From the Cincinnati Gazette, May 15.
A decidedly new and successful swindling dodge
was perpetrated in this city on Wednesday and yesterday.
The particulars as we have learned them
from parties perfectly conversant with the whole
affair, are as follows: About noon on Wednesday,
two Germans stepped into the wholesale clothing
house of J. & J. Slevin & Sons, 140 Main street,
and represented themselves as clothing dealers
from Lexington, Kentucky, stating that they desired
to purchase a bill of goods. They were
promptly waited upon, and in an hour or two had
made a selection valued at between $1,900 and
$2,000. A bill of the same was made out by the
bookkeeper add handed to them, who proffered in
payment a cheek for $3,400 on the Fourth National
Bank of this city. Mr. Slevin, to whom the check
was handed, declined accepting it, giving as a reason
that he did not know whether it would be
honored. To this one of the sharpers replied
that the check was perfectly good, and to convince Mr. Slevin
to have someone in the store to accompany him to the
Fourth National Bank, where he would satisfy
him that it was all right. To this Mr. Slevin consented,
and instructed one of his sous to accompany
his "customer."
Accordingly, the swindlers, accompanied by young Mr. Slevin, started for the bank. On the way up, however, it is supposed one of the rascals substituted a genuine check for $101 for the bogus one, and on arriving at the bank handed it to the taller, asking him if it was good. The teller replied, "Yes, sir, we have that amount of money standing to your credit." Mr. Slevin, supposing that all was right, did not examine the check handed to the teller, and he left with the swindlers perfectly satisfied. One of the latter then said to Mr. Slevin that he wanted to buy some gold, and asked where he could obtain it to the best advantage. Mr. Slevin took them to the banking house of S. S. Davis & Co., but that firm not finding it convenient to sell the amount required, they went to Messrs. Hewson, White & Co. At this house one of the swindlers purchased $700 in gold, amounting to $970 in currency. In payment of this he tendered the bogus cheek for $3,400. The clerk who had sold the gold declined to receive it, not knowing whether it was right or not. Giving this as a reason, the swindler called to Mr. Slevin, who vouched for its genuineness. The clerk still was not satisfied, and asked Mr. Slevin if he knew the check was all right , to take it as security, and give his (Slevin's) check for the gold. This was agreed to and the swindler took the gold, and accompanied Mr. S. to his store.
After remaining in the store a few moments, they stated that they would call yesterday morning and have their goods boxed, and get the change due them. Promptly yesterday the swindlers appeared at Slevin's store and asked for one hundred dollars in the amount due them on their bogus cheek. This was handed them, and they departed. In an hour afterward, however, they returned and asked for another $100. They were told to wait a few minutes, but, instead of doing so, suddenly left, and have not since been seen. During the afternoon Slevin & Sons sent the check for $3,400 to the Fourth National Bank to have it cashed, and it was there pronounced bogus. It seems that the swindlers on Wednesday morning deposited $300 in the aforesaid bank, and that the check for $101, which was substituted for the bogus one, was really good. The swindlers, before leaving, did not forget however, to draw out the $100. The above is certainly one of the most adroit confidence games, or rather swindles, on record.
Albany (New York) Evening Journal, May 21, 1868.