Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-04-06
From TIE NJ Y. Express Of Friday.
CHARLES +. MITCHELL THE FORGER

ShaALrso r. miiCdELL The FORGER
We were last evening made acquainted with SOM
startling facts respecting the iniquty of Charles i
Mitchell, Ex-Member Of Congress from the Mas,
IA District in this State. Fearing thata public ex
position might diminish the chances Of arrest and a
the request OF the officers of justice who are now
IN pursuit oil the ohendcr, declined bringing hi.
guilty transactions TO the light of day. They are
however, perfectly notorious, and their develop.
ment has created great excitement in this city, a,
they must wherever the infamous transactions are
known.-The letter from MIR. Mitchell, addressed
to the editors ofthe Courier and Enquirer which vs
publish, is sufficient confession, but not what !,
purports to be, "a brief statement Of facts.n Tbe
facts which the forger has omitted state rs near
ly rs We can learn them follows:
MIR. Mitchell came TO this city some ten DAVIS since
from Washngton,-a disappointed applicant for
the office of Navy Agent He took lodgings at the
Astor House. and was understood to be an appli
cant Tor an Office here which there was no proba
blty he could obtain, As his character was no,
above reproach at Washington, so il was not in
good repute here where past transactions had made
It more than probable he lacked least integrity Of
character. The effect of past gull and present
pointments II is thought led him to commit holder
and more Infamous crime than any ofwhch he had
been before guilty On Tuesday last he was in w all
street, and through some Of his acquaintances who
conhded too much in his honor and honesty obtain
ed an introduction to several Of the Wall street
brokers. The object Of this introduction appeared
10 be business, and very soon are told he pas
SEQ upon his new acquaintance sundry drafts pur-
PoEhiiSr tne AlOany Evening Journal OF last
evening says, to have been drawn by Alexis Ward
President OF the Bank OF Orleans, on the New York
State Bank OF Albany for $3.50. On being pre-
scented there they were found to be forged, and 10
have been negotiated by New York brokers' The
drafts were all endorsed and made PAYABLE 10 the
Hon. Charles +. Mitchell They came back YES
lie day morning marked fOrgsrieS, and the guilt of
Mt Mitchell was known almost soon as he had
made his escape from the city. This, however, is
but one OF the guilty transactions of the forger
Philadelphia well as New York had been the
scene of his criminaty, and the same hour which
brought TO light evidence of his guilt in the one in
stance developeda holder exhibition of vllainy in the
other. Sundry other checks of the Bank OF Orleans
drawn on the Mechanics Bank of this CITY, and
endorsed by Mitchell, were also on being presented
TO the Bank yesterday morning marked forgnies
The amounts of the several checks were for s2sOO.
They had been sold in Philadelphia on "Wednesday
10 several OF the city brokers, and there as here
every thing seemed TO be done in plain and fair a
manner that there room for suspicion. So
well digeSied were these high handed transactions
that they were carried without exciting the sus.
PIGEONS Of any of the defrauded parties In re.
gard to the checks on the Mechanics Bank we are
told that they were signed by the Cashier Mr.
Edmonds, and endorsed good. MIR. Edmonds
however is now in Europe.
The following letter we believe was left in the
chamber OF the iorger. His luggage was left there
also, and several papers scattered about which ndi
Gated q hurried departure.
From the Courier & Enquirer Of this morning.
liz has been very generally rumored through the
city for some days past, that Mr. C. F. MitheI late
member OF Congress from the SD Congressional
District in this State, had been guilty of Forg.rv
detected, and hil fled the Country for Teras We
last evening received through the Post Office the
following letter, dated on Tuesday, and purportng
10 be "a brief statement OF facts" but in truth Civ
ing no facts whatever in regard TO his crime His
appeal such as il is, for ii is nothing else we law
before readers. We do not perceive that he
even Prstsnd' to any apology for his conduct.
NEw YoRK, March 80, 1871.
To-. WatsOn Webb, Editor Of the Courier & Enc.
SIR,-As the circumstances connected with nv
name, together with the public station have held
will give rise 10 good deal of comment-I deem IL
not improper to make brief statement of facts;
leaving each one TO form such opinion respecting
them, as he shall choose.
IL always has been the case, so will il be again.
that as soon as public reproach attaches to the name
OF an individual who had been deemed respectable
before, instances sought and abulously pointed
out IN his previous history, show that ne ALWAYS
has been an unworthy member OF society. cannot
hope TO be an exception to thus peryadng rule. and
i dare say, that there will be found plenty of per
sons ready TO swear that had always been a yery
considerable rascal Now, ! own that I'D 10 tkis
day, never in the whole course ofmy life have I
done an act with the intention OF nunng any human
being, or of wronging any man out Of one cent |
have committed some very great errors-partly nv
own, partly through others-but never neper before
to-day, a crime. How many persons have been
benefited by my good Offices, it is for me TO saw
But might appeal to the whole population of the
County OF my late residence, to bear testimony to
my fair and honorable dealing, nay beraity and TO
my uniform Kindness TO all whom was Brought in
10 contact with. | went TO LOckport twelve Years
ago; when arrived there did not know human soul
IN the county; was just out of my minority; |
carved out my own path; was successful in busi-
ness; made money rapidly; had regiments OF friends
that IS, when was making money psrv fast.
rose TO distinction among my fellow men, and in
about eight years after my arrival ia the district
was elected representative to Congress and under
circumstances peculiarly gratifying 10 my personal
vanity; for whilst received in the district maio.
rity Of over hundred not another person on the
same ticket received any majority at all including
both counties. ] willing 10 admit that there is
shocking sight OF hiiTnbHg in this world. and es.
pecIally at this day and dale-but whether the peo-
pie OF the SD Congressional District were humbug.
ged into eleciIng me TO Congress when was not
worthy, IS for them to decide. have been accused
by my enemies Of being great iniriguer-of being
great schemer in other matters. They will take
upon themselves, no doubt, great credit for their
sagaclty in thus early characterizng me.
might tell tale that would be very interesting
to great many people, bot haS'nt time now to
do II. am going to that region where expect to
hhd many just as good as myself and quite as good
as those | leave behind me.
wrote this calmly, carly in the morning, after
sieepless night. What my feelings are, no one can
imagine. ] have before me path environed with
imminent peril shall be a murderer all the DAYS
OF my life in an unknown land leaving behind me
friends and kindred that nearer and dearer 10 me
thanmy own hearts blood, who must all share in
the disgrace which attaches to me. / leave behind
me my wife and children! May God throw his pro.
tecting arm around them, is ali that | can saw Am
not punished sufficiently severe for all have done7
Why death TO me were absolute relief but cannot
embrace It. l have canvassed the whole ground
over carefully. There were three alternatives pre-.
scented To me.
TO remain and meet my fate in the eyes Of all
who know me, TO commit suicide or TO fee the coun-
try. have decided upon the latter, and for the
single reason that I may possibly yet live 10 res
cue my name from every stigma which rests or
shall rest upon II. G. r. MITCHELL.
n. b. shall be pursued doubt. but il will
be useless. ] shall not he brought back; for if /
were TO be overtaken have provided myself with
two contingent friends, either Of which will spare
me the modification OF being brought back like a
teon. Death were under any circumstances pre-
ferable 10 that.
Police Officers, Messrs. Broyor and McGrath
went IN pursuit OF Mitchell yesterday afternoon,
leaving IN the train for Phade pha.