all the diatribes of papers and platform speeches will do in ten years. We have had a great deal of business experience already. We did not commence building until we had counted the cost. Besides, since we opened our offices capitalists and banks have offered to carry stocks for us to any amount we please. Very plucky in us to undertake this, they say. Oh dear no, not at all; it does not seem so to us. That is a bit of your newspaper flattery.' "Here the business pressure on the fair brokers became urgent, and we bowed ourselves out of the inner office. "We do not know that much can be added. We believe Strong, Nichois, Strong have been their brokers, before they set up for themselves. Mistresses Woodhull and Claflin have been bold and successful operators on the street for some time, and have not much to learn about either gold or stocks. For their courtesy and frank business-like way of treating it, the Courier wishes them 'success' in all their doings and plentiful increase. The foolish jests and flutter in the street caused by their advent have died completely out, and they are already accepted as one of its regular features." Chronicle, February 14th, 1870. Cincinnati (Ohio). "J. P. Kilbreath, Esq., has just returned from New York City. He states that, up to Saturday last, it was estimated that seven thousand persons had called upon Woodhull, Claflin & Co. They recognized all their old Cincinnati friends, and informed them that the firm was ready to receive orders." Cincinnati Chronicle, March 3rd, 1870. "A gentleman, who left New York on Monday, informs us that Miss Claflin claims to be doing a large business with the West, and that she feels confident that the firm of Woodhull, Claflin & Co. is a success beyond their brightest anticipations." The World, March 20th, 1870. New York City. THE CHEQUE FRAUDS. ATTEMPT TO VICTIMIZE THE FEMALE BROKERS-THEY PROVE TOO SMART FOR THE FORGERS-THE GREENWICH BANK TAKEN IN. "The forgers who have acquired much proficiency of late in altering cheques from small amounts to large sums, and have already victimized several banks and brokers' firms, were yesterday discovered in a new attempt in their peculiar line of business, but too late to prevent their realizing a handsome sum by their shrewd operations. "On Thursday afternoon a person of gentlemanly and businesslike appearance called at the office of the lady bankers, Mesdames Woodhull, Claflin & Co., and stepping up to the cashier's window presented a cheque of Park & Tilford's, the well-known Broadway grocers, for $4,366.52, remarking at the same time that he was an agent for that firm, and desired to buy some gold for them. He came in entirely alone, and there was nothing either in his manner, appearance, or address that would excite suspicion, while the cheque bore Park & Tilford's signature, was neatly drawn, bore the proper stamp, and called for the amount from the Greenwich Bank. "Miss Claflin says that the clerk handed the cheque to her for inspection and she took it to her sister, Mrs. Woodhull. Observing that the cheque was not certified, the members of the firm took the wise precaution of sending it by a clerk to the Greenwich Bank for certification, the agent of the grocers waiting in the meantime in the outer office. The boy soon returned with the cheque properly indorsed by the paying-teller, the gold was bought, the commission deducted, and Messrs. Park & Tilford's agent left the office with the specie. "On Friday afternoon another stranger made his appearance presented a cheque of Park & Tilford's for $6600 and said that he wanted $5500 invested in gold and would take a cheque for the balance. The members of the firm said that this cheque, like the first one, was uncertified and that they would send it to the New York County Bank on which it was drawn to have that delicate operation performed. The gentleman stranger said that he had a little business down the street and would step out for a few minutes and return by the time the cheque was certified. On passing out of the door he was joined by the party who brought the first cheque, who was overheard to ask 'Is it all right?'-to which the reply was made 'Not yet.' "In the meantime the clerk with the cheque reached the New York County Bank and presented it to the paying-teller. The latter glanced at it, and hastily wrote his signature across the face of it, then seemed to think there was something wrong, and after scrutinizing it carefully and consulting with the cashier, deliberately and carefully scratched out his certification, and sent it to Park & Tilford's place of business to ascertain its genuineness. The latter gentlemen on being shown the cheque were decidedly puzzled, and although they acknowledged the signature, said that they had given no cheque for that amount, and investigation proved that the figures and writing had been skilfully altered from an order for a small sum. "A first-class forgery and attempt to defraud was at once developed, and the cashier of the New York County Bank accompanied by Woodhull & Claflin's clerk, returned to the office in Broad Street, where they awaited the return of the person who pretended to be Park & Tilford's agent, but that gentlemanly individual failed to again put in an appearance, no doubt having been on the watch from some convenient nook, and discovered the failure of the second attempt from the clerk being accompanied by the cashier. "It appears that Messrs. Park & Tilford when they draw cheques fill in the body of the documents as well as add their signatures, and it was the fact that the writing and figures representing the amount was not in the same handwriting as the signature that first aroused the suspicion of the paying-teller at the New York County Bank. The first cheque was deposited by Mesdames Woodhull & Claflin in the Fourth National Bank and went through the exchange, where it was discovered that that also was a forgery, having been originally drawn for $40. When the fact was ascertained there was, of course, much excitement, both at the office of the ladies and at the bank; and the Greenwich Bank having certified the cheque in good faith, will be held for the amount. "Mr. Thomas Sampson, the chief detective of the Custom House and Stock Exchange, has been engaged to ferret out the offender, and assisted by Captain Garland of the First Precinct, was on hand yesterday. They are of the opinion that the cheques were altered by the same parties who so successfully victimized Vermilye & Co. and Fisk & Hatch a few days since. "The ladies of the firm have come out of the affair with flying colours. Their shrewd management and business tact were equal to the emergency, and the precautions they took in regard to certification guarded them from all loss." New York Herald, April 2nd, 1870 (Editorial). New York City. "The passage of fifteenth amendment to Constitution of the United States has had at least one beneficial effect, so far as our political status is concerned in this country-to wit, the clearing of the track for the sixteenth and as many other amendments as may be deemed necessary and becoming toward the attainment of a liberal and benignly comprehensive system of representation, and participation both in the making and the administration of laws. The woman is inevitable, and she is 'coming' on the chariot-wheels of woman's sweet wilfulness, and her irresistibly captivating appeal for a chance to experiment among the rulers. |