Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-07-27
From the Boston Times, JGiy ~.
Great Forgery Case Of Merchant In this
Cdy-CharleS Cole, Jr.

One Of the most extraordinary cases Of a
series al forgerics, committed by n mo rchunt
10 this city. IN large business, and salJ 10 bc
wealthy, was elrcied to-day III an exams
nation he,urc the Police Court of this city.
4 The party charged was Mr.. Charles Cole,
Il Jr., me erchnnt who does un extensive business
on Arch Wharf, who resides IN u splendid
brick mansion ~ Summer street.
II Mr.. Cole has been ~ successful business
for some twenty years, aud has been consi
dercd as a wealthy aud respectable merchant.
lie has n Young wife, about two years piur-
ried, u second wife, aud family oI chlldrcn.
Il is said ,hut he has generally hud plenty ut
money al command, and IL was not long simc
he put ~, M silent partner, the sum ot Sl7.-
O0D, into The firm OF ket,ell Il Collins, So
Comnn rcial street.
\ lie WAS formerly president %. tho Nc
chances Bank, South Boston ; director ct
The Freenan'-, und occupied several other
positions of high mcrcanlile character
He is about ~ years of age, a man oi pls;n
appearance. aud having the appearance VI an
industrious. driving and active merchant.
4 lie was arrested las, night on charge VI
attempting Ia cheat and driruud the Mnssa-
,chusetts Bank IN State street, Of several
suns Of money, BY forging The nnDes oi Is-
-peclqble merchants Ia several notes as sign
ers or en,lorsers, which notes were offered
by Cole and discounted Il, the Bank.
Previous to this. and on yesterday, Sheriff
! Freeman was put into his house with u writ
of attachment covering the sum Of S5p CUO,
on a civil suit of ihe bank, for lhe same tran
.sclions-,he amount oi tho forged paper
about $1,000.
| lie appeared in Court this morning wilh
! hiS counsel Richard Robbins, Esq. and
50, med much cast down aud d,j jrcird. There
was also one irunsacllon at lh- same chnlac-
ter with the Market Bank. Some Of The
officers oflhe Massachusetts Bank were pres-
cut. Some Of the individuals whose names
were forged, testified Ia the ialce chsractcr
of the paper, and that II was let, for discount
by Mr.. Cole. Israel Lombard, director,
James Dodd, cashier Of The Maseachus'i us
Bank. nnd iona. Brown, Jr. cashier "i III:
Market Bank. aud Samuel Mansur, merchant.
/ 10 South Mlarsct street, whose signature
was forged, were present and gave evidence.
! The forged paper lying IN The Ma-sarln-
sriis Eank was as iolIows: One note S,ig2 q,
pnrpprung 10 be signed by Snmn.l Manga.
aud endorsed by Cuir, dated I4lh February,
/ lS4:}, payable seven months after date. On
this charge he was bound over 10 appear ~
!
$4,000.
One note purpor,ing to be signed by Ed
ward ID. Peters A. Co, merchants, Central
~har', Tor $500, dated July II, ls43 IRp"
IN 4 months. Bound over 10 the Municipal
Court on The lst Monday Of Angus, IN
$1,000
On" note rurportng to bc signed by Wm-
sor Fay. Inda wharf Sl2CO payable IN
I mouths and dated May &, Ie43 Bound
over Ia same MuLlcipal Court ~ the sun "f
$4,000. Onc note IN Markr, Bank, purppr,-
Ing Ia be endorsed by said Fay aud signed
10y Col,, fr S59i3 dated March 3, 1913.
p.yable III 6 months from date. Bound over
I" same Court in So Coo The whole an,nnn,
Of bonds 1t will be seen l. $4,000, lie Is
J said 10 have other payer out.
/ A. 10 the origin nf the present iuvrsli.a-
non, circumstances uf .u-piri"n occurred IL
the Massachusetts, Bank ~ relation 10 the
iP, Irrs note. aad Mr.. Lombard took II ycs,rf.
day afternoon to Mr. Cole, who. on closn
questioning, acknow led Ird he note Ia ba
Iorgcd-and thus attention wgs directed 10
The other paper.
/ No can>c l. given for this strange c"pdnct.
and The net seems Ia be one oi sheer mad.
ness ard folly. Many # our frsi B.rJttpniS
were present ~ Court, aud much sensation Is
produced in our whole Community.
! The cxnJpati"n III ih" police was only n
preliminary one for n further trial If Tho
whole merits, as will be noticed in the de.
tails gwen 10y nS.
! Vhe Boston Transcript adds the following:
! The above notes were all discoUaird bv
the banks. and yesterday nflrrnnon Mr.. Culu
confessed to Mr.. Lombard. one oi The dlrcc.
tors of the Massachusetts Bank, that The siy.
nature Of j.. ID. Peters g. Co. wa6 o iprgcIy,
] hich led to the detection of the Others.
The Boston Daily Advertiser OF July 90,
contains the tulInwing:
Mn. CoLE.-l, was stated in the notice of
The Police examination of Charles Cole, Jun,
IN yesterdays paper. that h. had hren n d.
rector ot the Frecmon's Bank. We are in.
formed. by an officer of that Bank. that this
is incorcci-,hat he never was elected
Director Of That Bank, aud never had an nc.
connt open with il.
Complaints were entered against him yes.
tcrdny. by the .\llns Bank, Tor forging the
names "f Jonathan Pattern and Rrhard
Martin, respectively, two notes ni $500 aud
$500. The examination on these complaints
will be held n, 10 o'clock to-day, Nr. Coles
motives in these furgcri"s are difficult to
understand, as it's said he had other good
paper, and unencnnbcrcd property. on which
he nigh. have obtained money; aud that the
parties even, whose names he forged, would
have willingly given him their endorsements.