New-York tribune., 1921-08-29
Forged
In Sing Sing Net
Felons $4,000
Attempt to Put Through
Foo Large a Transaction
Reveals Convicts Oper-
ated Inside Their Prison
Three Now s'Solitaries''
Spurious Signature of War
den Lawes Is Accepted
by New York Banks

OSslNING, N. Y, Aug. 2s.-It was
revealed here to-day that there arc
some dishonest convicts in Sing Sing.
Inmates OF the prison have stolen s14.-
600 by means of check forgeries within
the last eight weeks, officials admitted.
1he prisoners stole checks and filled
them out for various sums. Three con-
vets were placed in solitary conhne-
ment yesterday as a result of these
disclosures.
According to information obtained
last night, the forgeries were dscov-
cred through one particular check hav-
ing been filled out for so large a sum
that 1t aroused the suspicious of an
agent OF the State Comptroller's Office,
who communicated with Warden Lawos.
Exposure followed
1t was declared to-day by persons
close to Warden Lawcs that in this
latest outbreak Of forgeries within
prison walls the state will not be a
loser. Losses viii fall upon banks
which honored the forged checks. it
was said. The men sent into solitary
cells for completely IN the forgeries
are George Liljewall, serving term
for forgery; "French" Livinc, alias the
"Fountain Pen," and J. c. Bennett. who
also are said to have records as check
operators.
forgeries Succeeded Before
This is the third time in four wears
that convicts accustomed to handling
checks have conducted large swindlcs.
In previous instances, under Warden
W. H. Meyer and Warden Z. V. Brophy.
the state had to make up losses in
Cured. Warden Lawcs, proGtng by
the experience of his predecessors,
took extraordinary precautions to pro-
tect the state against methods previ-
ously used. These methods had IN
volved insertion by convicts engaged in
the prison office of invoices calling for
payment of checks to fictitious persons
or firms. Finding that way blocked,
the forgers this time victimizcd per
sons cashing the checks.
After Warden Lawcs's attention mad
been called to the forgeres an immc-
diatc examination of cancelled checks
was begun. New York Police Depart
ment aid was enlisted, as the checks
we're cashed in Manhattan. 1t is said
that eight forged checks we're found.
Blank checks are kept in the State
Comptrollers branch office at the
prison. They are under charge of David
Vail, special comptroller's clerk. Con-
victs are employed in the Office and
have access to these checks. lnspcc-
ton Of the checkbook is said to have
shown that nine checks were missing.
when bills arc to be paid state
checks arc made out in the branch
prison officials have no control. and
taken across a hall to be signed by
Warden Lawes. The thief who took
the blank checks took those with War
den La"css signature on them. Mr.
Winterstcin. Of the State Comptrollcr's
Office, said the forgcrics were executed
expcrty. Prison officials have not yc,
learned whether they were committed
in the prison or whether blank checks
we're passed to confcdcrates on the
outside by the men who stole them.
IT was revealed soon after tho in
Ycstigatlon began that certain "trus-
tlcs' who have access to prison rec
ords are in the plot. The bogus
checks we're made payable to creditors
Of the prison. One creditor was j. VI
Porter. The warden's signature in this
cage was forged on the face Of the
check and Portcr's indorscment was on
its back. also forged. The checks
were mnde payable to creditors of tho
institution, it - sad, 70 that when
they we're returned 81 paid and can
celed they would not attract attention.
For several years wardens at Sing
Sing have pctitioned the Legislature to
proYidc civilian clerks for their Office
work. but these efforts have been
futile.