Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-06-02

of the Banks of that city, fourished here in
New York; and whilst he so figured some forgeries
were committed, and other fraudulent practices
ried en-, which now more than suspected TO have
been perpetrated by him. His arrest, indeed, was
owing 10 train of circumstances, growing out of
those frauds; and may be said to have been brought
about by no other person than Oliver M Lownds,
the Ex-Police Magistrate. To that gentleman we
are indebted for the following facts, which have
been collated from number of documents, letters,
and other NJ SIS. now in his possession.
William Nj. Eldridge was born in the year 1909,
at Woodbury., New Jersey, but where he received
his scholastic lore is uncertain The first we hear
Of him was compeunder of drugs, at store in
this city He then about 10 or IL years DID,
and was looked upon as F" smart clerk Whilst
he was here, robbery committed, bat whether
he was suspected or not is not known. He shortly
afterwards left his employers and went to Philade-
pha where he got a similar situation, at the store
of Mr., Okey. Here Eldridge fell in love with
very pretty and pious young Quakeress. The day
was fixed, the ady's friends not objecting but fond
" calculating on receiving the youthful Doctor into
the ssciety;" and every thing progressed to the high
satisfaction of all concerned. Before, however, the
happy day arrived discovery was made, which not
only prevented the Qaakeress from becoming the
wife ofthe Doctor, but, sad to say, brought her to
an untimely grave. Eldridge was arrested, for the
robbery of Mr.. Okey, and confessed that a portion
of the distracted properly had been left the lode
ngs of his mistress. The lady then arrested
but discharged. The Society Of Frien DIS, however,
submitted her conduct to one of their inquisitoria
committees, who directed her suspension. EIdridge
tried, convicted, and sentenced to the Penten-
tiarv for one year. but furnishing testimonials of
previous good character his sentence was commu-
ted to a confinement, in the House of Refuge. Whilst
he was in prison, the lady TO whom he TO have
been married died Of broken heart: and partly in
pity him at that event. and partly from the appli
cation of of his connections, he magistrates Of
Philadelphia permitted Eldridge to be apprenticed
to some merchant who was going to the South, and
who promised to keep an eye upon him.
1t would appear that this promise not kept
very faithfully, for Eldridge soon off, and was
Miss Carlton, in Philadelphia, and moved with her
into the State Of Ohio, where they lived nearly fsur
years, and had three children. From this wife he
ran away, came to New York, and shortly after
wards got into the family of Dr. Mott, with whom
he great favorite. At this time he was in the
habit of to some of the papers of this
city, and at one period was connected with the New
Yorker; and, like some others of the clan, used to
write down the ." Herald
In the month Of August, 1884, check, purporting
to be drawn by the firm of Wanser g. Harrison, for
paid, but all attempts to trace the forger pro-
we'd frutless. Mr.. Lownds, who was then one of
the Special Justices, was applied to- and after
siderable search among other checks drawn by the
same firm, it was finally suspected that the signature
had been traced over small draft which that firm
had paid to DR.. Mott The Doctor, however, repu-
dated this notion, and nothing ofthe enquiry
On the 18th of September, 1884, account was
opened at the Merchants Bank, in the name of
Morgan & Drake. This account until the 18th
OF November when The person who usually made
the deposites paid in the sum of S2,S92 H. The
same day the whole balance was drawn out, and on
the following day it ascertained that part of the
deposite consisted of three checks on other banks
in this city, which turned out to be forgeries.
Mr.. Lowndes was again applied to, and he made
a long examination OF the checks, compared the
sigusturvs of thoseu aud uitir.aeiy salts
fled himself that the signatures of the three forged
checks had been traced over three cheeks which
had passed through the hands of DR.. Mott and had
been by him deposited in the Mechanics Bank.
These drafts were severally drawn by James Lori
mer Graham, Samuel Cassidy, and j. II. Mason Il
Co Many interviews took place between the Doc
tor and the Magistrate, for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning who could have got Possession of these
checks. The Doctor was confident that the drafts
had bcca cut OF his hands, except to his moher
who kept his accounts, and USUALLY made his de-
posites. He said that the clerks of the Mechanics
Bank had either distracted the checks for purposes
Of their own they had permitted some other per-
sons to use them The officers Of the Bank diff
fered from the Doctor, and the latter withdrew his
account in huff.
On the same Gay that the hrm oil Morgan u Drake
closed their account the Merchants Bank forg-
ed check was presented and paid at the North River
Bank for 500 %. This check purportcd TO be
drawn by Mr. Cassidy, and being very good m-
tation, Immediately paid. A short time after
the man who presented the check had left, he
turned and requested the officers of the bank
anime the check, as there was something spicous
about it. Being asked to explain himself. he said
that he was crossing Pearl street IN the morning,
when gentleman met him, who directed him to go
to the Philadelphia steamboat landing and get box,
which he described to him, and on his way back to
call and draw the check, and then meet him on the
corner Of Pearl and Fulton streets. He went first
to the depot, but found no box like that described
He then went to the bank and got the money.
Crossing Franklin square, he saw the gentle
man walking on the sidewalk, and told him he could
not find the box The gentleman asked, il he had
been TO the bankl'' he said, eyes," and paid him
the money.
The carman thought the whole affair " very odd. :"
and said % he could not rest until he had been again
the bank to tell them hat he thought about 1T"
The cashier became alarmed, and sent for Mr..
Cassidy, who pronounced the signature a forgery.
The same day another man sent to the Mer-
chants Bank with chcque for $500, purporting to
be drawn nv the firm Of j. H. Mason Il Co. That
bank teller asked the man who presented il some
questions, and told him that he dare say the money
wanted TO take note and that il he certified
the cbeque il would do just well"
The man said he did not know, and departed with
the cheque. When he arrived at his de stnaton. the
clerk told him he knew nothing about any Sl2tNg
and that there must be some mistake" Ill
The man then returned TO the bank, and they sent
for the drawer, and thus found out the trick.
In the month of June, 1885, some person opened
account at the Lafayette Bank in the name Of
Isaac J. Aymar * Co. and the same day anot hor