Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 09.pdf/349

the blank form : and the signature of John end not be so readily traceable. But not Thompson was in very common use because enough small currency happened to be at he was the largest buyer of uncurrent money the teller's table. Next the conspirators met in the Union and always gave cheques in and equally divided the plunder, and at once stead of cash for purchases however small " bolted " for the West. in amount. Cole took the genuine cheque Not one of their real names was known : to the paying teller of the Continental Bank, Cole had punningly registered as Carbon, and obtaining a certification, now also had Findlay as Bishop, and Kissane as Thomp possession of the teller's genuine signature son. The only clue to the identity of for imitation. The blank cheques just re Cole or Findlay, who had been personally ferred to accordingly became the basis of active, consisted when the forgeries were the forgeries passed on the Chemical Bank discovered in the printer's description of by deposit. So ingenious had been the Kissane, in Vcry's description of Cole, and conspirators that before any steps toward a rough pen and ink sketch of Findlay, the fraud were taken these had been re made from memory of face and figure by hearsed in detail. Cole, in the rehearsal, the Chemical teller, who happened to be played, in fancy, the role of the provision facile as an amateur draughtsman. Of course merchant to be duped; and Kissane coached the forgeries became widely known through Findlay in the lingo of the Western provision the newspapers, and the account invited the trade for the interview. Kissane also per attention of a Cincinnatian, temporarily in sonated cashier and teller and coached the city, who had casually met Findlay, Cole Findlay as to the " how" of circumventing and Kissane together in the street, and who these bank officers. The after performance knew of the great steamship fraud. This did credit to the rehearsal, and to stage visitor at once jumped to the suspicion that manager Kissane. For the provision mer those ex-worthies might have been the crimi chant was delighted to receive the letter of nals, and he communicated these supicions to introduction from such a notable Western the Chemical Bank officers, who in turn com factor and to make introduction at the bank municated with Chief of Police Matsell and in hopes of future profitable consignments. his right bower, the most accomplished Kissane knew that within twenty-four hours thief capturer of the time, Robert Bowyer. the forged cheques must be returned crossed Hotel registers were vainly searched, for the with the fatal letter F — for forgery, be police were ignorant of the aliases, but they cause the tellers would, by comparison with telegraphed to the West, where the con their certification books, have discovered the spirators were, of course, well known to falsities; therefore, Findlay was instructed police authorities, and this resulted in their as Bishop to call at the bank, and under being captured, and each was found in some pretext induce the Chemical cashier possession of Chemical Bank bills of fiveto fill out a cheque covering four-fifths of hundred-dollar denomination. This was a the deposit, sign it as Bishop and immedi first link in a chain of evidence. When the ately call with it at the paying teller's win conspirators, Kissane, Cole and Findlay, were dow. That officer seeing the handwriting subsequently confronted with those with of the cashier to the body of the cheque whom they had nefariously dealt and recog was thrown off his guard, and unhesitatingly nition came, the chain was complete. But paid the large amount — some fifteen thou there was little evidence against Kissane, who sand dollars — in five-hundrecl-dollar bills, was believed from his past record to have although Findlay had asked for smaller been the mainstay of the plot; and therefore amounts, knowing that such could in the pressure was brought to bear upon Findlay