The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-09-20
WhitmOre, the FOrger.

WhitmOre, the Forgcr.
The New Haven Herald contains long biogra-
phical notice OF Whltmore, the forger, with a mi
mute account OF his perilous and painful move
ments while attempting TO escape from Justice of
the mode OF his discovery and arrest-of the nature
OF his business transactions, and the circumstances
which led TO the commission of these forgeries,
which are pallated by the writer, and pronounced to
be less criminal than those of Saunders and some
others. But his reasoning not very satisfactory
Saunders forged boldly Tor his individual benefit
Whitmore forged TO carry on his business for his
individual benefit. The story told OF Whitmore's
intention to return the money, if his business sac
ceeded, is the story told by nearly all discovered
forgers, and is entitled TO no confidence The bust
ness was speculation which he had not skill
enough TO conduct, and if Spectators are to be al
lowed to try their hairbrained schemes by forgeres
pretty business would soon be made of 1t. The
excuse set up Tor this man is an aggravaion of his
offence; for, If it were admitted, it would lead to
the destruction OF legitimate and safe trading and
manufacturing transactions. The following is the
account to which we have referred =
The information concerning the arrest of this person.
contained in our paper of Saturday evening, proved to
be correct He arrived here by the New York
Saturday night, accompanied by Messrs. McKibbn and
Brown, OF the New York police and wa' placed in jail
for safe keeping This morning he will be heard before
Justice Bennett upon information for the forgery the
City Bank. He was arrested at Newcastle Delaware
last Thursday evening, and voluntarily in their
company thus avoiding the necessity of requisition
forgeres, and the circumstances which induced him
commit hen to show that he resorted to them
temporary expedien to exricate himself from pecunary
difficulties arising in his business, and not with view
defraud the bank cut OF money to abscond with. He
says that the capital of the small and it
soon exhausted in the outlay necessary getting the
first
they roved to be worthless, and condemned. OPP
pressed with various liabilities incurred in the confident
expectation that he would receive sufficient money
discharge them at this point Of time, without of
obtaining it from other sources fearful of failure, which
would put end to his contract with the government
his hopes of obtaining further and larger contract
and Of introducing them to foreign governments and
feeling confident that he could make article that would
pass Inspection, he committed the first forgery.
The following is copy oil one OF the instruments forg
ed:-
In DUPLICATE.
Toll C. Whitmore, DR..
For the following Primers supplied under the appropr
alton naval armament amounting to fourteen hun.
dred and fifty dollars and Gents
$l450 90.
Navy Yard, New York,
August 10th, ls43. (
have received the Primers charged herein store,
to fourteen hundred and fifty dolllrs and cents.
$l450 90 TUNIS CRAVEN,
Navy Storekeeper.
Commandant Office, Navy Yard,
New York August 10th, ls43. !
Approved for the OF fourteen hundred and fifty dol
$3.50 90. s.H. sTRINGHAM,
Received, New York, August 10th, ls43. of r. c. Wet.
MORE Navy Agent, fourteen hundred and fifty dollars
cents In full Of this account, for which duplicate re-
ceipts have been signed.
$l450 90.
The primers above received and approved are charged
U. s. Navy Department,
Aug. is. For 2ssoo Primers, so $i4a5 co
80 Boxes, al 80 %
Reed. Payment $li55 90
The signatures forged were those of Tunis Craven,
Store keeper sps g. IL 5ss1rngheep GsN%aRsnaant
deposte collateral curty for a l0an-he bill being
thirty days after approval Upon the strength
Of this the bank accordingly made him the Loan Before
the time OF pay msnt of tho bill came round, he subsu
ted another Of the kind the bank supposng he took
sequent difficulties he says induced him to forge other
bills and obtain ether credit at the bank and for larger
amount, always managing that the bills which held
should be replaced before due by others having further
time to rum and requesting the officers of the bank not to
present them at tue Navy Yard
Ia this way hoped to escape exposure until he could
obtain money from the sale OF his primers to meet the
liabilities of the He finally succeeded in max
ing good article, which passed inspection, and from
which some money obtained, not sufficient however,
to enable him to take all the forged documents The
money obtained by means othe orgeries was drawn by
the business of it coming into his own hands
Indeed, Whitmore only presented one OF the bills the
Burr ignorant of their fraudulent character.
On Saturday, three weeks ago, he learned from Mr..
New York This startled him he knew that by the fol-
lowing Monday returns would be received from the BILL
and expected detection as matter of course As it hap
pened however, the bank informed that the Navy
Agent pronounced the bill to be all right He continued
however feel uneasy and his conduct became singular
and unaccountable On Wednesday night of week be-
fore last he went to New York. The next day he re-
turned to Bridgeport and procured lumber box wagon
with which he came to New Haven, for the purpose If
ed in his barn. which he had packed and put there
his first alarm
This furniture consisted of articles he supposed
would not be observed to be missing in case an officer
should enter his house with attachment He arrived
here at night but his fears being aroused by observing
persons watching the house. he went to Fair
Haven and stad Thursday night. The next morning his
furniture attached and the factory closed The same
day he Bridgeport where he entered his name in
the books Of the Hotel as George williams and in the
boat for New York. where he arrived that afternoon In
the time the officers of the bank became fearful that
all not right, and Mr.. Pardee went to New York by
the boat of Friday evening In the boat were also
Mr. Burr and C. r. Shelton, Esq.
On arriving at New York, Whtmore says he went over
Brooklyn learn, il he could if any had been
the Navy Yard to make inquiries He then returned to
the city and put up at the All Nations Hotel in Broad
way. The next morning he sent note 20 Mr.. A Hinck
ley, l4l Water street, requesting him to call and see him.
seeing him wished him to learn whether Mr. Burr
or Mr. Pardee had come to New York. This Mr. Hnck-
ley declined to do but procured another acquaintance of
whmore to do so. This person then ascertained that
the gentlemen we have named were then in the city, and
that Mr.. Pardee had gone to the Navy Yard.
Whitmore says that hearing this he first request
ed his friend to and tell them he wished them
intending as he arms to dvulgs the tho iorgeres
and avoid exposure possible, upon learning
by that time Mr. Pardee must have the Navy Agent
and being advised to leave the city carpet
contanil the only baggage he had and made his way
to the upper part OF the city, from point above Jersey
the Philadelphia stopped. Arriving here late
for the mail tran the only train which through
sunday, he took the next train which came along and
which stopped at New Brunswick. Here he slept. The
next morning proceeded foot place called Bulls
Bridge avoiding all public ways much practicable
There he mail wagon passing along and jumped in
without asking any The driver permitted him to
60 about miles further when they both stopped
for the night.
During night he made up his mind to return to New
Haven aud accordingly rode back in the mail
gon the place where he first got into it. Here he aban
doned the idea, and walked in souhweserly direction
till he came Chester where he found boat about to
eve for Philadelphia in which he took passage. From
Philadelphs he to Wilmington, Delaware; here he