The Notorious Mail Robber's Local Swindle
Albert K. Bell, a known forger and mail thief, finds himself in trouble with Tacoma police after conning a local woodenware company president.
Chief Fackler has decided to hold Albert K. Bell to answer to the charge of grand larceny lodged against him by James W. Brokaw of the Northwestern Woodenware company. When the warrant was read to him, Bell showed his disapproval of the change in the charge against him, as this makes him liable to a term of 14 years instead of five. James W. Brokaw, president of the Northwestern Woodenware company of this city, realizes to the extent of $800 that Albert K. Bell, the noted forger and mail robber, is a genuine swindler. Bell found among the contents of the mail pouch which he and Scribner stole in Seattle a letter from a fruit merchant in Vancouver, B.C., to James W. Brokaw, enclosing a check for $111 in settlement of an account. Bell also secured a Montreal draft for $800. Soon after arriving in Tacoma, Bell went to Mr. Brokaw's office and stated that his name was James B. Butler and that he was a brother-in-law of the Vancouver merchant. He presented the Montreal draft in payment and received $215 in change.
“James W. Brokaw, president of the Northwestern Woodenware company of this city, realizes to the extent of $800 that Albert K. Bell, the noted forger and mail robber, is a genuine swindler.”
This story captures the era of the 'notorious swindler' where identity theft was facilitated by physical mail interception—a stark contrast to today's digital security threats, yet sharing the same human gullibility toward elaborate confidence games.
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