Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-04-16
IT STOPS
FORGER|ES
(From Special Correspondent

NEWARK, N. j., April 14.-While
check raisers and forgers in, the Unit
ed States have been doing al annual
business of $l5,0QQ,O00, ydeceiving the
most alert bank cashiers; and battling
the best detectives in the country,
Charles w. Howell, Jr., Of this city.
has been working secretly on a de-
vice which he now proves 'nips, in
the bud" any attempt to alter OF
forge checks.
According to a crook expert who
was formerly manager for William
j.. Burns, the famous detective, there
are more forgery criminals in this
country than any other class. In
1903, in a report to the American
Bankers association, the Pinkerton
Detective Agency showed that there
were seven cases Of forgery and
cheek raising reported to every bur-
glary. ,... .
These facts started Mr.. Howell
to protect checks. He discovered
that modern methods, used in bust
ness to prevent criminals in their op-
erations, did not put a stop to this
crime. The crooks art is practiced
more today than ever by amateur
as we'll as professional forgers.
The machine Mr.. Howell has re-
sembles somewhat a small sized type
writer. The valuable features about
it are chiefly two; a peculiar kind
of type that causes ink to penetrate,
through paper at the same time max
ing small perforations. At the same
time, the writing does not lose the
character of its appearance and
makes it impossible for the most
skillful penman or artist to initiate.
The other feature is the use of a new
indelible ink which he defies any pro-
fessional forger to erase by any
method known to him. When seen in
his little work shop at 43 Stratford
Place, Mr.. Howell made this state
ment:
"The more l learned about this
class of criminals, the more deter
mined | became to discover a method
for putting a stop to their easy graft
game. The public is really kept in
ignorance of the facts, connected with
forgeries. In the United States this
business yields a revenue of 15,000,-
900 in a single year. That is the
amount OF money actually stolen by
fo~l gers-hard cash that they get
away with, according to the esti-
mates made by surety. companies and
detective agencies which, are most
concerned in the matter. .yg The fig
ures are astounding but nevertheless
true. &s-- e1
$50 serious has the work of the
pen crook become that three years
ago only three surety companies were
issuing insurance against forgery and
check raising. Two of them We're
compelled to stop this kind of bust
ness; the other charged $3.50 prem
ium on a $4,000 policy for the period
of one year.
One of the chief reasons why for
geries seldom see the light of public
ity is owing to the fear of banks and
business men that publicity might in
jure them. One prominent New
York bank in one year lost $4,000
on three checks. This has never been
published, while the lame Of the
bank would be known to any business
man in the country"
In working out his checkwriting
machine, Mr.. Howell said he kept in
mind two salient facts: that in nine
cases out of ten the crook changes
the amount of the check when small
to a higher amount, and nor i'm
portant still, the name Of the person
to whom the money is to be paid is
almost invariably erased and the
crook writes instead bearer" or
cash." SO as to easily cash the
check. It is necessary to consider
that the payee's name is the most
important part Of a check to3proteet,
because it would require superhuman
effort by the crook to get the check
cashed. MI. Howell's machine makes
it impossible for crooks to make eth
.er of these changes. Mr.. Howell has
experimental with his machine for
several years and it shows his skill
as an expert engineer as well as a
chemist.
NORTH DAKOTA RoBBER.
The Kansas City Star tells OF a
man arrested there a few days ago
who gives his name as Harry King,
alias Frank. He was well supplied
with burglar tools, and has admitted
to the police that he has served time
NeENeNSf9NNNE SrhM$HMtS 8SEEaaAAN N@E aN tNrA