The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-07-12
A bud" Crook
He Said He Wanted to Go Straight
We Said We Would Help Him
But He Never Came Back for Aid
So We're Warning the Bankers
BY JOHN w. NELSON

By JOHN w. NELSON
TM CRooK-or have been one, But I want to go
l. straight I've got wife and baby that have stuck
by me- and haven't got the heart to wrong again Can
you help me get job2'
Sounds just like paragraph out of novel or a movie
thriller doesn't It! The reporter thought so, too. There's
some catch to this somewhere he thought
Sure! Have chair. Now, what IS it again."
i read your police story | thought maybe you could
help me get job. I've hunted the streets pounded the
payements and hammered every door in town. believe"
The speaker keen appearing young man. neatly dressed
straw hat and mopped sweat from his brow This was
week ago, during the hot spell
I'm getting desperate. l want work My money is get
ting low. II isn't the money could out and clean up
$4,000 in two weeks demonstrate it. But just got
thru doing two years and month at Folsom My wife
stuck with and for her sake and the babys going
straight Can you help me?"
HMM-M! A real case. Here's a crook that wants to go
straight
Wonder if it's possible for him to make good the re-
porter thought Police say il isn't Sherffs and Grimm
oogsts and all the other protectors of society say isn't
BY goly it's worth trying Just to see thought the
porter.
Whats your story?"
I've been crook for IL years. Haven't got much to
recommend me to anyone But want to get started right
I'm not old, only 80 but look older"
True His hair was sprnked with gray The face had
set nes-he lines that confinement in prison somehow
stamp upon countenance.
And then his story. Quietly and with touch OF pride
he told It, For II in all parts of America he had
lived crook Much of the time had been spent behind
prison bars. But he had made money-big money
In Los Angeles in less than six months he made $4,000
He operated in banks and with companies and bond
ing concerns.
Tn ONE Eastern prison he and confederates had
robbed the prison safe This job caused chuce. His
last stretch for using the mails to defraud Thirteen
counts and with smart lawyer he had beaten all but two
But the attorneys get all the money! said the crook
You must hire good ones If you expect to keep out
The process simple Forged references job as
statement clerk in bank. confederate, invariably a
woman who worked from the outside. Dormant accounts
where only one or two checks a month would go thru
/
counts Pick several Your confederate writes to some
good bonding houses from Rainier park Tacoma
nearby town. She asks about certain issues OF Liberty
bonds.
I COPY the signature of the dormant account patron.
The check is made out for from $1,000 to $4,000 She
check the bond house for the bonds and hides
out until told to go after the registered package
the bonds If the check goes thru everything is all right
| If it doesn't show up, then she never goes back
when to destroy the statement sheet and
make out one leaving off the amount take the
check and destroy it. All the evidence is They can't
convict you because there's nothing to convict on.
"Of course the shortage is found when the banks bal,
ance Is made nm at the end of the day. usually called
on the carpet fred-often arrested But I've got $4,000
or $4,000 and there isn't anything on which to mtcn
prosecution.
Il can demonstrate it. But don't want to- want a
job as timekeeper other work in lumber camp
Ny wife could wait the table or cook we want 70 WORK
and go straight We have some debts Can you help me
get a job?
THE reporter didn't know Come back in the morning
/ | and we will see what we can do. I'd like to try out
this thing Actually if can beat his way back 10
honesty. o,,,, ,
"You would be protected" said the crook. Thered be
no danger would not steal from who befriended
me THE people work for need have fear If should
ever 90 crooked again would quit their employ and work
someone else. :. -. .
easily Live high travel around and pay big attorney fees
want to be honest. LII,
Criminal records verified the mans account OF hmseli
and his record That was week ago But he never came
ht Seattle bankers are welcome this information, If
it will do them any good. . , ,
wanted to test it out this problem of whether man can
90 straight Why didn't you come back and give us
chance?
II would have been dandy story