Washington telegraph., 1853-06-08
From the Cicinnati Nonparea, May 1Ol
The Great Forgery Case.


Our readers no doubt remember the extensive
forgeries committed last winter in this city,
Among these forgeries were two checks amount
ing to the sum total of S14,S21 65. offered and
paid at the Ohio Life and Trust Company's Bank
Since then Marshal Ruffin, and several of the po-
lice, have been endeavoring with all that tact and
ingenuity known to police officers, to ferret out
the parties implicated in the affair.
The matter has been kept remarkably quiet
and until the last few weeks nothing has devel-
oped itself whereby the perpetrators might be
discovered. Although combination of very sim
gular circumstances transpred to fix the guilt up
certain parties, owing to the necessity of OBJ
tanning satisfactory evidence in court of Justice
the officers have been compelled to lay inert and
abide their opportunity.
To number of persons interested In the mat
ter, it has been well known who offered the
checks at the Bank This man has been closely
watched in New York and this city, and about
six weeks ago he arrived here from New York
According to the telegraphic dispatches received
in other cities from the telegraphic reporter
of this city, fwho must have been either bought
off by certain parties or interested in the mat
ter) we learn that Charles Millard goes be-
fore the grand jury of this county at its last term
and there sets forth that he was the man who
presented the checks and that he can give all the
essential information as to whom they We're
drawn up by, and who are the parties interested.
We have always thought the grand jury was
secret court but in this instance we find in for
eign papers, matters of moment, that transpire in
our city, and, with few exceptions save the grand
jury and the witnesses, none of our citizens have
any knowledge or information Of the facts.
This man, Charles Mi'lard, is New Yorker
gambler by profession, and carries in his pocket
pardon from Auburn, N. Y. State Prison, where
he was ncarcerated for shooting officer. Mil
lard has resided in this city with his wife. When
he went before the grand jury, the fact was in
stantly known to many persons of high standing
~ and an attempt was made to shoot him down.
whilst on his way home last week He has
no hesitancy in declaring that he is the man
that offered the checks and received the money.
from the very fact that there is conclusive evi-
dence to identify him, notwithstanding he was dis
guIsed as a countryman. or d hog raiser at the
time. A Mr.. Geo Robertshaw a gentleman
who was in the Trust Company Bank at the time
of the presentation of one check. transacting some
business, Identifies MilIard. He has taken con-
siderable interest in the matter and aided in dis
covering the parties supposed to have perpetrated
the forgeries.
The grand jury failed at lis last term to find
bill against several persons charged with the for
geries, and has now been ''telegraphedn we sup
pose that it makes but little difference if we give
their names, even if they are innocent Nichol-
son, clerk of the steamer Martha Washington when
she burnt up in the Mississippi river; Kissane. of
the firm of Kissane & Smith of this city, and one
of the parties arrested on the charge of conspiracy
in burning the steamer Martha Washington; An
drew Findley, formerly merchant tailor OF this
city, and Charles Millard, of New York
AS we said before, the bill was ignored, NIilard
was brought up defendant, and then as wit
ness In the grand jury room, but from singular
circumstances and his own confessions he was
afterwards arrested on Friday last, by constable
Harris of the 15th'ward, and lodged in Jail. Yes
terday morning he was brought out for hearing
before Esquire Marchant
The warrant was issued at the instance of Geo.
Robertshaw, and sets forth ''that Charles Millard
did commit forgery, viz: utter and publish as
true and genuine forged check purporting to be
signed Evans & Swift, drawn on Ellis & Morton.
in favor of Taylor & Co., Ia fictitious firm1 for
the payment of seven thousand five hundred dol
lars, of date 14th October, 1852 knowing the
same to be forged, with intent to defraud the
Ohio Life and Trust Company Millard plead
gully to the charge and was committed to Jail in
default of $4,000 bail for final hearing before
the criminal court. Nfilard says that he present
ed the check for S7,321 65 signed by S. H. Davis
& Co., drawn on Mechanics and Traders Bank,
in favor of Taylor & Co., said check being for
gerry.
Millard, in his confession, says that he was per-
suaded into the matter by Ntcholson--that N.
had room the corner of Fourth and Vine
streets, where these checks We're handed to HIM
by Nicholson. Whenever other persons were ad-
mitted into the room he was compelled to leave
instanter. He gives no very definite description
of the persons, but they are known and have
hitherto stood high in the community. The whole
case is one that exhibits more depravity and
crime, in its darkest aspects than has ever here
tofore existed in any civilized community There
has been more plotting and contemplating in
these infamous transactions than the community
has any idea of, or can ever comprehend. Bride
ry, threats intimation, and corruption, have been
exhibited in all their phases in this case that
would make one shudder to reflect upon. The
matter is schemingy devised concocted and car
ried out upon principles that set at defiance all
law, all feeling of humanity, and spirit of reck-
lessness unparalleled in history.