Tales and Sketches

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4996, 7 July 1894, Page 1

Tales and Sketches

FORGERY AS A PRO-

FESSION.

An interesting article in the April Dumber of the North American Beview is Mr B. A. Pinker. on 'a on "Forgery as a Profession." Mr Pinkerton ought to know Bomefching about the detecting of criminals in America if anybody does. His revelations as to the methods of American forgers disclose a very well organised scheme of public fraud, and his suggestion of a union on the part of all banks against it is one which should be carefully considered by bankers on this aide of the Atlantic. The need is great also in France, where a great manufactory of forged bank-notes has only jnst been discovered near Angouleme. THB GANG. Mr Pinkerton beginß by telling us the composition of an ordinary forgery gang. First, a capitalist or backer ; second, the actual forger, wbo is known among his associates as the " ecrat.her ;" third, the man who acts as confidential agent for the forger, who is known as the " middleman" or the " go-between j" fourth, the man who presents the forged paper at the bank for payment, who is known as tha *' layer-down " or "presenter."

THI. " BACKEB."

The backer or capitalist is rarely known to any member of the gang out-aide of the " go-between," whom he make- use of to -find the forger. He very rarely allows himself to become known to the men who "present "the forged paper at the banks. If the forgery scheme is successful, the backer receives back the money paid out for the preparation of the work, as well as any amount he may have loaned the " band" to enable them to open accounts at banks where they ' propose placing the forged paper. He is also allowed a certain percentage on all successful forgeries.

THE " GO-BETWEEN."

The dnties of the " middleman" or "gobetween " are to receive from the forger or hiß confidential agent the altered or forged paper. He finds the man to " present " this, accompanies his confederates on their forgery trips throughout the country, acts as tbe agent of the backer in ' dealing out money for expenses, sees that their plan of operations is carried out, and, in fact, becomes the general manager of the band. He is in full control of the men who act aB "presenters" of the forged paper. If there be more than one man to " present " the paper, the middleman, as a rule, will nob allow them to beoome known to each other. He meets them in secluded places, generally in little out-of-the-way saloons. In summer time a favourite meeting place is some secluded spot in the public parks. At one meeting he makes an appointment for the next meeting. He uses great care in making these appointments, so that the different "presenters" do not come together and thereby become known to each other. "The middleman is usually selected for his firmness of character. He must be a man known among criminals as a ' staunch ' man, one who cannot be easily frightened

by detectives when arrested, no matter what pressure may be brought to bear upon him. He must have such an

acquaintance-hip ampDg criminals as will enable him to select other men who are 'staunch,' and who are not apt to talk and tell their business, whether sober or under the influence of liquor. It is from among this clasß of acquaintances that he Belecta the men to 'present* the forged paper. It is an invariable rule followed by the backerjand forger that in selecting a middleman they select one who not only haa the reputation of being a 'staunch' man, but he must also be a man who haa at least one record of conviction standing against him. This is for the additional protection of the backer and forger, aa they'know that in law the testimony of an accomplice who ia also an ex-convict, should he conclude to become a State's witness, would have to ba strongly corroborated before a court or jury in order to be believed."

THE) "PBESBNTKR," The "presenters'" are of all ages and appearances, from the party who will pass as an errand-boy, messenger, porter or clerk to the prosperous, business man, horse - trader, stock - buyer or farmer. When a presenter enters a bank to "lay

down " a forged paper, the " go-between " will sometimes enter the bank with him, and stand outside the counter noting carefully if there is any suspicious aotion on the part of the paying toller when the forged paper is presented to him j and whether the " presenter" carries himself properly and doeß his part well. But usually the middleman prefers waiting outside tho bank for the " presenter," possibly watching him through a window from the street. If the "presenter" is successful and geta the money on the forged papsr, the middleman will follow him when he leaves the bank to some convenient Bpot where, without attracting attention, he receives the money. He then giveß the presenter another piece of forged paper drawn on some other bank in the immediate neighbourhood, accompanying him also to this bank, and so they go from bank to bank, usually victimising from three to fi7e banks in eaoh city, their work being completed generally in less than an hour's time. AU money ob* tianed from the various banks on: the forged paper is immediately turned over to the middleman, who furnishes all the money for current expenses. After the work is completed, the presenters leave the city by different routes, first having agreed on a meeting-point in some neighbouring city. The "presenters" frequently walk out of the city to some outlying station on the line of the road they propose to take to their next destination. This precaution ia taken to avoid arreßt at the depot in case the forgery is discovered before they can leave the city.

thb "shadow."

But there is still another useful member of the gang, and ha is the middleman's spy on the presenters, the "shadow":— " Thia shadow will, under the directions of the,' middleman,' follow the presenter into the bank and report fully on his actions. He sometimes catches the 'presenter' in an attempt to swindle his companions by slaiming that he did not get the money, but had to get out of the bank in a hurry And leave the cheque or draft, as the faying teller was suspicious. A ' presenter' caught at this trick is sometimes lent into a bank to present a forged cheque where the bank has been previously warned of his coming by an anonymous letter, written by or at the instigation of me of the leaders. This is done as a punishment for* his dishonesty, and as a warning to the other * presenters * not to attempt this treachery. Usually, howaver. a dishonest member is quietly .ropped. The * shadow ' will follow the /presenters' from the time they get the forged paper from the middleman until they hand the money over to him. A good \ shadow * is always useful to the middlejnan, who doeß not allow him to become known to his confederates." IN CASE OF AEEKST.

When one of the party is arrested, an attorney is at once sent to him. As a rule, fa seleoting an attorney, one is employed >ho is known aa a good criminal lawyer. Xii also preferred that he should bo a

lawyer who has some political weight; The middleman employs the attorney, aud pays him out of the *•' fall money." The arrested man is strictly instructed by the attorney to do .no talking, and is usually encouraged by the promise that they they will have him out in a ehort time. In order to keep him quiet, this promise jb frequently renewed by tbe attorney acting for the "middleman." This is done to prevent a confession being made in case the arrested man should show signs of weakening. Finally, when he is forced to stand trial, if the case is one certain ol conviction, the attorney will get him io plead guilty, with the promise of a short sentence, and will then bargain to this end with the Court or prosecutor; Thus guided by the attorney selected and acting for the "middleman" and his associates, the prisoner pleads guilty, and frequently discovers, when it is too late, that he has^ baen tricked into keeping his mouth shut in the interests of his associates. It ia but fair to state, however, that if money can save an arrested . party, and if his associates have it, they will use it freely among attorneys or «' jury fixers," where the latter can be made use of, and frequently it is Daid to politicians who make a pretence of having a ,f pull" with the prosecuting officers or tho court. THE ONLY HEMKDY FOB BANKS. The American and Canadian Banks are swindled year by year by these forgers j and Mr Pinkerton urges them to enter a Union for self -protection. He says that there are only about a dozen men in America now who will " back " a forgery band, and not half a dozen who have the ability to act as professional forgers. If the banks combined to track out every forgery, ,and not spare expense, he is certain that a conviction could be at last obtained which I would strike a mortal blow, at the profes- i sion. Tbe United States Secret Service ] has already al_ao_t extinguished counterfeit coining, and the Jewellers' Security Alliance has largely diminished jewel robberies. If the forgers and presenters knew that such and such a bank belonged to a Protective and Detective Union, they would take care not to enter it. As showing how important this question is for England, Mr Pinkerton says that the great Bank of | England forgeries (the largest ever conceived, and carried out successfully by a j professional band of American forgers) would have cost' the bank 3,000,-OOdo.B. j instead of only 600,000 bad it not been for j a mere aecidont. But they could probably have been prevented altogether if the American detectives, who knew of the existence of this gang in Europe, had had instructions from a Bankers' Union to follow them wherever they went.