The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1945-09-04
Innocent Man Imprisoned as Forger
Despite Efforts of Guilty Criminal

ing case Of mistaken identity
and miscarried justice is not yet
solved. II will not be until some
one explains how a man could
have been convicted and left
with the stigma Of guilt upon
him while continuing and ac-
cumulating evidence s h o W e d
that he could not have been
guilty.
Long before the countrys' po-
lice knew Thiel's name. they
knew him as the cleverest forg-
er in the business. His Jobs were
carried out with a technique 30
unvarying as to almost amount
to a trademark.
After Mr.. Campbell had gone
to prison, the same type of forg-
cries continued. In New York
they continued at their accus-
toned semi-annual rate, as they
had for at least seven years be-
fore the Campbell trial, and as
they were to continue for the
next five years.
Thiel, who had become q her
DIN addict, was arrested in 1913
for illegal possession of mar
cotics. Shortly after serving a
years sentence he was again
arrested and convicted. The
charge was forgery - but of a
narcotics prescription, not
check.
AS he was leaving prison he
was served with a warrant by a
United States arshal and
brought to New York.
Born in Chicago in 1888, Thiel
was first arrested in 1904 for
receiving stolen goods, and serv-
ed Is months in reform school.
In the ensuing 40 years he was
arrested only six times and con-
victed four times. His last ar
rest was the only one for check
forgery.
Here is how Thiel worked. as
described by Assistant United
States Attorney John j. Dono-
van, Jr., who took charge after
Thiels return to New York.
Thie's method never varied
in the essentials, Mr.. Donovan
says. He would begin by steal
ing checks from a business Of
flee, taking them from the back
of the check book and writing
on their stubs, "Void - Imper-
feet" or something s i m | ar.
Whenever possible he took along
some cancelled checks for the
signature.
After couple Of months he
would use these as deposits in
opening an account in the name
of a real person. with correct
address. He would give this per-
sons actual bank as reference.
And here, Mr.. Donovan points
out, was where Thiers unique
and inimitable trademark came
in. For he was able to sign
the alleged depositor's name to
signature cards in the presence
of bank officials, and do 1t 50
skillfully that they appeared
genuine to the victims real bank
and even to the victim himself.
During the process Of open
ing the account which was
usually of four figures - Thiel
would excuse himself, 60 to a
telephone, put in ten nickels,
dial the number of the man
whose name he used on the ac-
count, and leave the receiver
down. Thus il the bank became
suspicious after Thiel left and
tried to call the alleged depos-
itor, they would get a busy sig
nal.
Thiel always opened these ac-
counts on or near the first of
the month Later he would with
draw most of the money with
one or two checks. In all but one
instance he left some money in
the account.
All this was done quickly, us
ually within few days. And
by the time the swindled victim
got his bank statement at the
end Of the month, Thiel would
be out of town.
The forgery for which Mr..