The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-04-30
WORCESTER:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 80, 1925.

WEDN ESDAYs APRIL 80, 1925.
TRIAL OF HoLDGATE AND SuTToN" In our
last we mentioned the convict on of James
Holdgate and Robert Sutton for the forgeries
in which it had been supposed that Timothy B.
Redmond was a participation They were tried
before the Sessions Court in New York, on the
18th inst ON an indictment for forgeries on
G. & S. Rowland, and on Duncan Phyle, both
for large sums. From the evidence on the tri-
al, it appeared that the prisoners were connect
ed with two others, Reed and Stevens they
were all Englishmen, most accomplished in
their pursuits, and expert in forging names of
individuals; that they copied the signatures
with great skill, but they possessed an art of
extracting the ink, and also of fitting KEYS to
locks, so that no fastening could oppose their
entrance. Previous to the 18th of October last,
a number of forgeries were committed; part of
them were made known and some kept secret,
from the banks not wishing to let it be known
to what an extent they had been pundered
The plan adopted was, to go about to respecta-
BILE dealers, offering to purchase commodities,
and then giving large bills, so as to get checks
on the banks in change for their large notes,
and, through this medium, they got the sigma
lures Of various firms, and either initiated them
or extracted the amount and filled it up with a
larger sum, and so, effectually, accomplished
their purpose. 1t appears that Duncan Phyfe
had in his employ young man who was, I'M
fortunately, seduced by these men, and got a
check for a small amount from Mr. 2. which
was copied and filled up with $780, This was
presented and the money divided amongst them.
1t also appeared that, though successful in pro-
curing names in getting checks, they got tired
of this mode of doing bu siness, and, in the lat
ter part of September, they agreed to take
more extensive and desperate measures. On
Friday, the 2Sth of September while walking
along the wharfs, looking for stores fit for their
purpose, they passed Howland's about. eight
O'Clock in the morning. Reed went in while
the clerks were all in the counting groom, tried
two or three keys, and succeeded in fitting one.
On Saturday, they again went to the store, and,
from circumstances which took place, they
thought it would be prudent to enter that night,
as there would be chance of getting at bills of
exchange which they were on the point of re-
hitting to England After the clerks came out.
they separated, going different ways, and one
of them remarked TO the other, Be sure and
come early tomorrow morning" They then
went tothe house of Sutton, and prepared them
selves with a dark lantern, phosphorus box.
centre bits, crow bar, and other requisite imple-
ments. They all went into the store, broke
open the desk for the check books, and in Mr..
Howland's private room they took checks and
other valuable documents which would best an
swer their purpose. 1t was expected that the
police would be informed of the robbery, and it
was agreed by concert to wait until the 18th of
October before either of the checks. taken from
Howland's, should be presented. BY the checks
they procured, they had full opportunity of
seeing the hand writing of Mr. Rowland Eve
ry thing having been arranged, it was agreed
between Reed, Stevens, Holdgate and Sutton.
that Sutton should present the check of Osborn
at the bank of America /; Holdgate, Aspinwalls
at the Merchants Bank, and Howland's at the
Union; that Sutton should, after the money
was received, be ready to get it changed. The
presentations were managed with extraordinary
skill, and pursued with tho most astonishing
experiences and celebrity. On the morning of
the 18th of October, The four met at the house
OF Sutton in Roosevelt-stroet. Holdgate was
working at his shop during the morning, and
came in his working dress to uttons-there
were clothes for him to attire himself and wips
and whiskers for disguise. A gig was taken,
and he (doldgate) drove to the corner of Wall
and Pine with rapdity, and went into the banl,
and got the amount of the check Stevens
went into the bank first, saw Mr. Ebbets writ
ing, and asked him, are you selling bills on
London" Ebbets answered " no" rather sharp
ly, After this accommodating on the part of
Stevens, Holdgate went in, presented the check,
and got it cashed He was Immediately car
rled back to Suttons, where he changed his
garb, assumed his working clothes, went home,
and, had he been tried previously, would have
been enabled to prove an abb.
Stevens, one of the accomplces, was an i'm
portant witness on the trial. He testified that
check for $40 was obtained of Phyfe. by
Shoulder, one of his workmen, from which he
made copy himself, and filed it with the sum
of $500. The rest of the forgercs were done
by Reed, who executed them better. That
was presented by Holdgato and paid to him.
Another of the checks was in the name of Os-
borne for $do5O rs cts 1t was paid at the
bank of America to Robert Sutton, to which
also the teller Of the bank testified. Another