New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-28
EXTENSIVE SWINDLE.

ARREST FOR ISSUING FALSE BANK BILLS.
A few deys since the Chief of Police received in
formation that swindling operation wes being car
RED on at No. 90 Wiiam-st., termed the Merchants
Exchange Bank from which had Issued biilsto very
large amount that these bills had been extensively
circulated through the West and South, an til n the
pretended bank had no existence, except ,pon the
face Of the paper il had issued The matter vas i'm
mediately placed in the hands of Mr. rtkillar,
clerk of the Chief Of Police, who associated with him
Officer Mcpherson, one Of the Chiefs aids. Tie bills
are headed MERCHANTS EXCHANGE BANK, Anscoe-
ia, d. c., and are signed by Z. +. Curtis, Cashier,
"H. Dewey, President Across the face of tire bills
the words Redeemed at the Bank Agency, No. 60
"Wilham-st., were printed.
From an affidavit made by Fred. +. Curtis of No.
los Third.sv., i, appears that in July last person
named Jones came 10 him and stated that there was
new bank ebOut to start and tina, the parties inter
es;ed wished him as cashier. After making some in
quiry as to the salary he replied that he would call
upon them in day or tive. He finally accepted the
position offered and went to No. 60 Wlliam-st.,
where he was introduced to HoldeDge, Dewey. Leon
ard, Wesibrook, Alfred Hyde and another. They set
him TO work signing the bids as Cashier and did so
TO the amount OF $1,000 All the bills, he stated,
were made and signed in this City. and there is no
such bank in tie District of Columbia. The bills
were also signed by Dewey as President, and crcu-
lat, extensively in the West.
Mr.. George G.. Jones of Cincinnati, Ohio, deposed
that he made a contract with Mr. Dewey, who agreed
TO purch $50 GOO worth of the stock of the Cincn
natl and Little Rock Slate Company at par, and pay
for the in bills Of this bank $4,000 in these
bills was paid, and Mr. Jones agreed to circulate them
in Arkansas with the understanding that when pre-
sented they should be redeemed and that the bills
should be quoted in Th0mpsOHs b INK Note Detector
on the same footing as other country banSs. This
was afteTward varied and il stated he did not
know whether he could get it inserted there, but would
Try; but al all events arrangement equally effective
would be made.
VIM A. Fincaud of No. 90 Wall ST. Treasurer OF
the Haverstraw Iron and Mining Company, deposed
that on the 7th ult. he made contract with Dewey,
WestbroOk and Hyde for Sl0 900 of the bills and re-
ceiyed on il So 600 Of the bills and two checks one
for $500 the other for 81 500. The first check was
presented and paid, the second not paid but ex-
changed for other smaller checks
VIM. NJ. Arnold of No. % Wall-st cOrroborated the
statement OF the last witness and further that the
bills received were 81, ~ and 80 bulls and that he
paid them to the werkmen employed by the Haver-
straw Iron and Mining Company; that the bills pur-
ported TO be redeemable at 80 90 Wliamst., bat on
presenting of them there they not redeemed
Witness had 500 of the bills which he presented for
redemption, but all he could get on them was SH
On the morning of the 2Gth witness went to the ONCE
of the Chief of Police he having the previous day
gone there and made statement, when he was met
by Leonard Westbrook, who said il he would go
with BIN 10 the corner OF broadway anu Leonaruet,
he would cash the bills he did and got the money
Prior to this Dewey told him that he had been to
Anacosts arc stuck up a sign.
Mr.. Knight of Haverstrew deposed that about the
lst Of September he received slO0 OF the bills from
the HayerstrGw Mining Co. and took them 10 No so
Wiam.st., where payment was refused, and since
then be has not got the bills redeemed Mr.. Nickel
lar Yesterday dispatched Officer Mcpherson to the
bring TO the office of the Chief of Police all the ar-
cles he could find there. He found no person, but
brought TO the Chiefs Office the iron safe which is
said to contain all the issues of the bank not IN crcu
lation warrant for the arrest of the parties con-
cerned was then issued and yesterday George West
brook taken into custody with ga in bills of this
bank in bis possession. Sundry papers and letters
which identify him with the concern were also found
on his person. He was locked up by the Chief Of Po-
lice for examination The bills are poorly executed
and printed on inferior paper.