An Improved Means to Prevent Tampering with Cheques.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 13th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 15th July, 1887.
An Improved Means to Prevent Tampering with Cheques.
I WILLIAM HENRY HOWORTH of Northgate, Cleckheaton in the county of York,
Architect do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
On the ordinary cheques now used I print from top to bottom, or in the most
convenient position, a series of figures commencing at 2 and forwards to 10 then
advancing by tens forwards to hundreds, and from hundreds, advancing by hundreds
to thousands, and tens of thousands as required. On any one writing out a cheque
under one hundred pounds, one of the printed numbers is struck out by the writer,
corresponding either exactly with the amount of the cheque, or the next number,
above the amount, so that on the cheque being presented, the clerk or cashier can
instantly see if the amount of the cheque corresponds with the number or numbers
crossed out, for instance a cheque under two pounds, the figure 2 would be crossed
out by one stroke of the pen, a cheque at ten or under and not less than two pounds,
the pen would be drawn through number ten, and so on in like manner, from twenty
thirty, and up to one hundred, and all cheques under one hundred pounds would only
require one figure striking out, cheques above one hundred pounds and upward would
only require one figure striking out cheques of one hundred and odd sums would
require two figures striking out and cheques above one hundred and odd sums require
three figures striking out for instance a cheque of £1320 would require the pen
drawn through first the £1000 and second the £300 and thirdly the £20 and cheques
of four hundred and sixty five would require the pen drawn through the figures
first 400 second 70 shewing the cheque was under £470, and cheques below £100 for

page_text: instance a cheque for £60 the pen would be drawn through the sixty shewing it is
for £60 or under and a cheque for £65 odd, the pen would be drawn through the
figure 70 shewing the cheque was under £70 a further check can be added by placing
a blank number at the top of the cheque for the writer to fill in the number of
strokes he has drawn through the figures, for instance if the cheque is under £100
and needs one stroke, he writes or puts in figures one, after the blank number, and so
if two or three figures are crossed out he writes the word two or three after the
blank number; this is not required but may be used for a further check or security.
Dated this Tenth day of September 1886.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Crossley Street, Halifax,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Fig. 1 shows a cheque filled up and the numbers crossed off according to my
invention.
On the ordinary cheques now used I print from top to bottom, or in the most
convenient position a series of figures commencing at 2 and forwards to 10, then
advancing by tens forwards to hundreds, and from hundreds, advancing by hundreds
to thousands, and tens of thousands as required.
On any one writing out a cheque under one hundred pounds, one of the printed
numbers is struck out by the writer corresponding either exactly with the amount of
the cheque, or the next number above the amount, so that on the cheque being
presented, the clerk or cashier can instantly see if the amount of the cheque corre-
sponds with the number or numbers crossed out; for instance a cheque under two
pounds, the figure 2 would be crossed out by one stroke of the pen.
A cheque at ten or under, and not less than two pounds, the pen would be drawn
through number 10, and so on in like manner from twenty, thirty, and up to one
hundred. All cheques under one hundred pounds would only require one figure
striking out, cheques above one hundred pounds and upwards would only require one
figure striking out, cheques of one hundred and odd sums would require two figures
striking out, and cheques above one hundred and odd sums require three figures
striking out (see Fig. 1), a cheque of £1320 would require the pen drawn through
first the £1000, second the £300, and thirdly the £20; and cheques of £465 would
require the pen drawn through figures, first £400, second £70 showing the cheque
was under £470, and cheques below £100, for instance a cheque for £60 the pen
would be drawn through the 60 showing it is for £60 or under, and a cheque for
£65 odd, the pen would be drawn through the figure 70 showing the cheque was
under £70.
A further check can be added by placing a blank number at the top of the cheque,
for the writer to fill in the number of strokes he has drawn through the figures, for
instance if the cheque is under £100, and needs one stroke, he will write or put in

page_text: figure 1 after the blank number, and so if two or three figures are crossed out, he
writes or puts in figures, 2, or 3 after the blank number, this is not required, but may
be used for a further check or security.
Instead of the numbers, the amounts may be written, or other similar tokens used.
Similar numbers may be printed upon the counterfoils.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
Preventing fraud and tampering with cheques by means of figures, written
amounts, or letters, or other tokens upon the cheques, substantially as and for the
purposes, shown and described.