Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-06-01

deveope few Of the choice m erals which n ow and
then distinguish those fashionable young men wac
arrogate to themselves the character of gentle
par excellence. We remember several of the move
ments of this DR.. Eldridge very WE'LL in 1887. He
was one OF those who in that year, turned up his
at the morals of the Herald, and considered it
an Infamous paper He belonged to a clique of ia
shionables ofthis city, whose movements and names
and characters, are all well known TO us. The ca
reer ofcrime and infamy, and hypocrisy, and impu.
dent pretension, which has now closed with Edrdge
will be an awful warning to many of his associates
in this city. These the seoundrels who crv ont
against the Herald.
The BASK CHEcK FORaER BIscovEREp.-The
extensive forgeres committed in the latter part Of
April and the beginning of the present month, upon
twelve of banks, through their system of mark
ing each others checks good" have probably not
vet escaped the recollection of our readers Accord
ing to the statements then published, accounts were
opened in the several banks in the names Of Vanars
dale and Roberts, Steiner and Wood, and George b.
Mckee and Co., all of whom were put down re-
siding at No. AZ Walnut street On the Both of April
checks drawn by Vanarsdale and Roberts were de-
posted by or the other Of the above mentioned
firms. with the word "good" written thereon, and
the Of the teller forged, and, by the way,
markasly well executed. After depositng these
checks, the amounts were then drawn out without
suspicion. VIXEN, as usual, the banks made their
exchanges the next morning MAY Ist), the fraud
detected, and it was likewise ascertained that
no such firms as the above named had ever done bu-
siness at AZ w alnut street. The amount of money
then reported to have been on rained by these for
&c ries was said to be about $4,000.
The banks offered, through the newspapers, re-
ward Of So 900 for the apprehension of the forger or
fOrgcrs the police OF both this city and New York
stirred into activity, BUT all their exertions
failed to find trace clue to unrav el the mystery
envelopng the whole affair.
Several days ago, some Of the bank officers re-
ceived information from private source, which in
duced them to believe that the forgers, or enc of
them, within their reach il plan was skillfully
laid and quietly conducted The tellers, therefore,
of three Of the banks viz: Mr. Thss. Sturgess of
the Western Bank, Mr.. J. J. Cope, of the CONNER
cial, and Mr.. J. X. Paul, of the Moyamensiny Bank
concluded to undertake his without the aid of
the police officers: Admitting Alderman Arnon
Davis into their plans, he issued a warrant for
answering the description Of the person who
the money; and, after three DAYS continued
labor and vigilance they succeeded in arresing ut
a Mrs. Gouray's boarding house, in Seventh street
above Chestnut, the man described in the warrant
who proved to be DR.. William NJ. Eldridge Young
man of fine education, gentlemanly manners and adj
dress, an associate and visitor in of the first
and most wealthy families Of this city, and originally
of a NEST respectable family in Evesham IN J5
where he has many relations Immediately upon his
arrest, hearing was had before Alderman rayis
The counsel and tel!ers of the various banks upon
which the forgeriss were committed were present.
and the prisoners identity positiv Iy sworn TO
as the person no opened the false accounts demo-
sited the checks and drew the money. 1t also ap-
bled in the way, in times past of about S2OOOO
comparison Of the handwriting OF the fraudu.
lent checks Of both cities showed that they were
drawn by the same person, and further comp,rison
Of the Disguised hasd writing ethe checks
with the natural handwriting OF Eidridge rendered
the conclusion vitabe that he is that same
There are several cnrroborative circumstsnc 8
besides. Ii in 1854 that the first fraud of the
kind was perperrated in New York; Eldridge was
il is said then there; bat after went t. Eurone
with DIR. Mott. That gentleman was robbed in Paris
rather mysteriously, OF 3,Oc0lr in gold, which he
ne yer recovered, though the police of Paris made
consde rable exetions for that purpose which might
possibly have been crowned with success, had the
Doctor given heed to their hint that his companion
Eldridge, might know more IN relation to the rob.
berry than he chose to let appear Since the return
Of Eldridc to this country, We believe the New York
banks have again been ieeced after the same fashion
but whether or not by him, deponept saith not. OF
the many small circumstances accidentally disco
vsred which caused suspicion to fall upon Eldridge
was the fact OF his writing most splenddly and
being able to initiate various h~ndwritings exactly
When. after full hearin 2, and IN default of 2D 900
bail demanded, the prisoner committed Tor trial
at the next General Sessions, the charge Of for
gerry his feelings found vent in tears. He was taken
down To prison by person whom the Alderman
specially deputes for that purpose.
search warrant was subsequently issued and
placed in the hands OF Nigh Constablts Nc Lean ana
Young. who m de thorough examination OF FL
bridges room at the boarding house, and found Of
the money obtained b. the fraudulent cheeks s5 700
Of notes OF hand for money lent by the and
in COED hands, $4,000, and about 81 900 worth Of
jewelry.
II is the opinion of those best able to give an opi-
MON, that Eldrdge had assistants in his fraud but
perpetrated 1t himself alone; hence probably his
long IMMUNITY, which doubtless would have con.
tnued much longer, had not the casual comb nations
OF several trivial circumstances fixed clos upon
him.
To explain his singular conduct in remaining so
long amid the scene OF his frauds, continuay Drawing
detect on, 10 not so easy, unless the fact that he was
"A Iufe patti and
higbly'integent lady Of this CT " in two or three
days, and 20 have then out at once for Europe
may be sufficient Tor that Purpose.-Pubhc Ledger
Dr. Eidrdge, native of New jersey, is about
twenty eight years Of age, is highly respectfully con-
nected, and is considered man Of talent and
information. He moved in the very first circles Of
city and New YORK, and was on the eve Of being
united TO young lady of great personal and mental
at rscticns. He had even lent friend who WAS
To off ciae as his groomsman $500 as token of his
good feeling, and in the bewilderment of delight
(peOple don't lend money now a-dsys IN their sane
mOments) which his approaching nuptial, occasion
ed. lie bad also gotten little plate engraved
with " Mrs. w Nj Eldridge' ON 1t, for the visiting
cards Of his lady when she should have become re,
g,larly entitled TO the name. The lady nav think
herself particularly fortunate that she has escaped
an union that NUT have entailed wretchedness and
oboquy upon herself and her relations We have
great many msre little items OF intelligence on the
subject, which to-day are not al liberty 10 de-
veope; but Se can promise ou- readers that some.
thing curious, instructive, and astounding is pre-
pairing FOR taeir perusal.
IL was currently reported yesterday afternoon
that the prisoner had mmtted sulc BY poisoning
himself in Moysmensing prissn.-tSpiit of ne
Times.
NAVAL GENERAL OnDER.-The Secretary of the
NAVY has Issusd In order. bv direcfion nj N.