Evening star., 1923-04-03
CHECK SW|NDLERS
WORKING OVERTIME
Banks and Merchants VIC
timized-LocaI Securities
Show Investment Buying.
BY I. A. FLEMING.

Washington is infested with people
trying to get something for nothing.
the spring rush of forged and no
funds" check swindlers plying their
work even more openly and with lit
tie more finesse than usual.
In their work they use telephone and
messenger service. buy bills of goods
at the retail stores, deliverable at fake
addresses. presenting checks OF fair
proportions to the merchants and OBJ
tanning considerable cash in exchange,
this being their share or the plunder.
Frequently telephone connection is
made with the teller of a bank and
the statement made that the party
talking. MIR. So and So, is unable to
get to the bank, but is sending mes
senger boy. and it is all right to cash
the check which he will present. Some
much trouble, for the schemer makes
few mistakes, and never overdraws an
account.
This is avoided by stealing monthly
statements from letter boxes In
: apartment houses. Keeping the letters
a day or two, they find the balance
OF each depositor, and thus avoid
making overdrafts or excessively
large checks.
Quite a number of Wilmington, Del,
fraudulent checks have been cashed
bearing the signature ALFRED De-
Pont," by merchants and also by
banks. where the teller was even
more than casually careless I'm pass
Ing out the cash.
Forgeries and fraudulent checks have
been reported at headquarters. and II Is
reported that some arrests have been
made.
Merchants should not accept checks
from strangers. more especially where
they are for more than the price OF
the purchase made and bankers
should not cash checks for messenger
boys.
Capital Traction Earnings.
During February last the net in
come of the Capitol Traction Co.
$36,S02.l1 for January.
Mature May 20 Next.
May 90, 1879, is the date of maturity
Tor outstanding victory i& per cent
notes. The Treasury has announced
that holders of the notes desiring to
have them redeemed before that date
must have the last coupon. due May
the Federal Reserve Bank of Rich
lnond for redemption: that the re.
demption will be at the expense OF
the owner, but that the Treasury will
furnish insurance at 5 cents a note.
Certain forms have been prepared
for use. Registered notes must he In
dorsed Pay to the order of the Treas
urer of the United States for redemp-
tion for the account of"
There are over SS00.000. 600 Of the
victory notes outstanding.
1t is probable that redemption will
be accomplished with the proceeds OF
short term certificates to be issued by
the Treasury.
Local Securities.
There was considerable business
transacted on the local stock exchange
today, without any great activity in
anything.
For the first time In several days.
Railway common did not sustain even
fractional losses, the asking price be-
ing advanced 4 point over the low OF
yesterday to Ga Il. while 63a4 was bid.
Among the unusual transactions were
sa'es OF Washington Mechanics, Savings
Bank stock at 10ss, and Banking Trust
d Mortgage shares at 10. the first sale
OF this stock, 1t being listed in the un-
listed list.
itaiway preferred was held at "a,
with 734s bid. Capital Traction shares
sold at 99A to 99*