vided In certain proportions, the presenter
often getting the lions share, because Il ia
he who takes the greatest risk
Steve" Broadwell Is said to have real.
lied nearly threequarters of million dol
lars as his share Of tho forgeries in which
he was implicated. There was hardly a
city in the country In which he had not
operated at one time or another. HIs
method was unique.
Here is typical case. He walked into
Boston bank one rainy afternoon Just be.
fore the hour for closing. He presented a
aratt drawn by Southern bank upon a
bank In New York directing the New York
bank to pay to James Lane some SO 900.
Broadwell was soaking wet from the
rain, and as he handed the draft to the
paying teller he commenced At of cough.
Ing which seemed as though It would sniff
MIN apart. The teller waited until the
coughing man had moments respite and
tnen explained that he couldn't cash the
draft because 1t was drawn on New York
bank.
again the man started his terrible cough
and the perspiration stood out on his brow.
When the spell subsidized, he handed the
oratt back to the cashier and insisted in
a weak voice that the cashier of tho
southern bank, whose signature guaran.
teeing James Lanes endorsement was ON
the back of the draft, had told him that he
could cash the draft as well at the boston
bank as in New York
i was on my way to New York IN see
specialist, he went on, "but I'm afraid
~ never get any further than this town
Ihats why I came here"
The coughing started again. The teller
became alarmed. 1t didn't seem as II the
mans rackcd frame could much long.
CT resist the terrific strain his coughing
spells were subjecting il to. The man
grew deathly pale and seemed about 10
collapse One OF the officials OF the bank.
attracted by the noise OF the mans
paroxysms. appeared on the scene Just in
time to catch him as he was falling 10 the
floor " '''
chair was brought and while the e1.
teller and the other officials discussed the
question Of cashing the draft he had pre-
scented.
The mans terrible condition completely
disarmed them of suspicion as to the au-
thenticity Of the draft he had presented
and the only thing which made them hes
itate was the rregularity of the proceed.
ing. Banks and bank officials are the
last to move out OF the regular rut Re
peated experiences have taught them that
safety lies in following precedent.
1t seemed that the Boston bank had car
ried large deposit of the New York
banks funds, and could, of course, safely
have Dashed the draft II so inclined, fact
with which Broadwell was. OF course.
familiar. Again the man commenced his
deadly cough, and the teller. after con-
sulting with the cashier and fearing that
further argument with the apparently
dying man might bring about his death.
finally counted out the money and handed
1t to him. Broadwell went out into the
rain again, worked the same trick at four
other banks before three o'clock that alter
noon and cleaned up some eighteen thou.
sand dollars on the day!
The drafts he used in this way were
genuine drafts issued for small amounts In
the regular way and skilfully raised to
several hundred times their actual amount
In the case mentioned the original amount
was $50. Broadwell collected $4,000 on it
Broadwell died In Bowery lodging
house. He had made fortunes In his time,
but he died a pauper. The strain he ex-
perienced in executing his ingenious fraud
undoubtedly fastened his end. He was
most finished actor and would have
adorned the stage. But he chose life of
crime and he reaped the criminals inevi.
table reward-misery and poverty.
George Wilkes himself, who at one time
or another worked with most of the big
forgers of his time and cleaned up hun
dreds of thousands OF dollars In this coun-
try and in Europe, died penniless in the
Bellevue Hospital In New York City.
The accomplices OF the actual forgers
become involved in the meshes of the law
more frequently than the principals them
selves. Thus, William Pinkerton has
pointed out that eight Of the associates Of
Charley Becker. the forger, were caught
and sent to prison, and the same fate be-
fell ten OF George wilkes associates, five
of Jack Brush's, six Of Jim Farrells and
eight of Alonzo J. Whitemans. /
No one who Is at all familiar with the
careers Of the big forgers will ever con-
tend that forgery pays On the contrary.
like every other crime, 1t has never brought
anyone any real happiness. For a few
years, perhaps, it may enable those who
pursue 1t as u means OF livelihood to live
we'll, but in the long run the life of the
forger is full of Indebtedness and misery.
Forgery does not pay because no crime
pays.
SOPHIE LYoNa |