Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-26
CLEVER SW|NDLE
PLOTFRUSTRATED
BY BANK CASHIER
Anger in Telephone Message
Arouses Suspicion of
representation.
DETECTIVE AGENCY AND
POLICE CHIEF SATIRED
Man in Private's Uniform Presents
: Check for Cashing When
Principals Are "Cornered.'

lpdlS nlC SO&ASACo.
A nervy attempt to swindle the
Federal National Bank of $1,000, be-
lieved to be the work of an organized
ring of bogus check passers that evil
IDENTIFY planned to open operations
here, was frustrated yesterday
through the watchfulness of Charles
D. Boyer. assistant cashier of the
banking institution.
That the would-be Swindlers are
familiar with Washington banking
circles. and had made a caIeful study
of the habits of the officials of the
Federal National is evidenced by the
clever method they employed. During
the course Of a series of telephone
conversations, a man who is believed
to be the ringleader of the swindlers.
palmed himself off as Maj. Pullman,
John Poole president MT, OF the Fe ed RAJ
Bradford detective agency.
The fact that during one of the
telephone conversations the alleged
swindler, representing himself to be
Mr.. Poole. spoke angrily to Mr.: Boyer,
was really responsible for arousing the
assistant cashiers suspicious and hold
ing up the cashing of the check 1t is
said that Mr.. Poole never speaks cross
ly to any of his associates.
Called Mr.. Poole on Phone.
About 10 o'clock yesterday morning
a man called up Mr.. Poole on the tele-
phone;
Of the Federal National?" the man
asked.
eyes. what can do for you?" was
"This is Mr.. West Of the Bradford
detective agency. We've caught a
man over in Alexandria who tried to
pass a check for $1,000. The check
was Endorsed with your name. Can
you come over to the Office right
away?"
Mr.. Poole went to the Bradford
agency's offices, in the Southern build
ing. and inquired for Mr.. West He
was told that no man by that name
was connected with the firm. He then
left the Office for a few minutes. Mr.:
Bradford said he knew nothing of
.. the. alleged arrest in Alexandria;
About that time another a fsiephH nis
time the caller reached him in the
detective agency.
This is Maj. Pullman. Mr. Poole"
came the voice over the wire. II
check passer. Wait for me at Brad
ford's and 1 will be over to see you
Mystified, Mr. Poole and Mr.. Brad
1OrQ waited TOT IHe pOiCc SupeTiH-
tendent who did not come. After wait
ing for a reasonable time, the bank
president called up Maj. Pullman's Of
flee, only to learn that he was not in
and had not made any telephone calls
during the morning.
Mr.. Poole Called to Bank.
Then Mr.. Boyer called up Mr.. Poole.
requesting him to come to the bank
right away. as some one was trying to
work a swindle game on the institu-
ton.
Here's what happened after I left
the bank to go to Mr.. Bradfords Of
fee" said Mr.. Poole to a representa-
tive of The Star.
Il had hardly left my office when a
man telephoned Mr.. Boyer and the
following conversation ensued:
Hello. Boyer. This is Poole
"'Who% asked Boyer, for he could
hardly catch the name.
John Poole! John Poole! Can't
you understand what 1 say? the man
angrily replied.
Boyer then knew that he was not
talking to me. for / make it a rule
never to speak angrily to any of my
associates. They will bear me out in
this matter. also.
Then the telephone caller said IF
Mr.. Williams comes in before I get
hack have him wait for me. And by
the way, / am sending over young
man to get a check cashed. 1t will
be Endorsed by me. But be sure and
make him show you his identifica-
tion pass. One cannot be too careful
these days. you know
Boyer, suspicious. but not yet quite
convinced that the telephone caller was
not myself. waited until a young man
in a private soldiers uniform came in
and asked for him. He said he had
been sent by me to have a check cashed.
He showed Mr.. Boyer the check, which
10 TO-
by two or three PERSONS am not quite
sure how many.
Boyer told the young man to wait a
minute. He then called me up at Brad
ford's and came back to my own office
Prior to this, however, the soldier fold
Mr. Boyer that he had seen me at Brad
ford's and that I had told him to have
the check cashed by Boyer
Leaves Bank Abruptly.
while Boyer was telephoning me the
man walked swiftly to the door and then
started running down 18th street to F..
where he turned east and was soon lost
in the crowd"
Upon learning of the attempted
swindle. Inspector Grant and Detec-
tive O'Brien were dispatched from
headquarters TO investigate the case.
the soldier from Mr.. Boyer
The man is described as being
about thirty years old, five feet eight
-. inches in height, and weighing about
100 pounds. He wore the regulation
private's uniform, although there
were no ingsignia visible. He was
smooth shaver. had a slightly up
turned nose. and had light brown hair
and blue eyes.
The police have sent out flyers, To
all the banks in Washington to be on
the lookout for such an individual
and they are bending every effort to
locate the ringleaders in what is be-
lieved to be one of the boldest gangs of
swindlers that have operated in this
city for years.
The soldier was clever talker. Mr.
Boyer said. He enunciated with ure-
cision and distinctness, he said. and
was evidently man of considerable
education.
81 do not think one man could have
perpetratcd this affair himself" said
Mr. Poole today, in discussing the at :
tempted swindle. II am sure was
carefully watched, and it stands to
reason that the movements of Mai.
Pullman and Mr.. Bradford were like
wise under surveillance by some one
The suspicious of Mr.. Boyer were
not thoroughly aroused until Mr.
Poole" talked angrily with him over
..ryLI have Lpoup Mr. ponla ,,a