The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-23
CLEVER CROOKS SWINDLE
TWO RICHMOND FIRMS
Checks Are Returned by Western
Bank Stamped AZ
FOrRcries.
noUGnr GOODS AND COT CHANGE
Shipments Remnin Unclaimed I'm Thy
lOrnviIlc Freight acknowledgements
Are Issued.

Glover crooks by means of forged
checks on II Western bank. operated
successfully In this city last week. and
left at least two victims In their path
The unpaid checks were returned hero
yesterday, and, us result. the police
arc holding warrants for the arrest OF
one +. 70. Ward. tho name given by tho
passer OF the worthless paper.
The game. an old one, was worked
ON the Sydnor Pump and Well Com
D;,ny, Inc. and james McGraw. both
dealers in machinery supplies and i'm
plcnents. but fortunately for both. the
amounts were small. the whole booty
being about $3.50. Both concerns
have little hope OF furnishing the Of
fender. but are anxious to head OF
any more operations OF the kind In
this city.
Ward used tho same method at each
store. lilo entered and asked to see
certain articles OF machinery. EVIL
IDENTIFY possessing some knowledge OF
the business. he talked intciligcntly to
the clerk. and incidently stated that
he was a salesman employed In the
nephew at Taylorsville. Rather than
offend tho nephew BY Offering him
money for his hospitality, Uncle Ward
wanted to send him somc machinery,
which he knew you'd be OF great as
sistance Ia AN invention upon which
ne WAC working. The goods were Sc
iected. and then the game began.
The man took an envelope from his
pocket, extracted letter. telling him
that lnclosed he would ind Il check for
his expenses. Sure enough there was
tho check. Unfortunately. 81 was for
trlte moro than tn. purchase. OF
course. that was oil right. anG Ward
UcD1rte1 from tho Sydnnr Dnrrn md
Wen Company with $40 Of It's cash in
his pocket. At McGraw's no only sc
cured $3.50.
CHECKS ARE RETURNED
MARKED AS FORGERII5S
The checks were drawn on tho Citi-
zcns' National Bank OF South Bend.
Ind. and were signed with the firm
namo OF J. l.. McGill Company, OF that
place. The signature was pronounced
by the company as a rank forgery, and
the checks were returned unpaid.
Much detail was looked after by tho
crook In making out the checks. They
were numbered and bore the name OF
the McGin Company, highly rated
houscfurnishing concern. printed on
the face. The writing was that OF
man evidently used to bookkeeping
work. The Endorsement OF Ward was
In an entirely different handwriting.
and as II is identical with that on the
back OF both checks. IL Is concluded
that they were made out by one man
and passed BY another.
Check No. 2s23 was dated April 10,
and was for S35. No. 2a72. although
much lower In the series, was dated
May 4. and was for SIS. They were
passed on May IL.
The goods were shppcd TO IT H.
Ross. Taylorsvilic. Va" and Il tele-
phono conversation with the station
agent NJ that place yesterday disclosed
l. mo s. i.,..
claimed. ana that ~ far as he knew
there VAS no such person rs Ross In
that neighborhood.
Ward IS said to be i've feet six
inches In height. clean shaven and of "A
!uddy complexion. His hair was light
brown, with II sprinkiinE OF gray he
being apparently about forty-nve years
old.