FORGERIES IN AMERICA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 939, 16 April 1880, Page 4

FORGERIES IN AMERICA.

A series' of 'gigantic forgeries in New York have been discovered. The operations attributed to the*'gang in that city and elsewhere have been so successful that for months past the officers of banking institutions have been in mortal terror. Added to the almost perfect counterfeiting of cheques and notes wasjthe extremely expert manner in .which, they were presented, which avas so masterly as to almost defy detection, and invariably prevent an identification of the man who'presented them. It is stated that the amount of these forgeries would reach nearly 1,000,000d015. The clever way in which the forgery on the Bank of America was perpetrated was only an instance of how such affairs were conducted. The cheque that was presented was almost an exact copy of Alexander Taylor’s cheque. The payiug'teller of the bank, Mr Plum, was away on vacation, and his position was filled, by Mr Bishop, who had been in the bank for more than thirty years. Five cheques wore presented, aggregating nearly 12,000d015. Once or twice Mr Bishop demurred at paying the cheque, whereupon the presenter would say pleasantly, “ I’ll go and get it endorsed by the firm.” He would go out and return with apparently the same cheque endorsed with “ Alexander Taylor’s Sons,” which would be paid. His confederate, who was waiting on the street, would have the endorsed cheque ready, and avhen the question was raised they would transfer one cheque for another, allowing enough time to go to Mr Taylor’s house and return. Alexander Taylor declares that the cheque was a perfect imitation of those of the firm. The principal of the gang is believed to be a man named Charles Brookway. An accomplice named Samuel Swimj has been arrested.