The Glenwood post., 1924-10-02
MASTER FORGERS'
TRICKS EXPOSED.
The "Perfeot Forgery" Always
Has a Weak Spot That Leads
to Penman's Downfall.
NATIONWIDE oRAeNET OUT
Bankers Working Together to- Catch
Crooks Who Cause Losses Of $780,
600. 600 With Bad Checks Yearly.

OCO,UOU win 61o 0UeCNb veaFIys
A bogus check scheme that was 70
original, sound and business-like that
It became known In detective circles
as "the one perfect forgery" but final
ly. like all OF them. led to its own in
ventor being trapped. is described by
Reuben A Lewis. Jr.. in the American
Bankers Association Journal. The
article, which says forgeries cost the
banks and business concerns at least
s15O.0OO.000 year. deals with the
ways of forgers and the relentless war
fare being conducted against them by
the bankers.
Crime does not pay" Mr.. Lewis
says Soon the law reaches out and
seizes the misguided operator who
thinks he can get away with 1t. For,
one of the peculiar things about the
forger is that, while be may devise a
clever scheme that brings rich re-
turn on its initial trial. he continues
to work 1t until caught.
Fortunately. there appears to be
weak spot in the best laid scheme.
And just as soon as this weak spot is
uncovered. it is broadcast to all the
ban,,s in the land So the banks. in
formed as to the method of approach
that the forger will make. and the lit
tie peculiarities of the job. are on the
alert to nab him when he makes his
next temperance
The King Of Forgers
'The master forser'. is William
Hamilton Harkins probably the most
dangerous operator known to the
banking world Several times in the
tolls of the law, Harkins has managed
to escape The daring King OF the
forgers made confession that he had
defrauded banks Of more than $500.
900 during the years Of his career.
His scheme follows certain set
pattern. The key to Harkins' plan
Is obtaining blank check from the
checkbook of a we'll known arm. Re
Gently Harkins sauntered into the Of
nce Of granite dealer He ordered a
monument and rendered check for q
substantial part of the memorial. He
requested the proprietor Of the store
to permit him to dash OF q letter to
his folks at home. Seixing . pro
pitious moment, Hsrkins spotted his
checkbook. noted the exact balance.
tore out q sheaf Of checks and disap-
peared.
Reproducing the proprietor's sigma
ture. Harkins drew up a sizeable
check. On the reverse side he In
scribed his alias as the payee and
then added after o. K the facsimile
of the depositor's signature. This
acted as an Identification Endorsement.
30 when he presented the check at the
bank It was readily cashed.
The Weak Spot
"The weak spot in Harkins' scheme
II the Identification Endorsement. II
the teller. before cashing any check
bearing this alleged indorseme ent, teie
phoned to the depositor and checked
up on It's issuance. the schsme would
have short shrift."
Banks throughout the country have
been put on guard against Harkins
and his plan and 1t is believed he can.
not operate long WITHOUT again falling
into the net The scheme that was
pronounced unbeatable was devised
by a forger known as r. Mayer and
centered around the certified check
fraud. Mr.. Lewis says. continuing:
"F- Mayer would open accounts
with four or Ave banks in a sizeable
city. The largest account ran, around
$4,000. BY kiting checks back and
forth between the several banks. he
would establish his identity with the
tellers and become known as q man
accustomed to deal in large figures.
After conducting these preliminar
les for = few weeks. Mayer would go
to the bank where he had his largest
account and ask that a certified check
be issued to him for substantially all
Of the money remaining to his credit.
From the genuine check. he wouia
make four or nve duplicates.
I'm turn Mayer would visit the 9th.
or banks. whore he had established
small aceounts Inasmuch ~ he had
cashed checks for some time. Mayer
generally had little trouble In getting
the banks to honor the certified
checks. Il teller took the precautton
Of calling the issuing bank on the tels-
phone y inquire II II had made out
such certified check, he would gain
confirmation.
rhs Fsrssr casehs
"But even the perfect forgery
sehsme caAnes b worked Wiz I'm
puAitx. Mayee succ4elsA IN n>1afraad-