Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-09-08


We are informed that an extensive case of
forgery has just been brought to light, in the
town of Petersham, Massachusetts William
Goddard, of the firm Of Goddard g. Co.,
doing large business in that town, in the
mandatory of buttons, has been detected
in forgeries to the amount of $40, 900. The
names fraudulently made use OF, are those
Of persons residing in that vicinity-and
some of them in New York and Phade-
pha Goddard was arrested on Saturday
From the Barre Gazette, Extra
EHensi0e and astounding F0rgnies-
Our community has been 1hrown into state
Of unprecedented excitement and astonish-
ment, by the Development Of lorgeries
committed by one of high standing, and to
an extent almost unsurpassed in the history
Of crimes Of the sort. The forger is Will
liam Goddard of Pctersham, Postmaster al
that place, and member of several trading
manufacturing firms. The amount of for
ged paper exceeds f0rfy-oRe thousand dollars
The following is an account of the devel-
opement of the circumstances.
On Wednesday last an acceptance drawn
by William Goddard g. Co on &. and w.
Miles Of New York, for $500, dated An
gust II, payable in six months, was present.
ed at a bank in New York for discount by
Young man from Boston. The cashier, not
knowing that Mr.. Charles Miles, one of the
drawers, had partner, requested that the
paper might be left till one o'clock to be
presented to Mr.. Miles. On seeing it MIR.
NJ. pronounced it forgery One of the
company Of drawers, Capt D. ]. Foster.
being then in the city, he was called on by
Mr.. Mills Mr.. Foster was thunderstruck
by the forgery, and all were ignorant of its
origin The young gentleman from Boston,
who was found to have come right(ully BY
the paper, was persuaded to retain it short
time, on the plea of feared oyerdraught on
Miles. Mr. Foster then started for home.
On reaching Petersham he called on Mr.
Goddard for explanation, not vet believing
him the forger On being pressed he soon
confessed that he had been guilty of it, and
stated that more paper of the kind was in
circulation, but in his then agitated state he
could give no account of il. Mr.. Foster
Immediately returned to Worcester, where
he met one Of the directors of Ware Bank,
who, by singular accident had also become
acquainted with the forgery.
1t seems that an acceptance drawn by
VIM. Goddard g. CO., on Wighiman a. Will
cox of Philadelphia for $4,000, and endors-
ed by Aaron Brooks Jr Esq, payable at
one of the banks in Boston, had been dis
counted at the Ware Bank 1t came due
On Commencement day, when the banks
we're shut, and of course was payable the
day before. Not being paid ii was protest.
ed and notice sent to each of the endorsers,
while the draft was returned to Ware
Wightman g. Wilcox immediately answered
a that they had accepted no such paper
\ This led to an examination at Ware Bank,
when this and much other paper in the bank
was found TO be forged.
Measures were immediately taken and an
officer with the cashier Of Ware Bank pro-
ceeded TO Petersham on Saturday. On be-
ing called on, Goddard confessed the several
forgeries, and furnished a list of spurious
paper now in circulation, amounting in all
TO S37, 200. In addition to this, there has
been $4,000 of similar forged paper, bear
ing the endorsement Of Aaron Brooks, Jr,
which has become due and been taken up by
Goddard.
Thus within four months and half have
h FORTY-ONE THOUSAND SEVEN
II HUNDRED DOLLARS of paper been
forged and discounted The forgeries were
well executed, and but for the two singular
accidents above mentioned, would not, at
present, at least, have been discovered
The money to take up the $4,000 draft was
sent to Boston, and but for the closing Of
the Bank on Commencement day, il would
have been taken up. Had the other draft
been presented at any other bank in New
York than that at which G: Miles did BUSH
ness it would have passed. BY what un-
ioreseen events does crime transpire
n Mr. Goddard is man of about thirty-ive
II years OF age, native Of Petersham, where
his father and friends stand highly respecta-
Die. He has sustained character more
than usually high for integrity and active
business talent for many years, and no man
could have been picked who would have
been deemed more unlikely, by the commits
SION Of such crime, to entail inlamy upon
himself and shame upon his friends. No
other motive is conceived than relief
from pecuniary embarrassment.
He confesses fully the preparation of the
cnme, and entirely absolves his partners,
who are gentlemen of high standing. from
all knowledge of its commission. OF the
Poceeds of the forgeries, $4,000 was used
Tor William Goddard & Co.; 1000 for
ioddard's private debts $500 for Hill
dIeth 81 Goddard. The intention undoubt-
edy was to take up the paper as it became
due-as he already had the $4,000
Mr.. Goddard was arrested on Sunday
mo!ning. and taken before Jared Weed,