Evening star., 1943-01-19
PRESIDENT ORDERS MINERS BACK TO WORK
Pair Held Here
In $4,000
Bad-Check Case
FBI Reveals Arrest
Of Man and Woman
Sought for Months

A man and his woman accom-
plice have been arrested here by
the Federal Bureau of InveStiga-
tion in connection with the pass
ing of SIS 900 worth of bad checks
at Washington banks and de-
partment stores, the Justice De-
partment announced this aft
ernoon.
Investigators who have been work
ing on the case for more than two
months said the couple-Andrew
lie Bolo, 81, and Sylvia Bowlby, "a
was to be arraigned late today before
United States Commissioner Need
ham c. Turnage.
LIE Bolo was arrested by the FBI
yesterday afternoon, soon after he
had attempted to cash a check for
$3.50 at the main Office of the Riggs
National Bank Earlier in the day,
according to the Justice Department,
he attempted to cash check for
$3.50 at the Park road branch of
Riggs.
Woman Arrested Earlier.
The woman was seized by the FBI
last night. She had been arrested
several weeks ago by local police
who questioned her on the passing
of checks here. She was later re-
leased on bond
FBI Director j. Edgar Hoover
today termed the pair convincing
takers" who several times succeeded
in passing worthless checks amount
ing to $2,500.
investigators termed the two as
the most expert to operate here in
number of years. BY stealing bank
statements and department store
bills from mail boxes of apartments
and rooming houses, the forgers
made out worthless checks based on
the information thus obtained.
Raised Amounts.
The. theft of department store
bills placed new twist on an old
racket, according to F'BI men. The
pair paid the bills. foUfng the GUS
toners name to check for a much
larger amount. and receiving the
difference from the store in change.
Garfinckels, Woodward e. Lothrop
and other large stores were victim
lied in this manner.
Before turning to the department
stores, police said, the pair made
what they apparently thought to
be killing" by cashing forged
checks at the teller's windows of
local banks. Signatures on the
checks were copied from the cam
celed checks that accompanied the
stolen statements, while possession
OF the statements kept the forgers
from overdrawing their victims ac-
counts, it was said.
According to police. the two OPP
Grated so expertly that in some
cases they used a victims bank ac-
count for several days, making oc-
casional deposits to pave the way
for Withdrawals. A few of the
checks were machine written, and
some had the purpose of the check,
such as "for the purchase of lots
223 and 224," detailed upon the face
to make them appear more au-
thentic.
All Banks Hit.
The racket made its appearance
here several months ago and within
a week was attempted on virtually
every bank in the city, John A.
Riley. president of the District
Bankers Association said. After
the first bank was victimized. a cir
cular was sent out by the Bankers
Association and tellers were on
guard, with the result that some
banks did not cash the forged
checks, he said.
Two unsuccessful attempts were
made at the Second National Bank.
it was said, one being at the main
office and the other at the Seventh
street branch. In each case, accord
ing to Mr.. Riley. the teller refused
to cash the checks until they were
"oksyed" by an officer of the bank.
Instead OF obtaining approval, the
person with the check, who in each
case was the same well-dressed man.
fled.
The woman was reported to have
been the chief operator in the de-
partment stores.
The FBI joined in investigation of
the case because banks, which are
covered by Federal laws. were in
volved. The Burns Detective Agen-
cy also investigated the case, repre-
senting the American Bankers AS
sociation.