Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-02
ny FREDERIC }. IIAskIN

then deposited In tho bank to the credi,I
OF tho mercantile shop and charged to|
! the account OF the sawnill company
After this arrangement had gone onl
Tor heveral months the sawmill con,
panN overdrew their account sever, Al
hundred dollars. II then came out thu
fre different men In the employ OF tn.
! company had raised nve different
chcckF converting such sums as Sli.6n)
! into $3.50. etc. In addition there ha
7 pecn two forser!es OF the signature cfI
| IN" cotnpany-one check for S25O]
ana the other for sl5o. All had been
duly cashcd By the mercantile shop
and passed on TO the bank
me matter was taken TO court h,
cause tue bank considered the circun
stances peculiar and refused TO MAX.
up the deposits In the FIRST place
,neS pointed out II seemed bit IN
nsunl that i've different men in tn.
employ OF one concern should sudd,rl
DE seized with the temptation to rpis
( checks and forge signatures. and u
Also appeared rather curious that tho
mercantile shop. copartner " tho
sa"mi!l company. should know 50 III;
VIC 81 their business that IL would cash.
checks for such large amounts mai,
out TO employees. This evidence seem
ed TO throw suspicion on the woina ~
IN the cas"--the woman who manage
INC mercantile shop, but there was no
S"ostahliaI PROOF The bank state,
that this woman handled all the bank
Ing deposits and that IL would hay.
been simple matter for her TO ha~c
altered the checks after she had pilr.
chased them from the ernpIoyecs
moreover. that such things were usual.
IS the product OF one intellect no:
i've.
Ru, the court did no, agree Win the
bank. which was held responsible ror
All seven Irregularities Later h.r.
ever. this decision was reversed aud
the bank was compelled 10 stand ,h.
loss Of the forSer!es. but rot Of Tho
raised checks. which II had paid urdcr
tn" signatures Of the sawm!ll com
pany In good faiih.
Merchants Daily Victims
Tn" banks are becoming diMmI,
hIntin. grounds for the cleveres,
crooks. but tho merchants are da!i,
victims The check protector has MAD.
check aising exceedingly dficuli. but
there arc many nrms who 10 not con
slider II necessary TO use these device,
They prefer 10 trust 20 "A bcnevole.i
fate I" defend thcm from tho wo,i
81 the crafty check-raiscr. ON the cor
trarE some firms have employed ever,
possible method 10 prevent check
ing and forgery
In new towns built around great in
dusirial plants. the company check is
49, - ~ 'li'.' ana incSChantS
forccd I" cash them. Under these cir
cninstances. there Is. OF course. ahunG
ant "hanc. for forgery In HoDcweN
Va. the new powder town built BY tho
pa Points, OIL the James River there
were repeated Instances OF forgery nur
%! cheek raising for thc Nrst =.
months ~ tho towns existence Tn,
the company devised q method whici
stopped II once and for all Each en-,
ployce l. required TO carry on hi.
watch fob photograph or himself to-
gcthcr with his number When he
presents check 10 he cashcd. TIN.
photograph on the watch-fob identi6e.
The man, and a number stamped on tho
check must correspond with that on
the picture. Thus IL becomes q rca-
sonabic certainty that James Jones
No. 2.JGi, is an employee OF the com
Dany, ana presenting his own chcc!,
10 be Cashed
While Il is not. perhaps necessary
tor everybody TO wear photocrapls
with numbers on their watch fohs ~,
coat lapcls something Just as effective
: IL not az ornamental should be used
by every large concern. When II re-
mains possible Tor well-dressed crook
10 cash bogus check in every state
In the Union and escape punishment
no procauiion, however ridiculous is
shpcrnuous. No merchant, trust com
IahY, manufacturer or bank is infaI
iibi"-"ven the Treasurer OF the Unit
cd states cashed forged draft-bu,
thcy can at least live up to their repu-
tations as "stutc business men and sus-
pect every check until it proves its
innocence.