The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-11-08
Important Arrest or Counterfsiters.

About two years ago batch of counterfeit bills ON
the New Haven Conn. bank, (ens, fves and wos,)
made their appearance, which created much aston
ishment by the accuracy with which they were en-
graved, and the skill with which the names &c
were filled in with the pen. No trace, however,
could be obtained OF the counterfeters and the af-
fair at length passed of, and partially forgot
ten Only about s 500 of this emission was ever
discovered by the bank.
About one year ago the five and ten dollar bills
OF the New Haven county bank at New Haven, we're
counterfeited with the same mystery as TO the en-
craving, and the same extraordinary skin in the
signatures. Ofthis emission some S OOOor & 900
were discovered by the bank
The two banks thereupon made the most vigor-
Gus ana perseverlng efforts to detect the villains
but without success. They also warned the public
to beware OF said counterfeits, and Immediately
took measures TO procure entirely new plates and
new paper, calling in their old emissions as fast as
possible. This was at length nearly accomnlisbed
when, in August last, the officers Of the New Haven
bank were astounded by the discovery that their
nsto hve dollar plate had been counterfeited, with
the same exact imitation as the old and with even
more perfection in the (manuscript) signatures
cred by the bank
Since the appearance of this third counterfeit the
two banks have been unceasing in their efforts n,
solve the mystery, and bring.the offenders 10 ina
hce. we rejoice to say that their efforts have AZ
length been crowned with success Within The
last lew days Henry Knickerbacker, William r.
Brockway, and man by the name of Snvder bay.
been arrested at Hudson, on charge of be;n, con
cerned In getting up passing these counterfeits
or Doth, and having been subjected to a ono and
rigid examination, facts elected which leave
no reasonable doubt that some, if not all of them
are guilty. Brockway, in particular, was shown To-
have had an active agency in getting up the conn
terfeits, and was probably at the bottom of the
whole affair Besides the above three persons have
been arrested at Brooklyn, in this city and one
elsewhere, making eight in all, supposed 10 have.
been concerned in the villany. The officers of ms
tlce arc In pursuit of still others of the same rang
Altogether, 1t was one of the most dangerous com
binations to defraud the public that ever existed in
this country, and may well conpratulate The
public if is at length broken up
The prominent part taken in the counterfeitiue
by Brockway was made known by Knckerhacker
(who was first arrested but not till many ineft,,
tual efforts had been made TO induce hin, 10 cnn-
Tess. Among other things, Knickerbacker state.
that he received $4,000 of the counterfeits from
brockway, Tor the purpose of getting them ex-
changed for other bills, but that finding some difi
Guilty IN doing so, he returned SO, 500 of them 10
Brockway.
IL was conclusively shown that the three co,,nter
felts were perpetrated by the same gang n al
mitted, we understand by both banks, that the frst
counterfeis on those institutions respectively. must
have been printed from the genuine plates. Az 10
the recent counterfeit the New Haven bank the
case IL not 80 clear; but there would seem 10 he .
strong presumption in favor Of the suppostion from
the fact that Brockway was formerly iournevmap
IN the office at New Haven, where the genuine b;Ils
OF both banks were, at that time, printed.
IL further appeared that the villains had not con
fined their operations to the New Haven banks. but
had got up and issued counterfeit twos on the North
River bank, IN this city, and also counterfeits on
one or two other banks
These facts we have Obtained from undoubted
SOURCES, and they cannot fail to be interesting To-
the pubc.--Jo,~. Of Com.