Maumee express. [volume] (Maumee City, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1838-02-17

i
ted his partner, but told Mr.. Pitcher
that if Mr. Burton was willing ID deliver
lit, that he Mr. Gurley, would bring the
package to Pitchersthe ensuing morning
onboard the boat ,lland Pitcher ofcourse
went without it, hsigaaao9 TNaN
= On the day after Pitcher called Oh
Messrs. Gpgfey 8, Burton, a citizen rie1
siding in Hudson street called al the
Union Bank, and informed the President
that his (the citizens) sob had unfoftu-
nately formed an acquaintance with Q
set of men who had drawn him into a
very serious and fraudulent transaction,
with which he had become. tired and dis.
gusted, and wished to make amends by
denouncipg the person who hadled him
into the scrape. The only one of the
parties whom the young man in question
could point out, as being absolutely con-
cerned in the transaction, was Pitcher,
and from him he was apprized of the
plan to get possession Of the Lexington
Bank plates, &c. s'1ia 5ar4i 8itta
In consequence Of this information the
President Mr. Howard, Immediately
went to The office Of Messrs Gurley &
Burton, and received the notes which
had been printtd, and then proceeded to
the Police Offic. and laid the affair be-
| fore the magistrates and the same even
ing Pitcher was arrested at Tammany
Hall, where he wentby appointment to
meet the young man whose father had
given, the, Information to the President of
the Union Bank. ...lg
The day after Pitchers arrest, he was
examined at the Police Office, and stated
that he knew Of only two persons being
engaged in the transaction, one of whom
was Charles Stearnes, and the other a
young man whom Pitcher had not seen,
but whom he had learned from Stearnes
was anidle dissipated young fellow. who
spent the greater part of his time in pub
lie houses and theatres, and who was so
extraordinarily expert penman that he
could forge almost anv sort OF writing,
and that il was he who had written the
letter purporting to be from the Lexing-
ton Bank. He also stated that this young
man intended shortly 10 60 Westward
to join Mr. Brown and also that
Stearnes had given this young man a
number ofbonds and mortgages, purpor-
ting to be on property at Buffalo, to
bring to the County Clerks office, in or
der to get the official seal placed on
them. These bonds and mortgages
were all drawn in favor of Stearnes, and
the latterintcnded to send them to Brown
at Akron, Ohio, TO negotiate in that
State. In. relation this Mr. James
Brown, Pitcher stated thai he had be-
come acquainted with him in Cleveland,
Ohio, in July last, and that he, Mr..
Brown, had formerly beena counterfeit
ter. but had since reformed and become
a Justice Of the Peace at Boston, Ohio.
On obtaining this information. the Po-
lice Immediately arrested Stearns at his
residence in Amlty street. On being
examined at the Police, he declined an
swering any questions relative to obtain
ing theLexington bank plates, and denied
ever havingmade any statementto Pitch
er about the young man. But in relation
to the bonds and mortgages he asserted
they were genuine, and had been given
by Jaems Allen, OF Buffalo, on property
in the second ward ofthat city, which he,
Stearus, and Luke W.Witcombe, Of Pike
Allegheny county, had owned conjointly
and sold to Allen, taking the bonds and
mortgagesin part payment. These bonds
and mortgages, 43 in Number, have been
obtained blythe POLICE Officers, and a.
mount to nearly $sO,OOO. They were
sealed,in the usual mannerby Mr.. Hox
lie, the county clerk. eii ls 4bfar1fs5 ~
In relation to Brown, Stearns pretend
ed to have had but little acquaintance
with him, except that Brown recently
brought letters ofintroduction fromgen-
tlefnen in Ohio, which stated that Brown
was agent to the Farmers and Mechan-
lcs' Bank, at Providence, Wisconsin
ritory, and that on this introduction,
Stearns introduced him to Messrs. Cur
ley.and Burton, who did whatever en-
craving and printing he wanted Onl
this occasion, Mr.. Burton suggested to
Brown, thathe could have his plates at
the Union Bank, from whence Gurley 6J
Burton could get them whenever he
wanted notes printed, and that it was at
the Union Bank the Lexington Bank de-
posted its plates, g1aS
Stearns; who had hitherto borne a, re-
specfable characteD was some months
back about to into partnership with
Glirley and Burton. and became more or
less acquainted mlthitheir business, and