The New York herald., 1921-05-13
CHECK STEALING ON |
Big SCALE REVEALED
AFTER ALONG TRAIL
Mails Robbed by Band Here,
Amounts Changed and
Names Forged.
MANY VICTIMS FOUND
Four Carry on Systematic
Looting Which Nets Thou
sands in Loot.
DETAILS TOLD TN COURT
Pinkertons and Postal Inspec-
tors Bare Scheme at Hearing
Of One Suspect.
DETAILS TOLD TN COURT

The existence Of a band of check
ceeded within the last few months in
cashing stolen checks for amounts
running into thousands Of dollars, was
made known yesterday by Pinkerton
detectives and postal inspectors at the
arraignment in Jefferson Market Court
of Michael Leroy Of Sc West Sixty
fifth street, charged with attempting
to cash an altered check stolen from
Mrs. Frances L. Morgan, widow of J.
Pierpont Morgan.
LeRoy's bail was advanced from
$4,000 to $500 at the request of Henry
M. r. Goodman. Assistant District At
torney. who expressed surprise at the
mass of evidence covering the alleged
operations of a check thieving band,
which the Pinkerton detectives said
they were ready to offer. LeRoy's
hearing was set for Monday.
Clue Finally Brings Arrest.
Although they had been at work for
weeks trying to trace checks stolen from
the mails. which were appearing, mys-
teriously changed. at the banks and
were being cashed with a regularity that
was battling, the Pinkertons said they
had not been able to pin down the oper-
ations of the band until recently. when
Mrs. Morgan was notified by Fiske &
Brown. tea and coffee merchants of 6s
Thomas street. that they had not re-
ceived her check for $12 covering pur-
chase, and believed 1t had been stolen
from their letter box.
In some way, it was said. the detec-
tives learned that an attempt would be
made TO cash the suspected check at the
Second National Bank, ESQ Fifth avenue,
Wednesday afternoon. and they were on
cashiers window. 1t was said that the
check had been altered to read 1910.
and that the name of the payee had been
altered to Frederick r. Brown" In
dorsement and counter Endorsement were
forged, 1t was charged
Four Men In Band.
According to the Pinkertons the check
operating band consists of four men
one known as the forger. whose duty Is
the expert and dangerous alterations OF
checks. the stealer, the middleman and
the presenter.
Checks are obtained by the stealer,
who is directed by the middleman to
nj ctv -
buildings early in the morning. The
letter boxes are jimmied and the stealer
turns over the mail to the middleman,
who sorts out the checks and remails
the letters containing no checks. The
middleman then. according TO the Pin
kertons. passes the checks on to the for
ger and the forger In his expert way
contrives alterations that will make
possible a quick and unsuspicious pass
age OF the checks through tho banks via
the medium Of the fourth member of the
gang. the presenter.
Frequently the amounts of the checks
are lowered. as this apparently has been
found more likely way TO avoid prompt
investigation and possible discovery. In
iced, most of the checks emanating from
the pen OF the forger are for small
amounts, but the system Is operating so
smoothly. and the amount of stolen
checks apparently so extensive that the
profits still may be great. In cases where
checks have been drawn on what Is
known as protective paper" mes
senger Is sent to bank. representing to
be the emissary OF the business man or
woman drawing the check. and obtains
, a new bank book. The forgery then is
made, according to the detectives. with
out the painful expedient of attempting
to alter protective paper"
solve Puzzle. Seek Men.
The names Of persons ard firms who
have been vlctimized by operations OF
the band are being withheld for tho
reason that If the names are published
the checks may never be presented for
conversion. 1t Is known. however that
last Friday another check for S3f0 was
presented at the Chemical National
Bank. 270 Broadway. bearing the sig
nature G. q. Roosevelt. This possibly,
II was said, may have been drawn by
Mrs. Christine @. Roosevelt Of s04 Fifth
avenue. wife OF w. Emlen Roosevelt,
director OF the bank
Le Roy's direct connection with a
check operating band has not yet ap-
peared. IL he was the presenter, as the
Pinkertons allege. he ran possibly the
greatest risk OF any member OF the band
except the stealer. The middleman, II
appears, Is the executive, and runs small
chance of discovery and the forger prob
ably will be the hardest Of all to appre-
hend. The Pinkertons say they have
solved the puzzle, but they are still look
Ing for the perpetrators