First, a capitalist or
backer; second, the actual forger, who is known among his associates
as the "scratcher"; third, the man who acts as confidential agent for
the forger, who is known as the "middleman" or the "go-between";
fourth, the man who presents the forged paper at the bank for payment,
who is known as the "layer-down" or "presenter."

The duties of the "middleman" or "go-between" are to receive from the
forger or his confidential agent the altered or forged paper. He finds
the man to "present" the same, accompanies his confederates on their
forgery trips throughout the country, acts as the agent of the backer
in dealing out money for expenses, sees that their plan of operations
is carried out, and, in fact, becomes the general manager of the band.
He is in full control of the men who act as "presenters" of the forged
paper. If there be more than one man to "present" the paper, the
middleman, as a rule, will not allow them to become known to each
other. He meets them in secluded places, generally in little
out-of-the-way saloons. In summer time a favorite meeting place is
some secluded spot in the public parks. At one meeting he makes an
appointment for the next meeting. He uses great care in making these
appointments, so that the different "presenters" do not come together
and thereby become known to each other. The middleman is usually
selected for his firmness of character. He must be a man known among
criminals as a "staunch" man, one who cannot be easily frightened by
detectives when arrested, no matter what pressure may be brought to
bear upon him. He must have such an acquaintanceship among criminals
as will enable him to select other men who are "staunch" and who are
not apt to talk and tell their business, whether sober or under the
influence of liquor. It is from among this class of acquaintances that
he selects the men to "present" the forged paper. It is an invariable
rule followed by the backer and the forger that in selecting a
middleman they select one who not only has the reputation of being a
"staunch" man, but he must also be a man who has at least one record
of conviction standing against him. This is for the additional
protection of the backer and forger, as they know that in law the
testimony of an accomplice who is also an ex-convict, should he
conclude to become a state's witness, would have to be strongly
corroborated before a court or jury in order to be believed.

As the capitalist