WHO CHECKED THIS CHECK?

Ray Barnett reminded me of one of our favorite cops whose son, at an early age, made his mark on the other side of the law. The teenager, who we'll call Smoothie, like all good con artists was likable to a fault. And, very convincing for a high school age youngster. Had good taste in automobiles, too. Liked the sporty models.

Smoothie was also enterprising. Being a cop's son, with meager financial resources, didn't pose a problem. Not when he found out about checks. To Smoothie checks were money you printed yourself. So, one day he walked into a local car dealer, selected a new sports cars, paid for it with a check, and drove off.

That worked so well, he went in the next day and bought a brand new truck. With another bogus check. He didn't get to put many miles on either vehicle before the local constabulary put him back on his bicycle.

My wife Sandy, who worked in local banks for years, called to mind a fantastic dude called Mr. Ouse. This slippery gent, in one day, passed over twenty bogus checks on 5th Ave South. Dapper, in a golfer-outrageous sport coat and slacks, with a brilliant smile and slight Irish accent, he could bilk a leprechaun out of his pot o' gold.

We became aware of Mr. Ouse only after he had passed a dozen or so worthless checks. This was after one of the victim merchants actually looked at one of the things. Detectives prowled 5th Avenue looking for a man in golfing togs which was like identifying one particular petunia in a patch. Back at the station, clerks were on the phone, alerting merchants to the scoundrel.

 Had not a teller, at Naples Federal, finally looked at  what she was asked to cash, he could have done his work and left town. Which, being an itinerate thief, was his plan. The teller looked at the check, said You've got to be kidding, and called the cops. We were nearby and arrested Mr. Ouse before he could scamper away.

And how had our check artist signed these checks that had been so widely accepted? Mickey M.Ouse. The NPD detectives and alias Mickey Mouse had a good laugh over the caper down at the station house. Just before we locked him away.