New-York tribune., 1922-06-13
Check Kiters
Rob Banks
Of 100000
Firms in Many Cities Are
Nictimized by Trio Who
Pass Leisure i'm n. Y:
Prisoner Shields 2 Pals

T1SOHtT D1ltl1S - Il ais
Fifty banks and trust companies
were reported yesterday by the W. !.
Burns Detective Agency 10 have been
robbed by the check kitng operations
Of three clever forgers who have spent
much money in the brightly lighted
resorts along Broadway. The banks
said to have been victimized by the
trio are all members OF the American
Bankers Association and are scat.
tered from Omaha to New York. and
from Boston TO the Canadian border
Indictments have been returned
against the three suspects in New
York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts,
three OF the fifteen states in which it
is charged they operated The case
breaks all records for the number OF
banks victimized by one band Of
crooks. although not for the amount
Of loss. as the trio in the fifty cases
reported were content TO take from
$500 to $4,000 from each bank visited.
More than 100000 Stolen
The total sum realized from the
wholesale forgeries has not been COM
pletely tabulated, but already II Is re-
ported to run we'll over 100000. c. +.
Robb, superintendent OF the Burns
agency in New York. said complete
list OF banks and the losses could not
yet be given out because losses had
been reported 10 various Offices OF the
agency in other territories and full
reports had not reached him.
One suspect is under arrest and the
two others arc being sought BY the
Burns Agency, the Pinkerton Agency
and the local police Of hundreds OF
cities, 10 which information has been
telegraphed and mailed. Tho lone pris-
oner is held ineommunicado at the re-
quest OF the American Bankers Asso-
ciation The detectives are silent as
10 his whereabouts. His name is given
as William T. Herman. He is thirty-six
years old and married, and has given
two addresses. one in Tsunton, Mass
and one in Utica, n. Y. The check
kiting activities Of the band extended
from September. 1921, to June, 1922,
in part as follows:
Newark, n. J.. two banks; Orange, n.
j.. one: East Orange, y. j.. one; Roch-
ester. n. Y, three; Boston, one Prov
idence, r. l., two; Worcester, Mass,
three: Buffalo. n. Y, thirteen, at
tempted. four Of them successfully;
syracus,, y. Y, two; Cambridge.
Mass, four; Chelsea, Mass, four,
and some institutions in Middle
Western cities whose losses were not
teporied 20 the New York Offices. Some
hanks known 10 have been victims
failed to report in order TO avoid noto-
riety.
Partial List Made Public
The following list was given out by
Mr.. Robb as a partial tabulation OF
institutions whose checks had Deen op-
tanned By The forgers and passed upon
other banks. Some Of the banks on the
list were themselves vietimized oy ac-
cepting forged checks on other banks:
First National Bank. 81. Louis.
State Bank. Chicago.
Central Trust Company, Chicago
Union Trust Company, Detroit
City Bank and Trust Company syria
euse.
b Daakaafar
Marine Trust Company, Buffalo.
Great Western Trust Company, MIL
waukee.
Omaha National Bank. Omaha.
Cheeks OF these banks and others
found their way into territory adjacent
10 New York City, but no checks were
cashed in this city, as the suspects are
said 10 have "kept clean in New YORK
ci,v in order TO preserve this place as
a haven i'm which 10 spend their profits
Tbcy onerated under n score Of aliases
ali Of which have appeared on canceled
es,,iscd forged checks for various
amounts. Among these signatures ap'
near the following: Albert A. Preston
William =. Hodgkinson, c. +. McClel'
land Alfred G.. Miller, w. II. Harrison
If Crissinger, ". X. Lewis, kooeI'
1 Allen. lanes J. Sabatella, Charles ID
Simmons and Percy c. Stokes.
Band Known on Broadway
"These men arc known along Broad
vsv" aid Mr.. Robb, "and we hope q
\ identify completely the two who are
,till al large. This has been dineul
because the man under arrest has re
/ fused 20 talk. r..
"The method Of operation was toi
one OF the men 90 open accounts VIII
cash in about four banks IN the SAM
eitv. while the others did likewise Al
nearby cities. They pretended to know
nothing about opening aeeoun;s o
drawing checks. The men while depos
iting or withdrawing money had con
versations with the tellers regardlni
suonosed business dealings, represent
inc themselves a. being carpenters. me
.hsric. or salesmen. AZ the proPe
tine forged certified checks drawn OF
HANKS in nearby cities either wer
ossssnted for eashing or else deposite'
and Immediately checked against, IN
ebeeks were kited back and fortl
smorr the three until from one TO iou
- he banks had paid out amount
to,alIing from $500 TO $4,000 on forge'
P"9Wben in the vicinity Of New for
49, ven would come into this cit
~ mend money and while operating u
W.sssrhu,etts they would 20 20 Bos
ton. They wound up py "ofklng Va
kiting scheme IN Boston ana cam D.